Rampur Select Single Malt

It smells tropical and fruity like no other whiskey (or non-mixed drink). The palate is disappointingly nowhere nearly as fruity, but it does still have a lot of fruit. It is extremely floral and mineral with tons of tropical flavors. Passion fruit, pineapple, pear, and mango all stand out. There is some smoke this is nice but surprising given the nose. The fruits taste more like blossoms, which is not what I expected, but is still good. It's kind of malty too. That nose is just sublime. The vanilla fits in perfectly. The balance is very impressive and the flavors are mostly very good. The notes of apricot and orange blossom that come through to balance it out are great additions. I wish that it were more assertive though - what I wouldn't give to taste this at a higher age. There palate and finish are a tad more bitter than I would like, but unfortunately that does stand out with all of the mild flavors. That fruit is so, so good though. It isn't as overwhelmingly sweet as would reasonably be feared. It's quite an experience and adds variety to any shelf. I'd generally enjoy sipping this, but I wouldn't choose it as my staple. This isn't quite as astounding as the Corsair Oatrage, but it is truly its own thing.

I had a pour of this at a Diwali party this evening. Open bar, sitting next to a Balvenie 12, Paul John, and a Talisker 10. Talisker 10 was undoubtedly the best in the lineup, but I’ve never even heard of this one...so why not, might as well give it a spin. At this point, Amrut is the de facto standard whiskey out of India, followed next by Paul John. But, Rampur...never heard of it. Apparently, it’s out of the subcontinent’s oldest distillery called Radico Khaitan from Uttar Pradesh. What’s interesting is that Uttar Pradesh’s climate is totally different than Amrut’s Bangalore and Paul John Goa. Bangalore is very Texas like; Goa is more Hawaiian type. While Uttar Pradesh has chilly winters and dry hot summers. So...maybe more like Utah / Colorado. I’d expect less wood interaction than the blistering Bangalore or Goan heat. Anyway—-tasting this is very much like a Dalwinnie. Honey, cereals, light. It lacks the muscle of Amrut...and the complexity. Very mild and restrained. Maybe a good foray into Indian whiskey, but not something I’d buy anytime soon. Instead, stick with Amrut, or if you want less horsepower, Paul John. Buy, pour, or bust...solid bust.

Golden straw in color. Lychee fruit dominates the nose along with hints of mandarin oranges and flower petals. In the flavor profile, there’s not quite as much going on as the nose would suggest...but it still doesn’t disappoint. Lychee and canned pears stand at attention with a nice, albeit subtle, oaky finish. A drop of water adds more depth to the fruit and floral aromas and some heft to the mouthfeel. This guy clocked in as Whisky Advocate’s #5 whiskey of the year in 2017, and it’s not hard to see why. In a blind taste test, the uniqueness of this pour must’ve stood out in a huge way. Rampur is a fun bottle to have in your library.

Is it possible to describe a single malt as creamy? This is certainly the case with Rampur Select. An amazingly smooth and round mouthfeel greets the palate with a light woody tonality and a touch of sweetness gifted by the ex-bourbon barrels. Elegant, exceptional and reminiscent of the finest Japanese whiskies, the body is medium-full with a breadth of baking spices coming out on the finish. Truly a world class spirit, and finally for US whisky lovers, your chance to sample this exquisite release.

A intense, Indian Single Malt Whisky by Rampur Distillery in Uttar Pradesh made & bottled in the foothills of the Himalayas, using six-row barley (instead of the traditional two-row variant). It has an intense birth with notes of apple, pear, caramel, fudge, hints of melon & citrus; while a creamy life brings the aromas to your palate with fruit & spice; that leads to a delicate & rich death of medium length with floral notes. October 2018 / February 2019 / June 2020 / August 2022

Hands down the most floral whiskey I have come across. So I got a bottle of it just so I could discover how it would taste with ice, water, club soda, tonic, honey liquor, red bull, coke and (sorry mom) milk. It’s almost on the border with brandy (or cognac) because of its fruitiness which I personally do not like much but when mixed that after taste becomes negligible. I highly recommend it for at least tasting if not buying.