Amrut ex-rye cask matured

Rating: 18/23 I typically enjoy Amrut, so I'm anticipating this one! Nose: Despite the alcohol content, it doesn't hit hard or present much clean alcohol, though with minimal effort, a youthful, meaty alcohol note appears. It's sweet with a mildly savory maltiness, a strong layer of wood that surfaces intermittently, occasional hints of mint, a tiny bit of black pepper, and then a vegetal, herbal component that brings to mind Balcones Rye or Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Chocolate Malted Rye. There's a lot going on, but it feels young, unrefined, and lacking in depth. Palate: This is much fuller than the nose suggested, with generally improved and better-integrated flavors compared to the nose. That youthful meatiness is absent. The high proof brings a spicy kick, but it's accompanied by malty fullness and the characteristic Amrut mustiness, adding complexity and maturity. I definitely wouldn't guess this was only 5 years old based on the palate. Some fruitiness develops, starting with green apple before quickly shifting to more tropical notes. I'm trying to pinpoint the exact fruits, thinking of persimmon, maybe just apple and persimmon, possibly regular apple too. There's more, but I can't quite identify it. It becomes papery after the fruitiness fades. Both black and white pepper emerge. I occasionally detect faint wisps of smoke. Some pleasant graininess appears at times, leading to a woody backing that is young but slightly toasted, perhaps from a second-fill cask. There might be a faint meatiness here and there, but it integrates well with the mature flavors, neither enhancing nor detracting. Ah – there's the bitter, herbal rye flavor! A nice rye profile, similar to Kings County Empire Rye but without the tartness, appears with just a little water. Finish: Musty with a lingering malty sweetness, grain, occasional faint hints of tropical fruit, and of course, a peppery burn. Conclusion: This will score at least a 16. In fact, this is quite competitive with Amrut Kadhambam (19/23). It seems closer to Amrut Fusion (18/23), though. I'm undecided on whether I prefer this or Amrut Fusion. This leads me to a side thought. I enjoy Amrut Cask Strength and Amrut Peated Cask Strength more than most. I believe the reason is that I added water to both. I'm unsure of the exact proof I reached, but the complexity and balance of both are significantly enhanced somewhere between 46% and cask strength. I suspect this expression suffers from being bottled at too high a proof, but I'm doing my best to find the optimal proof for rating it. Looking at it from the other end of the rating spectrum, I have That Boutique-y Whisky Company's Auchroisk 19 (17/23). It's mellower and exhibits more rich terroir, while this one is more assertive with bold tropical fruits and a pungent finish. They are in a similar range, but I think I'd choose the Amrut over the Auchroisk. Based on these comparisons, I'm giving this an 18. I'm very curious how a bit more time in less active casks in a cooler environment might help mature and balance this, but it's quite good as it stands. Thank you for the sample! This was an unusual concept, but Amrut truly delivered.

Cask #: 707 Cask Type: Ex-Rye Date of Filing: July 2015 Date of Bottling: March 2020 Malt Type: Indian Barley Number of Bottle: 1 of 120 Hand selected by Lost Barrel Many thanks to a friend for a generous “sample”, I will finally get to try my first Amrut. I am unsure what to anticipate. Will it be fiery like an Indian summer? Even with a rye finish, the aroma is clearly that of a barley-based spirit. It's quite fruity and floral, with tropical pineapple and coconut. Honeysuckle, pears, apples, and caramel are present. As it evolves, a sweet maltiness starts to take charge, joined by malt chocolate and hints of dill and pumpernickel. An appealing smell. Despite being bottled at 60%, it enters the mouth softly and gently. That barley sweetness softens and relaxes the palate, making way for the spice. It begins with a prickly sensation that awakens the palate, featuring cinnamon and cardamom, and black pepper. The liquid has a dense and slick texture. A good amount of water smooths out the dram. The sweetness calms the prickliness, making it more approachable. It improved slightly with water, but it did lose its oily density. That prickle persists throughout the finish, similar to Pop Rocks. The sugary sweetness permeates the prickle. Wood, cinnamon, and ginger lead to a lengthy finish. My first Amrut, and it is quite good. If tasted blind, it could pass as a Scotch, reminiscent of Glen Garioch Founders or 12. The 60% ABV does not overwhelm or detract and it drinks like a 46% ABV. Any rye is undetectable except for traces in the aroma. It does not explode with a vast array of scents or tastes. However, its minimalist composition is vivid, rich, balanced, and most importantly, good and enjoyable. Not what I predicted. Almost the complete opposite of my expectations. A solid (scotch) whiskey. Thanks again to my friend. [90/100][Tasted: 2/26/22]

I'm a massive fan of Amrut. I believe they put India on the map for quality whiskey worldwide. They're young (oldest I think is 13), but that Bangalore heat of close to 100 degrees F year around adds years to the maturity. They're also punchy, in your face type—like a Balcones or Garrison. This one is 5 years old, matured in ex-rye cask. Single cask, and not very easy to find. I want to say barely over 1000 bottles. Despite that high limitation, the price is a very affordable $80. I generally need water when whiskey goes over 46%. This, I added an ice cube. I truly feel this one needed it. Without water, was too potent for me, and I wasn’t able to get anything but heat and cinnamon. Add water or ice. Let it sit out a bit, and the flavors opened up. I got an unusual pistachio, orange and cardamom flavor. There’s a tinge of spice, but the upfront was definitely pistachio. Personally, I loved it. Probably not for everyone, especially if you don’t like to dilute your cask strength with water.