Amrut Greedy Angels

I've stated this many times: Amrut is among my favorite distilleries. Here's an interesting fact: India experiences an 'Angel's Share' of about 14% annually, compared to 2-3% in Scotland. This means 12 or 10-year-old whiskies don't truly exist in India; the Angels have consumed virtually all of each cask by then. (There's even an Amrut expression called Greedy Angels that's 10 years old.) The concept behind this particular expression is that the Angels were 'greedy' with the distillery's casks, leaving very little after 8 years of aging. It's well known that hot climates like India and Taiwan face high evaporation rates, but the ingress of oxygen into the cask allows the whisky to 'super mature' rapidly. This is why 5-year-old expressions from these regions are often highly praised. Very few bottles become available periodically, and they even include a certificate of authenticity. This one was bottled at 50% ABV and has a dark peach color. On the nose, it's incredible but requires time to fully develop. It begins very fruity, with notes of aged oranges, sawdust, coffee beans, and dark chocolate. Peaches have emerged, and there's definitely some spice. I detect peach halves in syrup and the characteristic 'naranjilla' (lulo fruit) note found in many Amrut expressions. Tiramisu dessert is present. The nose started subtly but then exploded with aromas of milk powder, intense chocolate, and cream. It's remarkably complex, with distinct mocha notes. On the palate, it's sweet, oaky, and powerful. Flavors include peach syrup, sawdust, and caramel, along with a strong orange peel note. Sugar syrup, acidic oranges, and naranjilla (lulo fruit) are also present. The aftertaste is where it truly feels aged and overly oaked. It's very dry and woody with chocolate undertones, completely drying out the palate like an oak sponge absorbing saliva. Some subtle sugar notes are also detectable. Overall, this strongly resembled a very old Scotch whisky. I've sampled several, and some over 30 years old tend to develop pronounced oakiness. These characteristics were evident in the aftertaste here, not in an unpleasant way. The finish wasn't as good as the nose or palate, but it still provided a rewarding experience. A legendary single malt that is exceedingly difficult to find. My score for this is a solid 88 out of 100.

Nose - (without water) Sweet tropical fruits, toasted barley, sugar cane, toasted coconut, milk chocolate (with water) More sugar cane, toasted coconut, toasted barley, sharp sweetness Taste - (without water) A bit hot, grilled pineapple sweetness, tropical honey, floral, toasted barley, cardamom pods?, lightly drying (with water) Greatly reduced heat, more grilled pineapple, grilled sugar cane, toasted barley, floral honey, brown sugar Finish - (without water) Lingering chargrilled pineapple sweetness, toasted barley, light char bitterness, sugar cane (with water) Lightly drying, grilled pineapple, fried plantain sweetness, grilled sugar cane Score - 87/100 Final Thoughts - This aligns perfectly with my experiences from Amrut. It possesses a pleasant tropical fruit influence while maintaining the toasted/malted barley character. I'm unsure if rum casks are used, but I detect significant sugar cane and grilled pineapple notes throughout this spirit. I suspect it would be exceptional in a tropical long drink with a bit of coconut water. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Maybe Would I buy a bottle? - No

Taste 3 at the Wheated event. $10/pour at a discount. Excellent spirit with tropical pineapple, citrus, and tangy notes with rich malty cereal and a hint of chocolate.