Amrut Neidhal (Single Malts of India) Whisky Review & Tasting Notes

Its fans know that Amrut is the pioneer for distilling Indian Single Malt Whisky. Founded in Bengaluru in 1948, it didn’t produce its first single malt whisky until 2004 and grabbed worldwide attention when Jim Murray gave Amrut Fusion a 97 rating in 2010.

 

Many Amrut fans may not know that Amrut has created an umbrella brand called Single Malts of India. It is a line of whiskies that Amrut produces but doesn’t distill. Instead, Amrut works with small Indian distilleries, then Amrut takes the unaged distillate back to Bengaluru to age in its warehouses. The initial release is called Neidhal.

 

“What we have done this time is dug deep and discovered an uncut gem. We have then procured the gem, carried it to Amrut, caressed it with our touch, and polished it with our expertise. What you discover bottled is truly an amazing whisky showcasing its real potential. Watch out, we as an organization are now sailing into unchartered waters of independent bottling.” – Ashok Chokalingam, Head Distiller of Amrut

 

Neidhal is the first independent bottling in India. Neidhal comes from the ancient Tamil texts from the Sangham period (300BC to 300AD). In those texts, the earth was divided into five distinct regions. Neidhal consisted of all oceans and coastal lands. This distillate was sourced from a coastal distillery.

 

Neidhal is a single malt whisky. The mash is 100% Indian six-row malted barley which used peat imported from Scotland.  It carries no age statement, but we know that Bengaluru, where Amrut ages its whisky, has about a 12% annual angel’s share loss, which ages at around 3.5 times that of Scotland. Also, Amrut typically uses a blend of vintage Bourbon barrels and new, charred oak as its cooperage.

 

Worldwide, there are 12,000 bottles of Neidhal, of which only 1200 were allocated to India. It is packaged at 46% ABV (92°), and you should be able to acquire a 750ml for $109.99.

 

I want to take a moment and thank Glass Revolution Imports, the US importer, for providing a sample of Neidhal in exchange for a no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and see how this experiment turned out.

 

Appearance:  Poured neat in my Glencairn glass, Neidhal presented as bright gold. A minuscule rim formed that gave way to long, wavy legs.

 

Nose: Smoky peat was the first aroma to hit my olfactory sense. It took some work to get past, but notes of seaweed, coconut, pineapple, iodine, and tasted oak eventually passed through. An interesting blend of coconut and brine rolled across my tongue as I pulled the air into my mouth.

 

Palate:  The mouthfeel was incredibly oily yet somehow light and airy. The front featured fruity notes such as cherry, plum, pineapple, pear, and sea salt. A punch of smoke, followed by coconut and vanilla, formed the middle. The back consisted of oak, white pepper, leather, and tobacco leaf.

 

Finish: Each time I sipped, the length of the finish changed. The first was very short. Subsequent tastes gave incredibly long durations. Yet, others brought it more to medium to medium-long. Regardless of the span, the flavors of smoke, pineapple, pear, salted caramel, and white pepper were consistent.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Neidhal is a complex single malt whisky. If you don’t like peat, don’t bother. But, if you’re like me and enjoy the earthy smoke, you’re in for a treat. The $109.99 cost is a bit high, but I wouldn’t let that preclude me from enjoying a Bottle. Just take your time to savor it. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy to Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you do so responsibly.