BHAKTA Spirits 2012 Indian Single Malt Whisky Review & Tasting Notes

 

I love all kinds of whiskies, and one of my favorite categories as of late is Indian Single Malts.

 

Today’s pour comes from BHAKTA Spirits. The company was founded by Raj Bhakta and Leo Gibson in 2019. In 2008, Raj founded WhistlePig. He sold the brand in 2018. Since then, he and Leo have worked at procuring a collection of spirits, including whiskies and brandies, dating back to 1868 and every year through 2024, and house them in Vermont.

 

But wait, I was talking about Indian whiskies…

 

BHATKA 2012 Indian Single Malt Whisky was distilled in Goa, India. Goa is located in the western part of the nation. The average temperature in Goa is the high 80s to low 90s (Fahrenheit), translating to a naturally-accelerated aging environment. It is suggested that there is a 3:1 ratio compared to Scottish or Irish counterparts.

 

Thinking of Goa, one would naturally assume the whisky comes from  Paul John, one of the three well-known distilleries in India. However, that’s not the source. Instead, it is from Ocean King Distillers, which touts itself as a boutique distillery founded in 2003. Ocean King makes three whiskies: a single malt called Celia, a pure grain called King Edward, and a single grain called O’Henry. For the record, I’ve never heard of Ocean King before today, so my curiosity is naturally piqued.

 

BHAKTA 2012 is distilled from 100% six-row North Indian malted barley and then aged 10 years and 4 months. Now, here’s where things get interesting. Assuming the 3:1 ratio is valid, a comparable Scotch or Irish whisky would spend about 31 years in oak!

 

Six-row barley differs significantly from the traditional two-row that most Scotch distilleries utilize. Two-row typically possesses a fuller, malty flavor. In contrast, six-row has fewer carbohydrates, more enzymes, more protein, and tends to have a grainy taste.

 

After maturation, the whisky spent 131 days in casks that held BHAKTA 1982 Armagnac (about 40 years old)! BHAKTA 2012 is the first Indian Single Malt released by the brand.

 

This whisky is packaged at 56.9% ABV (113.8°) and has a suggested price of $149.00. It can be purchased directly from BHAKTA’s website.

 

Before I #DrinkCurious, I must thank BHAKTA Spirits for providing me with a sample of its inaugural Indian Single Malt. Let’s pop the glass stopper!

 

Appearance: I poured this whisky into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. It looked like liquid gold. A fragile rim formed, which released a slow, wavy curtain of tears.

 

Nose: The first two things I smelled were smoky peat and apricot jam. It took a bit of concentration to figure out the latter. As I continued to explore its aroma, there was toffee, butter, citrus, and green grapes. Next, I drew the air through my lips, and inside my mouth, I found figs.  

 

Palate: BHAKTA’s texture was thick and creamy. The front of my palate encountered smoke, apricots, and cocoa. Then came roasted chestnuts with peaches and cream at mid-palate. The back featured oak spice, black pepper, and vanilla.

 

Finish: Grapes, apricots, peaches, vanilla, cocoa, and smoky peat rounded things out on the finish. Per my stopwatch, the duration was 1:57, translating to somewhere between long and very long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I found the whisky relatively mellow, which was interesting considering the proof. There was absolutely no heat in my mouth or throat. The peat didn’t dominate; it was completely complimentary; reminding me of older peated Scotches. I loved the fruity flavors. The spice notes melded perfectly.

 

This 2012 BHAKTA Indian Single Malt is one of the best whiskies from the Indian subcontinent that I’ve tasted, and that’s saying something because there are some truly mind-blowing ones. Is it the extraordinary long time in oak? Is it the ancient Armagnac finish? I have no idea; however, learning more about Ocean King interests me.

 

If you enjoy peated whiskies, then 2012 BHAKTA Indian Single Malt should be on your shortlist. It is stunningly delicious and well worth the cost of a Bottle. 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 to do so responsibly.