Better late than never, it’s Christmas in February as a sample of Paul John’s annual release finally arrives at Modern Drinking HQ. These are always a treat and this one doesn’t disappoint, though it’s noticeably different from its predecessors, leaning more on plummy notes than the baking spices of previous years. The plum starts on the nose, accompanied by cinnamon and raisins soaked in rum. Stewed fruit, black tea and cinnamon lead the palate, with dashes of orange sweetness joining in to coat the side of the tongue. The finish is a gentle spice that lingers on the tongue alongside jammy fruit notes. The combination of 4-1/2 years aged in ex-bourbon casks followed by two in a combination of Port and Madeira ones, a nod to Goa’s Portuguese heritage, have lent this a beautiful balance with an intensity of flavor that belies the easy drinking strength. So re-hang the mistletoe, drag the Christmas tree back in from the street and unbox the decorations, because if Paul John says it’s Christmas, then I’m not going to argue.
About this bottle
This peated malt is the fourth expression in the annual Christmas Editions series. Like the brand’s other whiskies, this one is non chill-filtered with no added colors or flavors and made from six-row barley harvested from locations as vast as Rajasthan to the foothills of the Himalayas. It is distilled in specially-designed copper pot stills with longer necks. To create Paul John Christmas Edition 2021, the peated liquid is matured in ex-bourbon barrels and a mix of port and madeira casks in coastal Goa, where the tropical climate helps the whiskies mature faster with an angel’s share of eight percent. It is bottled at 92 proof and available in limited quantities as of October, 2021.
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 6 parsed reviews.
NOSE Spiced apricot-heavy dried fruit, honied nuts, caramel, smoke, cinnamon, brown sugar and citrus peel with a touch of cardamom. Elegant, this aroma is just plain elegant. PALATE Nutty, slightly jammy, malty, honied nuts, smoke, leather and some candy sweetness with a bit of dried citrus peel. I want to say elegant again, but I feel like I’ve covered that. So I’ll say it’s graceful. FINISH Med-long -> Smoke, nuts and candy-sweet fade to dry fruit leather.
Favorite Christmas edition along 2019. Nose: Honey, Milk Chocolate, Bananas, Plums, Blackberries, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Almonds, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Mangoes, Oranges, Apricots, Lavender Palate: Raisins, Milk Chocolate, Smoke, Oranges, Walnuts, Nutmeg, Cardamom, Honey, Morello Cherries, Dates, Figs Finish: Honey, Raisins, Blackberries, Luxardo Cherries, Saffron, Prunes, Raspberry Jam, Figs
Color: Tawny-like, deep bronze. Nose: Aroma is differently strong yet pleasant. Caramel, toffee, malty, berry, raisins, pepper. Palate: Instant spice, orange marmalade, butterscotch, toffee, dry raisins, light smoke. Finish: Long, warm, leather, with a light peat that passes to finish.
From WhiskyFest
2022
Tastes like this
Closest flavor profiles across the whole catalog.
