Rampur PX Sherry Finish

Review #103 Type: Indian single malt Proof: 45% Comments: No Age Statement, matured in American oak, finished in Spanish oak PX sherry butt Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Russet color. Swirling shows a thick line sticking to the glass, legs form slowly. Nose: 15/20 Fruit-forward but soft and subtle. Crisp pears, white raisins, juicy clementines, some milk chocolate, and a drop of clover honey. Palate: 31/40 Still fruit-forward, but much less sweet than the nose. Bitter grape skins, sour unripe plums, cinnamon, spicy oak tannins, honey, and old leather. Finish: 29/40 Medium finish. Dry red wine tannins and subtle charred flavors initially, replaced by oak spice, nutmeg, and lime zest. Gradually becomes more earthy, with a little vanilla, then ends on a mildly bitter note. With Water: A few drops of water reduce the bitter and sour notes on the palate, leaving it somewhat muted. The finish gains some black pepper towards the end. Total: 75/100 Final thoughts: An interesting expression, and the third from this distillery I've tried, helping to shape my understanding of their general flavor profile. It's enjoyable enough and ranks above another bottling I tried (Review #102), but I think I prefer a different one (Review #060). Ultimately, all these releases are easy to sip but lack a standout quality, and I won't be rushing to buy more from this distillery. Price: $85 Would recommend: no Would buy: no

We've all likely heard of and tasted the excellent Indian whiskies from Amrut and Paul John. However, there's a third major brand, which actually has India's largest distillery: Rampur. This is my first time trying Rampur. The distillery claims to be the oldest in India, founded in 1943. I'm fairly certain they weren't making whisky then, but they've made a significant impact on the whisky market in the last three years. This particular expression was first matured in ex-Bourbon casks, then finished in Pedro Ximenez barrels. Bottled at 45% ABV, I had high hopes for this single malt. The decanter comes in a fancy velvet bag inside a cardboard box. On the nose, you get all the aromas you'd expect from a PX-matured whisky: sweet plums, Panettone, Christmas cake, cherries, wedding cake, and raisins. After a sip, the aroma shifts to a pleasant apple pie cookie crust. On the palate, it's exceptionally sweet and incredibly enjoyable, though a little straightforward. The most accurate raisin aroma I've ever encountered, along with cherries, red wine, and burnt pineapple. The aftertaste is great, with hints of smoke beneath the sherry notes. It's dry, winey, with cherries and wisps of smoke, plus coffee beans. A nice offering with a medium finish. Overall, I really liked this dram. It's exactly what I look for in a PX sherried whisky – very sweet and enjoyable, reminding me of Christmas. My rating for it is a solid 91 out of 100.

Honey-like sweet aroma Silky texture Lingering sweet conclusion