Amrut Triparva

I regret not giving this exceptional whisky a perfect score. Amrut is a favorite distillery of mine; their single malts are outstanding, full of tastes and smells, unafraid of high proof, and truly expertly made. That being said, Amrut Triparva marks their first triple distilled single malt. Not only is it India's first triple distilled whisky, but it may also be Asia's first to employ this method. The name "Triparva" actually signifies "Trinity" in Hindi. Presented at 50% ABV with a solid golden hue. On the nose, it's one of the most fruit-forward and inviting whiskies I've encountered in 2021. Peaches and tangerine are incredible. It has a salty character. Faint coffee beans and passion fruit. Honey, delightful tangerine juice, fresh oranges, and tangerine peel. There's definitely some saltiness present, along with orange leaf notes. After the initial taste, the aroma emerged... paint? Yes, it smelled like a freshly painted wall alongside orange leaves. Fantastic. It was great on the palate. Caramel, orange leaf, salt and pepper, and ginger. A powerful and pleasing dram. Delicious tangerine. A second taste was much sweeter and very enjoyable. The finish was satisfying, well-rounded, and maintained the character of the preceding notes. Dark chocolate combined with passion fruit and tangerine, plus salt, pepper, and ginger. A long, slightly metallic finish. Amazing. Overall, this was an oily, fruity, remarkably enjoyable dram that was neither overly complex nor too simple. The triple distillation process contributes to a lighter spirit that already carries Amrut's signature fruity essence. My scoring system indicates 96 out of 100, but it felt perfect; I believe I should have awarded it full marks. It was a lovely experience and made my day. Cheers.

Amrut Triparva, meaning “consisting of three” in Sanskrit, is India’s first triple distilled whiskey. Outside of Ireland, I'm unsure if any others triple distill. Auchentoshan might be the only other one. This one is limited to 5400 bottles worldwide, and I believe it might be a one-off. I’m not a big fan of triple distill, so I only purchased a small 3cl sample. One thing is certain—-whether you like Amrut or not—-they have a knack for out-of-the-box creative ideas. Take their 007, for instance. They created a cask using 7 distinct woods, and aged their whiskey in it. That experiment was very successful, as bottles sold out quickly and secondary prices skyrocketed. Similarly, their intermediate Sherry was matured in Sherry, then bourbon, then back to Sherry. That was also quite good, and is now unfortunately discontinued. So this one here—-it’s light. Not unexpected, given the triple distillation process. Visually, it’s pale gold. Aroma—It’s not young by Indian standards; I’m not detecting that youthful burn. I’m getting a faint sawdust scent, which is unusual for Amrut. The taste isn’t quite what I anticipated either. Very bread-like, oaky profile, with a slight citrus taste. More focused on sourdough bread and malt. What’s missing is the cardamom that I loved in all other Amrut expressions. So...if you enjoy triple distillation, this might be perfect for you. Personally, it’s lacking the two key characteristics—a substantial body and cardamom. When someone asks me “what defines an Indian whiskey?”, I immediately think of a rich feel and cardamom (for Amrut) or sandalwood (for Paul John). This lacks both. I appreciate the innovation, but this particular one isn't for me.

Aroma: Excellent and potent. Cherries and sour cherries, like a fruit salad with ripe peaches, pineapple, mango, papaya, in a spiced wooden bowl. Palate: Very fluid, a distinct flavor blending exotic fruit with sweet tea and chamomile, toffee and caramel, coffee with milk, and crème brûlée. Perhaps a bit too strong, as the alcohol overshadows a range of wonderful flavors. Finish: Perfect, fading into caramel cream with latte that lingers in the mouth for a long time... An outstanding whiskey that I would have preferred to try at 46-48% rather than 50%, as that's its only area for improvement. Rating: 4.50 ______________________________________________________ Smell: great and powerful. Cherries and sour cherries, in a fruit salad with ripe peaches, pineapple, mango, papaya, in a spiced wooden bowl. Taste: very liquid, a very particular flavor that mixes exotic fruit with sweet tea and chamomile, toffee and caramel, latte and crème brûlée. Maybe a few degrees too much, because the alcohol dominates a series of wonderful flavors. Perfect finish: it fades into a cream caramel with latte that stays in the mouth for a long time... An excellent whiskey, which I would have liked to try with 46% instead of 50%: its only point that can be improved. Score 4.50

Very fruity and deep. Smells like: Guava, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Mangoes, Peaches, Almonds, Butterscotch, Milk Chocolate, Mandarins, Acacia Honey Feels like: Caramel, Milk Chocolate, Passion Fruit, Mangoes, Brown Sugar, Almonds, Acacia Honey, Mocha, Apricot Jam Ends like: Mandarins, Nectarines, Milk Chocolate, Bananas, Rum Raisins, Passion Fruit, Honey, Luxardo Cherries

I really enjoyed this sample from a friend: juicy flavors of peaches and oranges. A triple-distilled label always makes me a bit apprehensive that the whisky will be "smooth" and unremarkable, but in this instance, it has taken Amrut on a journey into Paul John's territory.