Amrut Single Malt

Amrut Distillery can trace its roots back to 1948 being founded by Radhakrishna Rao Jagdale in Kambipura, Bengalrur, India. The term Amrut means “nectar of the gods” in Sanskrit. The history of whiskey in India has not been a good one. Its full of inaccuracies about what makes up their whiskey, unusual blending, and being label as inferior spirits. Amrut, with their introduction of India’s first authentic single malt in 2004, has been spearheading the renewal of India’s whiskey reputation. Amrut uses grains from multiple areas in India some coming from the region around the Himalayas. Amrut is not an industry leader in the whiskey world. Amrut Single Malt Whiskey was introduced to the world in Scotland in 2004. Since then, Amrut has been the leader in putting India on the map of whiskey lovers. This malt is made from carefully selected barley from the bottom of the Himalayas then produced in small batches to preserve natural aroma. It is then matured oak barrels until it meets the high standards set by Amrut. Amrut Single Malt is bottled at 46% ABV and has no age statement (NAS). Color: Burnished Gold Amrut Single Malt is the first whiskey from India I have ever tasted. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. On the nose were strong notes of orange zest, green apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, coffee, roasted pecans, and a slight hint of banana. The palate was silky smooth with notes of toasted oak, almonds, dark chocolate, honeyed oats, muted spices, maltiness, and some floral hints. The finish is long and consistent with more notes of honey, oats, dark chocolate, dried red fruits, oak, and some leatheriness.

Rating: 15/23 The most core of the Amrut core offerings. I expect that this will not be as amazing as most of the others, but the quality of the Amrut's distillate seems to be quite good, so I expect this to still be a solid sipper. N: It has a bit of that American Single Malt tartness, along with some damp bread, a bit of that Westward funk, biting tropical fruit, and something a tad savory. P: This is full and tasty with good malt. It isn't bland like BenRiach 10 or Arran 10, so it's a marked improvement. Balcones has a more tart flavor that makes it more pronounced, but it's also less complex. Westward has some added funkiness, which I know is a turn-off for some, but I dig and is represented a bit in here. This doesn't taste super old and there is still a bit of bit to it, but I would guess that it was 12 years. There is a bit of damp cardboard that I don't love, but that is acceptable. There's some coconut richness and a little tropical fruit as well. F: The cardboard persists, along with a spattering of the other flavors. It's a perfectly fine finish. This is like the Amrut Fusion and then less. The light peat in the fusion covers up for some of the single malt's youth and less-than-stellar complexity. Westward's flavor is also more pronounced. I'd say that they two have similar complexities, but with its increased richness and interesting funk, I'll give the nod to Westward. Still, this is a fine malt whiskey. At one point I was thinking a 15 or 16, but now I'm leaning 14 or 15, so I'll settle on 15. One thing is sure though: the cask strength version of this is better (with the appropriate amount of water).

Very interesting dram. Different, full of flavor, great aroma, beautiful experience. On the nose is very pleasant, Prune peel, Vanilla, Alcohol notes are present which makes me believe it is younger than 12 years old, it has no age statement. Lots of Caramel syrup, Medicinal plants and very Perfumed (as if it were older than 18 years) There is a hidden peat somewhere that shows itself for seconds then hides. Very complex on the nose, very appealing, interesting, almost THRILLING. ON THE PALATE IT IS A DIFFENT DRAM. AS INDIAN FOOD, INDIAN WHISKY. the nose tells you sweet, and starts sweet on the palate for a moment then a burning hotness starts, not your usual hotness, is like gasoline, or kerosene, with explosions of spicyness like red chillis, "ají cholo" as we say in Ecuador, and black pepper. Very spicy ultra hot and burning (46%abv) the finish is medium full of spices, like taking a spoon of red hot chilli peppers (nice rock band too). Light bodied but full of flavor. Burns a lot but in a pleasant way (not like arran 14). If you chew it you will find something that resembles wheat or bread, caramel and then this amazing spicyness. Changing evolving flavors in your mouth i got to say it is a wonderful experience. I wouldn't use it for a drinking party night, i would use it as a starter for mexican food. Amber colour, non chill filtered, beautiful story behind the name of the brand, a very recommended whisky for a change

My second Indian malt and must say I am a fan of the region. They've got the Texas heat aging magic going on. Poured neat nose is a good blend of sweet and spice. Fruity ginger, bosc pear, fresh malt and seasoned oak. Palate brings the fruit to life and adds masala, malt sugars, pinch of pipe tobacco and zesty barrel. It has a nice earthy barnyard ruggedness to it with rich full flavor. Finish is scotch like funk, fading sweet malt with curry, ash and lightly drying tannins. Its a bit young and bright but this is delicious imo, love the profile. I also like the idea of barley from the Himalayas (hooray marketing). There is no scotch that taste like this its very unique with the additional spices present . I got this on sale for $35 and now wish I had cleaned them out. Will continue with this distillery as the Fusion is highly rated and cask strength offerings available as well. You got me India, Im in........89/100..... Amrut is worth a try for those on the fence

A rich whisky, made from selected Indian Barley grown up the feet of the Himalayas, matured by the water flowing there & cultivated by old & traditional agricultural practices. It is carefully mashed & distilled in small batches to preserve the natural aroma, matured in oak barrels in unique tropical conditions, at an altitude of 3000 feet above sea level at Bangalore, the garden city of India. This Whisky matures by losing almost half its volume to the angels. It has a confident, bitter-sweet birth with notes of licorice-bourbon, burnt honeycomb & toffee; while life is rich adding notes of barley, oak & molasses; that led to a long & intense death with notes of oak, sweet dry theme & a hint of cream toffee. May / December 2017 / May 2018 / January 2021 / August 2022

NOSE: Hay, malty graham, bananas, apricots, apples, toffee and bits of cocoa, melon and fresh pastries. The aroma on this Amrut Classic Indian Single Malt is just… pleasant. It’s fruity, it’s warm and expressive in a way that’s reminiscent of well-aged Scotch. PALATE: Hay, malty graham, banana taffy, apricots, apples, toffee and bits of cocoa, melon and fresh pastries. Almost identical to the aroma, but a bit waxier and more of an olde candy bend to the fruity notes, but still just as pleasant. FINISH: Medium -> Hay-like malt, graham, banana and a soft cocoa pastry note that slides out elegantly.