Amrut Fusion Indian Single Malt Whisky

I chose this one to be my first Indian whiskey. My initial exploration into the category is long overdue. This one is interesting because it uses 75% Indian malted barley, with peated Scottish barley making up the remaining 25%. Apparently this doesn’t qualify it from being a true Indian single malt on a technicality, meaning I consider this my first venture into the genre. This is from Batch No. 85, dated January 2020. Nose: Banana. Big time. Not completely ripe. Vanilla, toffee, and malt. Some sea salt, peat, seaweed, and brine. Hookah smoke. Ballpark soft pretzel. Some lemon citrus. Earthy peat exists but more in the background. Root beer or cream soda. Fudge and cocoa. Something like that. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, and nutmeg. It’s interesting, a touch young, but the positives outweigh that negative. Palate: Caramel and vanilla. Peat, brine, sea salt, seaweed. Some earthy peat Ballpark soft pretzel and hookah smoke, again. Dark chocolate. Malt and honey. S’mores. Toasted almond. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, and nutmeg. Finish: Caramel and vanilla. Malt and toffee. Toasted almond and cashew. Seaweed, brine, peat smoke, sea salt. Red hot tamales. Cinnamon and black pepper. Medium-long finish. Very unique whisky. Also a very good whisky. A little young on the nose, not in a bad way though. The palate gives the impression of more maturity, even though I doubt it’s spending much time aging in the Indian climate (feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.) 4/5. Extremely interesting product. Decent value at $63 considering it stacks up to a comparably-priced Scotch. Thumbs up for the fusion. I will definitely be exploring more of what Amrut has to offer.

This is my initial experience with an Indian Whisky, a pour shared by a friend. Appearance: Golden Wheat hue with an oily consistency. Nose: Sugary, Caramel, Confectionery, Smoky undertones, Honey, Vanilla. Mouthfeel: Exceptionally dense and smooth! Flavor: The smoky character appears immediately, as does the smooth vanilla sweetness. It possesses a pleasing equilibrium. A slight tartness provides a mild tingle on the palate, but it's not excessive. After a few small sips, a subtle oceanic spray aroma emerges, yet the creaminess is what makes me want more. There's also a delightful spice intertwined with the mesquite smoke. Finish: Persistent, and as the peat softens, sweetness emerges, though this time it's less caramel, vanilla, or cream, and more akin to milk chocolate. For a first taste of Indian whisky, I am very satisfied and impressed. It imparts a pleasant warmth and strikes a good balance of some of my preferred flavor profiles. Conclusion: Perhaps it could exhibit greater complexity, so I'm assigning it a 3.5, placing it between 'glad to have had it but not worth a fortune' and 'a definite purchase.' I could envision acquiring it at the opportune moment. It's good.

This bottling was instrumental in introducing Indian whiskies globally. Previously, I dismissed the notion of Indian whiskey, but this changed my perspective. Despite critical acclaim and widespread positive attention, spending $100 on a whiskey from an unfamiliar region felt uncertain. At 50% ABV, one might expect significant heat, akin to Indian cuisine, but it drinks like a smooth, buttery dish prepared by a top chef. There's no harshness associated with high alcohol; it's remarkably smooth. The aroma is captivating, and the taste is exquisite. Subtle peat notes are present without being overpowering, creating a smooth, flowing stream of alcoholic nectar.

Having enjoyed the standard single malt, I was keen to try this. My thanks to a friend for a sample. The nose presents a wooden crate of apples, sweet potato, some cardboard, and spicy oak. Peat or peat smoke is very subtle; resting it allows some earthy and wispy smoke notes to emerge. The palate consists of crushed apples and malt with a thick, resinous smoke enveloping rather than dominating. The signature Indian spice from the original is present but subdued. The finish is long and smooth, with the fruity malt and smoked barrel transitioning into a nutty spice. It's good, but I prefer the clarity of the Indian flavors in the standard single malt more. The Scottish peated style slightly mutes those elements. However, it's still a strong offering, and I'm eager to explore the entire range from this brand. This is a good spirit, though the peated variation somewhat diminishes the distinct Indian character found in the standard bottling.

My inaugural Indian single malt experience, and as they say, you never forget your first. Fortunately, this was a positive one. This dram offers a complex profile: smoke, spice, fruit, botanicals, sweetness, and more. For those averse to peat, this might still be enjoyable as the smoky character is subdued, allowing other elements to shine. Spices such as cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg are noticeable. Apples and pears lead the fruit characteristics. A botanical hint, like fennel or anise, adds a pleasant touch. Subtle leather notes and a good measure of honey contribute savory and sweet dimensions.

Color: medium gold. Nose: fruity, sweet, tropical, creamy, floral, honey, rich, leather, potpourri. Palate: chocolate, coffee, vanilla bean, oak. Finish: espresso, peppery, long-lasting, nutty. Adding water reveals more tropical and citrus notes, polished wood, cinnamon, and peaches on the nose; oak on the palate; and increased heat on the finish. Despite being 50% ABV and quite young, it's surprisingly smooth. It bears some resemblance to Springbank 10. I had been wanting to try this for a while, and unlike many other desired purchases, it met my expectations precisely, rather than exceeding or falling short – a rare occurrence. Overall, I'm pleased!