Paul John Bold

When on business trips, I find that larger city stores can be quite expensive. This leads me to seek out bottles with surprisingly affordable prices that I haven't tried before. My thinking is that this approach helps justify the cost somewhat, as I'm limiting excessive markups, exploring something new, and won't feel bad if it doesn't get finished. This time, I tried Paul John "Bold" (a non-age statement peated whisky) for a reasonable $40, a price I doubt I could beat back home, even with typical Midwest pricing. This is also my first Indian whisky, earning extra points. Enough about me – the whisky has a pleasant light honey-brown color. While not heavy, it leaves a decent amount of oil on the glass. The nose is relatively gentle, sweet, and straightforward. It's unusual but not unpleasant, presenting honey, chili pepper, raw cane sugar, and a hint of hay. The palate has a very creamy texture and opens with simple syrup, followed by smoke, pineapple, and roasted chestnut, along with a pleasing floral quality. It's like the offspring of Laphroaig 10 and a lightly aged Barbados rum. A subtle tingle of baking spices accompanies honeydew. Coconut cream notes are present. This is quite tasty for the price, offering good value. While it's a bit young, it suits the final product well. Some drying artificial sweetener slightly detracts from the main flavors, but it's very accessible, enjoyable to sip, and competitive for its cost. I'd suggest any fans of peated scotch give it a try to see how it compares.

Indian Whisky... When I first started this "hobby," I never imagined I'd be drinking Indian Whisky, and this is my second. (The other was Amrut) Bottled at 46% ABV; pale straw color. I encountered the brand ambassador for Paul John Indian Whisky at Whisky Live. He was a typical Hindu gentleman, much like a character from a video game, which is a reference if you didn't know it, your childhood wasn't as great as mine. The nose is incredible. The "BOLD" Expression is the heavily peated one. So, peat, orange, honey, and some spice... wait... is that... CURRY? (Typical Indian Food). Amazing. On the palate, it becomes a bit more "conventional" with a very spicy mouthfeel, quite hot and oaky. The term "bold" fits perfectly. The finish is medium and full of spices, like wasabi and pepper, but much more restrained.

This is the fourth expression in my Paul John exploration, marking a significant improvement over the Edited and Classic, which were disappointing. The sweetness is wonderfully balanced by the peat, and a delightful creaminess carries the flavor. I'm undecided between a 3 or 4, leaning towards 3.5 for now, but will round up. I'll need to compare it to an Islay expression later. After sampling a 55% ABV peated version and a 60% ABV sherry cask version, I was fortunate enough to have another generous taste of this. It held its own remarkably well despite the lower alcohol content. While I don't place much value on specific critic's ratings, I can understand why this received high accolades and is a top award winner for the distillery. This is the only bottling from the range I intend to purchase.

Nose: Not the typical bonfire or band-aid peat, but rather like smoked bacon, complemented by a sweet butterscotch undertone. The finish has a slight peppery and citrus kick. Palate: Quite surprising. Minimal smoke, instead it's flooded with butterscotch sweetness, followed by floral citrus spice. The finish retains some oak and smoked bacon notes, along with a malty sweetness.

This is my inaugural whisky from India, and I'm impressed. The peat originates from Scotland, while the barley is an Indian varietal. The result is a softly peated whisky with notably interesting sweet qualities. Tropical fruits, anise, and spice combine with this moderate-low peat for an enjoyable drink!

This is a contender for my regular drink from the Paul John core range. The aroma is reminiscent of Laphroaig, but milder and sweeter, with more notes of grilled orchard fruits. The palate leans towards chestnut with roasted undertones and hints of copper as it develops. The finish concludes satisfyingly as it gradually fades.