Paul John Christmas Edition 2018

A distillery previously unknown to me, and one I had never sampled until tonight. I've heard positive things, so let's see what it's all about. This is the 2018 Christmas Edition (I assume there are editions from previous years as well but I truly don’t know), which is sherry matured, lightly peated, bottled at 46% ABV and is non chill filtered. I don’t know if they add colorant to their whiskies but this one is an amber honey. The aroma starts with lots of oak and wood spice. This soon transitions into the most incredible fruitcake profile I’ve ever nosed. The fruitcakiest fruitcake that ever fruitcaked even. Intense dried fruits, raisins, prunes, apricots, peaches, and most of all, cherries. There’s also candied ginger and cinnamon. A nice earthy peat that adds complexity and a nice counterbalance to the fruity notes. It’s really amazing how much this smells like fruitcake...just smacks of Christmas. A light minty/herbal note. Sherry, but not overpoweringly sweet like some others. Semisweet chocolate sauce, toffee and maple with some tobacco. A little wood smoke and barrel char, but it’s far in the background. A great aroma, no ifs ands or buts about it. The palate mimics the nose almost perfectly. Lots of wood spice (without being spicy) and dried fruits. The same dried fruits as the aroma with the cherries and raisins really standing out. Dense spiced fruitcake, chocolate sauce and black pepper. Earthy peat but no real smoke to speak of. Unfortunately the peat does not integrate well with the fruity notes like it did on the aroma. The peat and fruits seem to be at odds with each other. Otherwise a great palate as well. A medium to full bodied mouthfeel that is thick and oily. Mouth coating and luxurious. The finish is long with fruity sherry, fruitcake, chocolate and light peat. Wow, this is a damn fine whisky that just screams Christmas. Super fruity but not overly sweet. Spices but not too spicy. Very well balanced. My only complaint is the way the peat comes across on the palate. While not necessarily bad, it just doesn’t mesh with all the other flavors the way it should. If this Christmas Edition is anything like the rest of the lineup then I would very much like to try them. A solid 4.25 that could easily be a 4.5 depending on the mood. A big thanks to a friend for the sample. Cheers

A major goal has always been visiting a Christmas market in Germany or Austria to enjoy mulled wine. Someday. Until then, this one met expectations. It tastes of mulling spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. A little water reveals a slight bitterness, like orange peels...I'd skip the water. It's young, naturally, being Indian. The oldest Indian whisky is only 12 years old; the angels don't leave much beyond 8. However, despite its youth, it's complex enough. For just $50, it's an obvious purchase if you want to try a really good Asian whisky.

A dram heavily influenced by sherry, with hints of black tea and dark maple syrup. A small addition of water brings out a red pepper kick that extends into a very spicy finish. Sherry and spice... it evokes the feeling of Christmas. Note: This was one of five mystery samples provided by a friend with minimal details, just a list of five countries to match them to. I'm pleased to say I correctly identified the origins.

This is superior to a certain 8-year-old whiskey at a much lower price, even with international shipping. It's packed with aromas and flavors including honey, mango, pineapple, passion fruit, apple, a touch of the peanut butter found in the classic version, toffee, chocolate, raisins, figs, and wisps of delicate smoke. It's very smooth with a good finish.

This whisky is a favorite of mine. The aroma is warm and rich, with sherry and smoke notes mingling around a malty center; the palate is less nutty than the aroma suggested but equally complex and lively, featuring layers of dried fruits and spices; the finish perfectly complements the rest, fading out slowly with an even balance of sweet and smoky notes.