Paul John Christmas Edition 2020

The local shops have a limited variety of Indian Whiskies. Much of what they've stocked has been Paul John, so I've tried the Nirvana, which holds its own as an 80 Proof $26 whisky. It's neither outstanding nor poor, and I would certainly drink it if offered, but it's not something I'll likely purchase again. Then, they had a Select Cask, the Christmas 2019, and the Christmas 2020, all of which I watched. I considered buying a Christmas bottle for the holidays even back in September, but $85 seemed steep for a brand I wasn't very familiar with. Come November, they were all 50% off, so I bought them all. I opened the Select Cask first and was impressed enough that I anticipated this one. The issue with the Select was a lack of balance, and that problem isn't present with the Christmas 2020 edition. I was actually planning to open this on Christmas Eve when we had guests. A friend was coming over for a game anyway, and another friend was supposed to join as well, and if you follow my reviews, you'll know these are my two main drinking companions. But then my friend and his partner got sick, and my father offered to drive and pick up my sister, so he wasn't drinking, and my plan to open this bottle didn't work out, so I actually opened it last Sunday instead. But I'm tasting it again tonight because my wife got me some fancy new tasting glasses, ones with a dome in the center and a metal base that can be chilled to cool the whisky without ice, and I wanted to try them out, so here we are. Sitting around, still quite full from dinner last night, watching a show on Disney Plus with a celebrity, and swirling Paul John Christmas 2020 in my glass. The nose is lovely and quite distinctive. It's a combination of candied tropical fruits and a faint hint of peat. My wife made these candied oranges recently, and there's a mix of citrus in there along with a little clove and cinnamon that certainly makes me question if it was specifically designed to evoke a holiday feeling or if I'm thinking that because the word Christmas is on the bottle. The palate itself is heavily influenced by those same spices, with the clove being prominent and blending with the citrus to give it a mulled wine-like character that is quite pleasant on the tongue and leads into a nice spiced finish. Overall, I'm glad to have this and might consider buying next year's, even at the suggested retail price. Having gotten this for $42.50 feels like a great value, and I'm certainly more satisfied with this than I was with the Paul John Select Cask. The 2019 remains unopened in my collection and might be next year's holiday dram if I can't get the 2022. The 2021 Christmas Edition appeared briefly, but there were only a few bottles available near me and it wasn't a priority, nor do I regret missing it. It's certainly not a whisky you need to go out of your way for, but if it's available and you're looking for something for the holiday season, I would definitely say, "Give it a try."

Score: 16/23. I'd heard positive commentary about this offering. I've been eager to sample a Paul John expression, as I've generally been pleased with other Southeast Asian whiskies (like Amrut and Kavalan), but most Paul Johns don't receive high ratings. Additionally, this provided an opportunity to open a new bottle on Christmas. N: Somewhat delicate. But there are underlying elements. I detect abundant vanilla. However, there's an intriguing tartness. It's less citric and more waxy and grainy. Curiously, the grain character resembles rye more than malted barley. A touch of malty sweetness emerges, adding another layer, leading to an omnipresent smokiness. It's a dry smoke with subtle peaty herbaceousness. It's definitely not barbecue smoke. It's also not particularly strong. Unfortunately, a faint meatiness from the young distillate is also present. P: The flavor remains light. It presents malt, vanilla, fruits (tangerine, lemon pith, tart cherry), mild spice, some toastiness, and a layer of peat smoke applied unevenly. It's as if it aspires to be Amrut Fusion, yet it lacks the fullness, balance, or complexity. The raw distillate is not entirely masked, resulting in a slight alcoholic meatiness (it's subtle and not too objectionable) and an overall watery sensation. At times, it verges on harsh. Alright, I'm beginning to grasp that there's a significant layer of dry peat here, which does reduce the watery aspect. Still, it's not exactly bursting with flavor. F: Not a very robust profile. The smoke is present alongside the malt and fruitiness. A faint chocolate note. A trace of spice appears intermittently. That tart characteristic, the most distinctive element, has vanished. - Closing Thoughts - This is undoubtedly a commendable whisky, but it tastes young, even for a Southeast Asian spirit. The alcohol is sharp without the requisite body, viscosity, and richness to justify it. The flavor is actually quite delicate and lacks distinct character. While there are many components, it feels like generic versions of various styles were combined. This doesn't compare to Cadenhead's Tullibardine 25 (rated 19/23). It surpasses Buffalo Trace (I believe it received a 13/23 or similar). It's quite competitive with Russell's Reserve 10 (15-16/23). There's just enough of a certain cleanness in the flavor here to push it into the 16 category. Given all the discussion and controversy surrounding whiskey bottles being refilled with inferior product, my experience with this does briefly make me question (though not seriously) whether my bottle is counterfeit. It's by no means unpleasant, mind you, but I feel the anticipation for this one is high, and I'm not encountering anything close to the richness described in other reviews.

