Kamet Single Malt
Whisky: Kamet Single Malt
Country/Region: India
ABV: 46%
Cask: Bourbon, Wine, Sherry
Nose: Dried fruits with a touch of shoe polish and new Sharpie markers, toasted grains and hints of squid ink; over time, more typical caramel and dried fruits with a mellow mustiness developed.
Palate: Medium to light-bodied with dried fruits and a touch of sweet balsamic, cherry and lime popsicles with a hint of orange, slightly funky undertones of squid ink, leather, and graphite; plenty of apple candies near the end.
Finish: Medium-length with fruit, tennis ball fluff, and a touch of earth.
Score: 4-5
Mental Image: Country Club Tennis Lessons
Narrative & Notes: I poured this as a blind sample the first time I tried it and, using the not-necessarily inclusive legend provided by my buddy, guessed this was probably the Glenglassaugh 9-Year Port Cask. Everything about this screamed wine to me, making the Glenglassaugh a natural selection. My curveball guess was the Starward Two-Fold; I know the Australian distillery does almost all of its maturations in wine casks, and I would not have been shocked to discover I have misread some wine elements as port wine.
Well, I will stick to my day job as this was Kamet! This blind date was my first time trying something from India’s Piccadilly Agro Distillery. Kamet had been on my radar to explore new Indian whiskies beyond the established duo of Paul John and Amrut. This malt was certainly a lovely introduction to the distillery, and while my wife described the whisky as a touch too heavy with apples for her taste, she thought it was not bad for a distillery she had never heard of.
At least my guess was partly correct— wine casks are part of the maturation regime at Piccadilly! I do not feel too bad knowing I got at least one key component right.
Overall, not bad. Something pleasant to sip on and with a broader array of fruits than some of the comparably priced Speyside mainstays out there. No doubt, being a newer distillery and label makes it far less likely that someone will just pull the bottle off the store shelf and randomly try it. Still, I would not be surprised to see that change. India may not be the first place most think of for single malts, but considering the love— and demand— for whisky in India; it is no surprise there is some good stuff coming out of the region.
Image Credit: Scotch&Sheen, check out their review here.
