Amrut Spectrum 004

For my 600th review, I wanted to open a special bottle, and I had a fantastic spirit. Amrut Spectrum 004, inspired by James Bond (though I'm unsure why), is a 50% ABV spirit from India. It was aged for three years in ex-bourbon barrels before a finishing period in a "Frankenstein" cask. This cask was constructed from various oak staves: American white oak with level 3 charring, ex-Oloroso, French oak with light toasting, and ex-Pedro Ximenez Sherry. The result is one of the finest spirits I've ever encountered. Bottled at 50% ABV, you wouldn't guess how dark red this dram is. The color is Burnt Umber. The nose is simply perfect: complex, powerful, lovely. Chocolate, tropical fruits like naranjilla (lulo), a beautiful coffee note, Mocaccino coffee. A cherry dipped in fondant from a coffee cake. The aroma of this dram is otherworldly. Sherry notes from the PX, those dark dried fruits. Some citrus emerges, naranjilla. Roasted coffee beans. Red fruit syrup. The cleanest, most magical chocolate fudge note imaginable. Freshly baked brownies (even my wife confirmed it was spot on). I can't stop smelling it. Chocolate butter is also present. The aroma after the first sip reveals a thick syrup of orange caramel. This is great, very buttery. Truly amazing. The palate is equally amazing. Orange chocolates. Incredible spiciness; mineral spiciness. Thick caramel chocolate with pepper and wasabi, so delightfully pleasant. A second sip becomes even cleaner: Milka caramel chocolate. The spiciness is incredible. A third sip offers a sophisticated thick caramel. The finish is very rewarding. Oaky, smoky, sawdust, a full finish. Very woody, but exceptionally crafted. Dry. Wine-like; chocolate and chili. Minerals, salty, earthy. Overall, this might be my favorite dram of 2020. At 50% ABV, there's no raw alcohol; it's potent and delicious. I'm genuinely searching for any fault in this spirit, but there are none. Perhaps the aftertaste isn't perfect, but it's very close. An excellent and solid 99 out of 100. This will rank among my top 10 of this year... and likely my all-time top 10. A magnificent Single Malt.

Nose - (without water) Sharp dark dried stone fruit sweetness, chocolate-covered orange zest, grilled pineapple, cognac, leather, dark raisins. (with water) Less bite, the dark dried stone fruits are still present but more rounded out. Taste - (without water) Hot hot white pepper heat, smoked sea salt dark caramel, caramelized figs, dark raisins, light fruity char, leather, sweet tobacco, faint hint of meaty smoke on the back end, savory sweet smoked meat (with water) Heat tamed down while preserving all the flavors, sweetness is slightly reduced. Finish - (without water) Lingering smoky meaty dark dried stone fruit savory meaty sweet, brine, grilled pineapple char, fading white pepper heat, leather, dark chocolate (with water) Less heat, leather disappears, more milk than dark chocolate. Score - 92/100 Final Thoughts - This is a very interesting dram for sure. The hybrid/monster Frankenstein barrel really works wonders for the tropical spirit. On the nose, you get a blast of sharp sweetness, and it continues onto the palate. It might be me, but it tastes like there's a very, very small percentage of peated malt in this one, as I get this smoky savory sweet meat only on the palate. Like the previous Amrut malts I've tried, it's a bit hot, but a tiny bit of water really softens and opens it up nicely. Nice charred tropical fruit throughout with a good balance of sweet sherry influence. Not exactly an everyday drinker, but definitely a nice complex dessert dram for sure.

My goodness, this might be among the most intricate spirits I've ever sampled. It was exceptionally challenging to isolate any single flavor profile, yet somehow, it all harmonizes beautifully. Firstly, this is remarkably scarce, with approximately 1800 bottles produced in total. I'm all the more grateful to a friend for this sample. The color is the first thing I noticed... it resembles a bourbon, deep mahogany. The nose is somewhat unusual... a bit woody. But its true brilliance lies in the palate. Now, the whirlwind of flavors begins. A cask made of four different woods; one might expect a chaotic mess or a masterpiece. There's no middle ground. Fortunately, this is the latter. I'm uncertain if this is still available, but if it is, it's a definite purchase. Unique, brilliant, and pushing creative boundaries.

2021 Batch. Better than the first 004 batch, on par with the original 005 batch. Nose: Figs, Toffee, Cranberries, Blackberries, Honey, Gingerbread, Plums, Milk Chocolate, Raspberries, Luxardo Cherries, Dates, Vanilla, White Chocolate, Lavender Palate: Raisins, Figs, Dates, Sultanas, Ginger, Orange Peels, Plums, Mocha, Espresso, Blackberries, Treacle, Maple Syrup, Toffee, Salted Caramel, Stewed Red Apples, Cloves, Tobacco, Leather, Old Oak Finish: Mocha, Espresso, Tobacco, Dark Chocolate, Cloves, Red Chili Pepper, Old Oak, Dates, Prunes, Salted Caramel, Hazelnuts, Walnuts, Banana Bread

I tasted this at a whisky show last week and immediately made plans to acquire a bottle. The flavors on the palette change in waves, a phenomenon I've only encountered previously with Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix. I can't do full justice to its complexity without further tastings, which will follow as soon as I open my bottle, but wanted to encourage the fine members of this community to grab one if you can.

Rich, aromatic nose. Malt, sherry, walnuts. It irritates the nose slightly. Explodes on the palate with an acidic burst of flavor. Very long finish, with all components lingering on the tongue. Almost like seltzer. Strong sherry notes, but balanced by maltiness. A must-try for fans of sherried scotch; this is like concentrated Macallan. 5/15/19