Nose: Caramel, vanilla-banana pudding, some tropical fruit, a whisper of smoke. Mango, caramel, baking spice. Stewed stone fruit, cinnamon candy. Sweet pipe smoke resembling a delightful blend of caramel and tobacco. Palate: Caramel, slightly tart tropical fruit, rich and sweet stone fruit, fresh red berries and cherry, vanilla, with a hint of that tobacco smoke from the nose. A warm mid-palate featuring cinnamon and baking spice atop roasted pears. The finish intensifies the warmth with cayenne at the tongue's edges, complemented by soft, ripe pear, lychee, and a touch of bitter wood. I purchased this on impulse on Christmas Eve after noticing a couple of positive remarks. I have no complaints about this whisky and have truly savored it throughout the holidays. It's consistently a delightful pour. I'm seriously considering buying another bottle to enjoy for the remainder of the winter. _________ A few regular reviewers are discussing in real time on a new unofficial Community server. Please join the conversation: https://discord.gg/fzhzwHHX. (Link is valid for 7 days - please comment if it's expired when you try it.)

Another fantastic Christmas whisky from Paul John, a distillery that consistently impresses me. This Yuletide in a glass greets you with aromas of warm, crackling spices and a generous dash of stewed fruit. A taste of mango and orange firmly places this annual special edition within the signature style of the Goan stills, though the flavor seems amplified compared to regular releases despite the modest ABV. The finish is long and warm, with traces of peat and blood orange. While I usually prefer Paul John’s unpeated expressions to highlight the tropical flavors, the combination of casks here is superb. It's nearly as good as the 2018 release and better than the 2019.

Nose: Very malty with a generous amount of peat smoke. Sweet toffee and shortbread cookie. Dried dark fruits and grapefruit. Palate: Honeyed malt and smoky char. Barrel spices and oak are prominent. Candied red fruits combined with citrus. A slight metallic note from the copper pot still appears at the end. Finish: Lingers longer than average, full of sweet smoke, dried fruits, and oak spice. Summary: I purchased this bottle at a discount for half its usual price. An incredible bargain. Remarkably intricate yet well-balanced. A drink to savor for an hour, appreciating every subtle detail it offers.

Nose: Dark Mint Chocolate, Smoke, Cherries, Toffee, Raisins, Blood Oranges, Vanilla, Mangoes, Walnuts, Nutmeg, Christmas Cakes, Dates, Plums, Honey, Pineapples Palate: Smoke, Oranges, Caramel, Milk Chocolate, Raisins, Walnuts, Licorice, Almonds, Hazelnuts, Cloves, Honey, Grapefruits, Baking Spices, Cinnamon Finish: Dark Chocolate, Oranges, Figs, Toffee, Oak, Cherries, Prunes, Raisins, Makuna Honey This was more enjoyable than the 2018 Christmas edition; I'm uncertain which I preferred between the 2019 Christmas edition and this one.