Paul John Peated Select Cask Single Malt

Ranking 33 open bottles in my collection after multiple blind tastings. Number 5: Paul John Peated Select Cask. A Single Malt Whisky from India. Bottled at 55.5% ABV. No Age Statement. Purchase Price: $84 I intend to buy this again. Fantastic! I'm a big fan of Indian whisky! It's considerably more expressive and better priced than Japanese whisky. This is an intense spirit at 55.5% ABV; it's crafted from imported peated Scottish barley, then distilled in Gao, India. The aroma initially suggests gentleness, which is deceptive. There's subtle smoke and rich scents influenced by bourbon. Perhaps I'm imagining it, but similar to the Amrut Fusion sampled earlier in this countdown, there's a damp, humid whiff; like the scent of a jungle and honey on fabric. The palate delivers a powerful burst of flavors at maximum intensity. The peat is much more pronounced than the aroma indicated. However, this is counterbalanced by a very deep barbecue sauce sweetness and strong spiciness. It's so sweet, full-bodied, and potent that I once mistook it for Octomore 7.2 in a blind comparison. This costs less than half the price of the Octomore, and I ranked it higher in that tasting. The sweet, fruity intensity creates the impression of wine cask aging, despite there being none. I suggest adding a bit of water to this one, as it can be quite sharp otherwise. SCORE: 92/100 PREVIOUSLY FEATURED: Number 6: Redbreast. $96. 43% ABV. 15 years old. Score: 92/100. Number 7: Yamazaki. $74. 43% ABV. 12 years old. Score: 92/100. Number 8: Lagavulin. $70. 43% ABV. 16 years old. Score: 91/100. Number 9: Benromach. $65. 43% ABV. 16 years old. Score: 91/100. Number 10: Talisker Distiller’s Edition. $72. 45.8% ABV. Distilled 2000/Bottled 2011. Score: 91/100. Number 11: Amrut Fusion. $76. 50% ABV. No Age Statement. Score: 91/100.

Right, my top single malt from Goa, India. I’ve finished my second bottle of this vibrant whisky. It’s become my go-to when I want my senses completely overloaded. To personify this whisky is to picture someone incredibly flamboyant, like Liberace. Unconventional; distinctive; absolutely amazing. I guess the only issue is only a problem if you’re an odd whisky critic or buff like me. Sometimes we say a bottle is great alone, but when compared to another similar whisky, the weaknesses appear. That really shouldn't count as valid critique because you should simply stop comparing this whisky to others and appreciate it for what it is. However, when put next to a similarly intense and similarly priced Ardbeg Uigeadail, or even the less expensive and calmer Amrut Fusion, this Paul John Peated Select Cask just feels unfocused, almost erratic. Seriously, if they added color to this whisky, it shouldn't be E150a; it should be Skittles. This whisky just throws all the flavors at you constantly. Sweetness like hickory, fruity, salty, savory, and tons of unusual spice. The sense of place is so strong, I just want to invent stories about how they smoked the barley in a tandoor, leading to that tandoori chicken flavor. I’ll probably get a third bottle eventually to have over-the-top wildness in a glass when I’m in the mood again. Score: * (unforgettably good) Price range: $80-100 My perceived value: $90

This is my final sample dram from Drinks by the Dram. I had always been intrigued by Paul John... it's matured in a hot climate, similar to Amrut, which accelerates aging. However, it's also located by the ocean in Goa, unlike Amrut, which is at a high altitude. A little geography lesson: Amrut is produced in Bangalore, a very hot city at an elevation of 3000 feet. Goa is on India's west coast, right on the beach, a popular tourist destination. Imagine Mazaltan, but without the cartels. This seaside location, however, is mild and warm, with gentle tropical breezes rather than the salty, briny tempest found in Islay or the Islands. Now, onto the whisky... The aroma is very minty, almost like smelling Tic Tacs. There's also some eucalyptus. The taste is much more earthy and grassy. I appreciate how the peat is truly integrated into the flavor, reminiscent of the recent Ledaig 18 I tried. It's present, signaling the peaty backbone, but allows the wood to dominate initially. I enjoy the transition from the eucalyptus scent to the grassy, earthy taste. It's also potent, at nearly 55% ABV (likely due to the 'angels' share' in Goa). What I dislike is the finish. It has a bitter aftertaste, somewhat like fenugreek. It was performing exceptionally well until the finish. Would I purchase a full bottle? Probably not. It's enjoyable for a single tasting, but I'm not sure I'd revisit it, primarily because of that fenugreek finish. I would, however, be open to trying other Paul John products.

This is another sample dram from Miami Whiskey Mash. It's the first Indian whisky I've sampled, marking another milestone in my spirit journey. When I approached the Paul John booth, I might have already consumed a bit too much, as I mistakenly went to the wrong side of the display, essentially the staff's area. To be fair, the table layout abruptly shifted as I rounded the corner: the tables on one side faced outward, while those on the next side of the rectangular setup inexplicably faced inward. After peering over someone's shoulder who was pouring drams and initially assuming it was a self-serve station, I realized he was actually the server. How embarrassing. This peated whisky reminds me more of Port Charlotte or Ballechin than the intensely smoky Islay powerhouses like Laphroaig. The peat was earthier, with significantly more minerality and loam, even carrying hints of mushroom.

Nose: Intense alcohol (stings the nose!). Earthy, peaty, salty, nutty, woody. Palate: Barley sugar/hard candy, orange peel, 'hot', caramel, citrus. An odd sour milk note. Finish: Medium-long finish. Peat, saccharin sweet, a bit cloying. Sulfur and mineral. This potent dram combines the worst aspects of a young, sweet Scottish whisky with an added layer of artificial sweetness and a 'baby sick' sourness. Quite unpleasant.

Nose: Sweet honey with floral notes, just a hint of smoke and clean water. It smells wonderful. Palate: Wow! Spicy, potent alcohol, intense, powerful, overwhelming! Need a smaller mouthful. Okay, it tastes like whiskey, with a delicate honey sweetness. The alcohol burns your lips and mouth and stays. The finish is sweet. Having tried a half dram with three drops of water, the alcohol intensity lessened, becoming a warming sensation. The nose became sweeter. And now, the smoky character emerges. Therefore, I think this is best enjoyed with a little water or over ice. The addition of water revealed the smoke without being overpowering like a Laphroaig. Evaluations are from tasting the spirit without anything added.