Rampur PX Sherry Finish

Review #103 Type: Indian single malt Proof: 45% Comments: NAS, American oak matured, Spanish oak PX sherry butt finished Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Russet color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 15/20 Fruit forward but soft and subtle. Crisp pears, white raisins, juicy clementines, some milk chocolate, and a drop of clover honey. Palate: 31/40 Still fruit forward, but much less sweet than the nose. Bitter grape skins, sour unripe plumbs, cinnamon, spicy oak tannins, honey, and old leather. Finish: 29/40 Medium finish. Dry red wine tannins and subtle charred flavors to start, replaced by oak spice, nutmeg, and lime rind. Gradually becoming more earthy, enter a little vanilla, then ending on a mildly bitter note. With Water: A few drops of water cut back on the bitter and sour notes on the palate, leaving it somewhat muted. The finish sees some black pepper introduced towards the end. Total: 75/100 Final thoughts: An interesting expression, and the third I’ve tried from this distillery, helping to sort of round out my idea of their general flavor profile. It’s enjoyable enough and I’d rank it above the Asava (Review #102), but I think I prefer the Double Cask (Review #060). Ultimately all these releases are easy sippers, but lack a “wow” factor, and I’m not going to be in a rush to buy more bottles from this distillery. Price: $85 Would recommend: no Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

I believe we have all heard and taste the great Indian whiskies Amrut and Paul John. But there is a third big brand, and actually they have the biggest distillery of India, the one and only Rampur. I have to say that this is my first Rampur, a distillery that claims to be the oldest in India after its foundation in 1943. I am pretty sure they didn't do whisky back then, but they have appeared in whisky markets in the past 3 years with some force. This expression has been initially matured in ex Bourbon Casks, to then be finished in Pedro Ximenez barrels. Bottled at 45%, i had a lot of expectations for this single malt. The decanter actually comes in a fancy velvet bag inside the cardboard can. On the nose, all the aromas you expect from a PX matured whisky. Sweet plums, Panettone, Christmas cake, cherries, wedding cake and raisins. After one sip, the aroma changes into this lovely apple pie cookie crust. On the palate, super sweet and incredibly enjoyable, but a little simple. The most accurate raisin aroma ever; cherries. Red wine and burnt pineapple. Aftertaste is great, with hints of smoke under the sherriness. Dry, winey, cherries and puffs of smoke. Coffee beans. Nice stuff, medium finish Overall, i loved this dram. It is exactly what i am looking for on a PX sherried whisky. Super sweet and enjoyable, it reminds me of Christmas. My score for it is a solid 91 over 100.

Honey sweet nose Smooth Long sweet finish