On occasion of World Whisky Day this Sunday, here’s a list by The Single Malt Amateur Club of the top Indian single malts and why you should try them. Hemanth Rao, Founder of Single Malt Amateur Club shares the list of top Indian single malts. Instead of sharing new entrants here is a list of lesser-known whiskies that are available locally and one should grab a bottle when presented with an opportunity.
If you have a feeling that the whisky world dates are returning too often, you may not be the only one. International whisky day is different to the World Whisky Day which is marked on the 3rd Saturday of May every year. While the latter is an organization that has been associated with the whisky world, International whisky day was established in 2009 to commemorate the birthday anniversary of a great English writer Michael Jackson. (Not the pop singer) Being one of the most revered & influential authors on the subject, the Whisky Day Festival was organized in the Netherlands in the presence of several whisky writers. The book “The Whiskies of Scotland” for an overview of the Scottish whisky world is thoroughly recommended.
Here's the list
Amrut Fusion
Where it comes from: Amrut Distillery, Bengaluru – India, Casks: Ex-Bourbon
Specialty: This whisky needs no introduction. The whisky that created a category of Indian single malt whisky and took the world by storm. A whisky which is a fusion of Indian and Scottish barley, launched in 2009 and was awarded the 3rd best whisky in the world in 2014. This whisky is a balance, a tango of peat and unpeated whiskies fighting for domination on your palate, and it is a marvelous performance!
Tasting notes (From the distillery):
Pic/ https://www.drinkhacker.com/
Tasting notes (From the distillery):
Nose : Aromas of liquorice, gentle beeswax with ulmo honey on crisp toast and tender notes of vanilla.
Palate: Coffee mocha, orange peel, delicate spice on active tannins with gentle oils and dark cocoa notes.
Finish: Long and complex with multi-toned sugars and delicate honey.
The complexity on this whisky will astound you. Not something that we would usually say but a bit of palate experience is needed to truly enjoy this whisky.
Indri
Where it comes from: Indri single malt is distilled in Indri, Haryana, at the Himalayan foothills, near the Yamuna basin.
Casks: It is produced in three different wooden barrels: Ex-bourbon, ex-wine, and PX sherry casks.
Specialty: This remarkable single malt is made from indigenous six-row barley grown for hundreds of years in Rajasthan and is one of the few triple cask matured whisky in India.
Tasting notes:
Nose - Hints of black tea, caramelized pineapple with a whiff of oak, followed by vanilla and honey from the bourbon oak and traces of spiced tannins from the European oak, finally topped up with vinous raisin and sweet sherry notes.
Taste - Elegant richness, smooth and warm on the sides of the mouth. Gentle spice and wood characters, followed by nutty flavours and hints of burnt pineapple, citrus and raisins.
Finish - A subtle and balanced finish where each flavour compliments one another without dominating. A smooth and long aftertaste with sweet fruity flavours coming up from the warmth of the throat, lingering long after.
