Amrut Intermediate Sherry

Rating: 19/23 Nose: Significant malt and syrupy sweetness are present, accompanied by surprising vegetal notes that then blend into a robust sherry cask character. I distinctly detect nutty, lemony oloroso. There's also a juicy, floral red fruit element that's difficult to pinpoint, possibly from the full malt. A subtle wood aroma is also noticeable, but not overpowering. As it rests, the malty sweetness transforms into caramel, and notes of dried fruit like raisins or currants emerge. A touch of orange peel appears as it opens, adding balance. The vegetal funkiness becomes more restrained. Palate: Immediately malty and vegetal with a mild sweetness, not rough or harsh. There's warmth, but it's not aggressive. A distinct waxiness, similar to Amrut, arrives quickly and lingers, amplified by the oloroso nuttiness and lemon. A subtle prickle of spice is present throughout, with hints of clove, ginger, and cinnamon at times. I also experience moments of salt and brine. The sweetness shifts towards fruitiness, with wood emerging alongside it before the malty sweetness morphs into caramel. This expression is far less sweet, fruity, mellow, and floral than GlenDronach 15. It possesses a funkiness, with a hint of Glenfarclas character. It has a much more pronounced oloroso impact than Lismore 21, and a greater syrupy sweetness. The casks are very evident here, bordering on what I'd consider excessive sherry influence. Glenfarclas 105 is considerably funkier, grassier, and more herbal, with some rougher youthful spirit characteristics. Finish: This might be the highlight. While the palate has some elements that haven't fully integrated, the finish harmonizes them beautifully. The wood becomes more prominent without being assertive. A pleasant fruit sweetness persists, mingling with the malt and caramel. Nutty notes tie it all together with the wood. The wood then fades into that tart waxiness. It truly tastes like a mature, well-executed product. - Conclusion - This spirit is challenging initially but balances out after about half a pour. Give it some time. This undoubtedly surpasses Glenfarclas 105 by a significant margin. It competes in the same tier as GlenDronach 15 and Lismore 21. Making a precise judgment from a sample is difficult, but I can't justify a score below 17 for this. At the upper end, I could see a 20, or perhaps a 21. I'm currently undecided between an 18 and a 19. I awarded Lismore 21 a 19 and feel more confident in that score than the 18 I gave GlenDronach 15, so I'll assign this a 19 as well. I have another sample I'm eager to try alongside my bottle of Amrut Kadhambam (also a 19) once I open it. Thank you to the individual who shared this bottle and sample!

Aroma - (without water) Intense, sharp tropical fruity heat, cayenne-spiced grilled pineapple, sweet habanero heat, faint sweet baking spices, cloves. (with water) Heat is greatly reduced, more strawberry/cherry preserves, less tropical. Taste - (without water) Hot sweet heat, white pepper burn/tingle, sweet dried red berries, intense tropical sweetness, grilled pineapple. (with water) Softens the heat, adds a creamy yet drying mouthfeel, a more rounded/balanced berry/tropical fruit profile. Finish - (without water) Long lingering red berry sweetness, a hint of maple syrup, heat fades fairly quickly, grilled fruits. (with water) Long-lasting pear/red berry mixture, very faint bitterness akin to pineapple char. Score - 90/100 Final Thoughts - As anticipated, this one starts off a bit fiery. A little air time in the glass makes it more palatable, and this peculiar sweet spice note I perceive gradually diminishes with time. The sherry influence is evident with bright red berry notes, mixed with what I perceive as their typical very tropical hot malt. Strangely, the intense heat fades quite rapidly. Similar to other Amrut expressions I've tasted, it benefits significantly from a small amount of water, as it slightly mellows the intense heat and rounds everything out nicely. However, it's quite easy to add too much and make it overly muted, so use a dropper if possible.

This is a truly distinctive whiskey. The creators in Bangalore were highly inventive, reversing the concept of cask finishing. It features a rather intricate maturation process. They initially matured it in bourbon casks, then transported the spirit to Spain (for what reason?!? It seems more costly... but perhaps to prevent contamination). Subsequently, the spirit was matured in a sherry cask in Spain. It was then shipped back to Bangalore, India, and finally matured again in bourbon. So, was all this effort worthwhile? In my honest opinion... YES. The aroma is of red fruits, such as raspberry and strawberries. The taste does not disappoint... it offers more of a candy fruit and Amrut's signature flavor—licorice. The finish presents spicy cardamom and ginger... I almost felt like I was having the typical chai we prepare at home every morning. This is exceptionally well-made, and they went to great lengths with a complex maturation scheme. It also doesn't reveal its youth. Perhaps due to Bangalore's climate being close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, maturation is faster. This feels more like a 15-year-old. Highly recommended!

This is an exceptional spirit. It's absolutely perfect. The Amrut Intermediate Sherry is among their more mature releases (around 6 years old) and is named as such because it's initially aged in ex-bourbon casks, then transferred to sherry butts, and finally finished in virgin oak casks, making the sherry influence the "intermediate" one. Bottled at 57.1% ABV, with a chestnut color. The nose is a thrilling experience. Tamarind, guava, prunes, molasses, quince, maraschino cherries, orange marmalade, champagne soda, orange cake, port, and wine typically used in religious ceremonies. It's truly remarkable. On the palate, expect more vibrant red flavors: cinnamon liqueur, licorice, orange peel, cane sugar, cherries, and peanut butter chocolate. The aftertaste offers something entirely different. Abundant minerals, spice, pepper, sherried port, cinnamon, and the glaze used for pork. Overall, this is an outstanding dram, a remarkable experience. Intensely sweet and spicy, the higher alcohol content is evident in the fluid tasting and aromatic notes. Definitely purchase it. My score: 100/100.

Refined and enjoyable. This is another outstanding release from Amrut. It smells intensely of sherry and concludes with an impressive range of spices. Each sip seems to start with red-vine licorice and transition to old-fashioned black licorice. This bottle will be difficult to put away, and I'm pleased there appears to be plenty available locally. On an experience chart, this would show a "bow-tie" shape. It's an exciting whisky with significant contrasts. 5.0 - buy every bottle you can find. 4.0 - get at least one before you die. 3.0 - solid, try at a bar or get some from a friend. 2.0 - didn't care for it, you might. 1.0 - you might have the palate of my dog, who licks himself.

I need to determine if I should purchase more of this before it's no longer available. Aroma - There's just something about Amrut. It's dusty, oakey, and sweet, yet possesses a complexity and distinctiveness. Sherry notes are present but upfront. The middle and finish are all about roasted oak, an unidentifiable spice, and a puzzling malt. I detect some vanilla, oak spice, a touch of cherry with sherry notes. Taste - Extremely oakey and spicy with vanilla, charred black oak, toasted barrel, some chocolate, and I must note the significant presence of European oak. I desperately need another bottle. So much so.