Amrut Indian Single Malt

"When I was a boy, just about every summer we'd take a vacation. And you know, in 18 years, we never had fun."
             -Clark Griswold.

Vacations are supposed to be fun. And I had a lot of fun in Paris back in 2012. One of the highlights was my visit to La Maison du Whisky, an incredible shop full of liquid treasure.

I purchased their very last bottle of 1975 Auchentoshan 35 year old. As a thank you they gave me a couple of minis for free. One of them was Amrut, no age statement. Amrut is distilled in Bangalore, India, which seems a tad odd considering whisky typically comes from Scotland, Ireland, the USA, Canada and Japan. However, Jim Murray gave the Amrut Fusion 97.5, his highest score to date. My mini though, is the entry level Amrut, aged probably less than 8 years, and comes in a weensie little cylindrical tin. Perfect for storing empty minis when you've finished!

On the nose I felt a warm, strange sweetness slightly like Irish whiskey. It does not give any hints to the 46% abv.

The taste was sweet and floral, like nothing I've tasted before. Exotic, like a zingy felt-tipped marker on my tongue. Ginger. There was a strange punch at the end, like rope. And peach pit. But not peaches.

The finish was gingery again, with a woody taste followed by the same zesty peach pit rope. Very unique, not long and not strong. I really had a hard time figuring this one out. Rope, rope, rope. That just can't be right.

This Indian whisky is like a modified DeLorean. Inside are strange seats and carbon fibre accents around an aftermarket stereo and shifter. The suspension is something you've never seen before, yet it still has that very familiar feel to it and you just know you want to drive it.

La Maison du Whisky: Free
50 ml
46% (92 proof)

www.amrutdistilleries.com