Whisky Discovery #112

Amrut Single Malt Whisky Cask Strength (61.8% abv OB, Bottled 2012 70cl)
Indian Single Malt Whisky
Circa £45.00 70cl

The cask strength version of Amrut's core expression

Amrut whisky, distilled in Bangalore, is also nicknamed the 'Garden City' for its gardens and parks and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and although home to the Amrut distillery, is also now known as the Silicon Valley of India because of its position as the nation's leading IT exporter.

So after finishing their core expression, Ashok poured me a healthy dram of the cask strength version, and with a beaming smile said, you should really notice the difference in this:

So what did I think?

Wow! Initially a little sweet, which quickly changes to a spicy peppery note, this natural cask strength release from the Amrut distillery was awarded 93.5 points by Jim Murray.

A lovely golden, almost bronze colour producing thick legs sliding down the side of my Glencairn after swirling it for a while. Glorious bourbon notes with rich barley and caramel sweetness which is followed by that peppery spice, there's leather and even fresh sawdust. Quite tart initially on the pallate, perhaps the high abv, but an orangey marmalade citrus, which mellows out to a creamy sweetness, quite fruity with a touch of smoke, before the peppery spices return. This really is rather good, I was very impressed.

I had to leave the Amrut stand after this second expression sampled as the masterclass I had booked was about to start, but I would be returning to complete my Amrut discovery before the show ended. (I seemed to have missed photographing this bottle so have 'borrowed' this picture from the Amrut website)