Established in 1948, Amrut Distillery in Bangalore creates stunning single malts. Using predominantly Indian barley, the hot, humid climate allows Amrut to use a short maturation window and create spirits that are both classic and vibrant. The distillery takes its name from the elixir of life in Indian mythology – ‘Amrut’.
Tasting Notes
Nose - Heavy, thickly oaked and complex: some curious barley-sugar notes here shrouded in soft smoke. Big, but seductively gentle, too.
Taste - The delivery, though controlled at first, is massive! Then more like con-fusion as that smoke on the nose turns into warming, full blown peat, but it far from gets its own way as a vague sherry trifle note (curious, seeing how there are no sherry butts involved) - the custard presumably is oaky vanilla - hammers home that barley - fruitiness to make for a bit of a free-for-all; but for extra food measure the flavours develop into a really intense chocolate fudge middle which absolute resonates through the palate.
Finish - A slight struggle here as the mouthfeel gets a bit puffy here with the dry peat and oak; enough molassed sweetness to see the malt through to a satisfying end, though. Above all the spices, rather than lying down and accepting their fate, rise up and usher this extraordinary whisky to its exit.