8PM Master's Reserve Spirit Whiskey Review

 

There are all sorts of whiskey categories out there waiting to be discovered. In fact, there are over 40 distinct whiskey types! One of the more unusual ones is called Spirit Whiskey. No, it isn't Light Whiskey, and no, it isn't time to call the Ghostbusters.

 

As you can imagine, when Prohibition ended, very few distilleries had stocks ready to dump and bottle, which resulted in plenty of gin, vodka, and blended whiskeys for folks to drink, as these required little, if any, aging.

 

Spirit Whiskey is legally defined as a mixture of Neutral Spirits and 5% or more on a proof gallon basis of: Whisky or Straight Whisky or a combination of both. The Straight Whisky component must be less than 20% on a proof gallon basis. That's a lot of jargon that can leave folks scratching their heads.

 

Neutral Spirits is the precursor to vodka, with the main difference being that vodka undergoes additional distillation cycles to remove impurities and flavor. Neutral spirits don't have to be distilled from grain; they can be pretty much anything, and it usually comes off the still at 95% ABV (190°). Whiskey must be distilled from grain at less than 95% ABV. Straight Whiskey must be aged in new, charred oak vessels for a minimum of two years.

 

So, to create Spirit Whiskey, you can blend a combination of the three, add artificial coloring and flavoring, so long as the Straight Whiskey component is less than 20% of the entire blend.

 

Spirit Whiskeys tend to be a good toe-dipping point for vodka drinkers curious if they might find whiskey interesting. However, from there, the chasm between Spirit Whiskey and nearly every other kind of whiskey (including Light Whiskey) is enormous.

 

I'm talking about Spirit Whiskey today because I'm reviewing 8PM Master's Reserve, produced by Radico Khaitan Ltd., which owns India's Rampur Distillery, among other brands.

 

"A rare signature blend of Grain whisky and scotch to achieve a perfect balance of strength and smoothness. Made with finest quality grain, this whisky is an epitome of lavishness and quality drinking. Enjoy an unparalleled experience of taste and witness a royal marriage of finesse and elegance." – Radico Khaitan Ltd.

 

There's not much information beyond that about 8PM Master's Reserve. I picked up a 50ml taster from a random Chicagoland liquor store. Let's #DrinkCurious and discover what this one is all about.

 

• Whiskey Type: Spirit Whiskey
• Distiller: Radico Khaitan Ltd. (Rampur Distillery)
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: Undisclosed (Batch 2966)
• Cooperage: Undisclosed
• Alcohol Content: 40% ABV (80°)
• Price per 750mL: $19.99

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this Spirit Whiskey neat. It was the color of golden straw, although I'm not sure how much that matters since color enhancement is allowed. A skinny rim formed, releasing thick, watery tears.

 

Nose: I allowed 8PM Master's Reserve to rest in my glass for about 10 minutes, as I generally do with most lower-proofed whiskeys I review. While I was waiting, a floral aroma filled the air of my whiskey library. I brought the glass beneath my nostrils and inhaled, and found lemon oil and vanilla. I'm not sure what happened to the floral notes, but they failed to appear again. When I drew the air into my mouth, I experienced something quite industrial. My face must have been interesting because Mrs. Whiskeyfellow just about lost it.

 

Palate: The texture was creamy… and the palate shock was extraordinarily bitter, enough to bring a tear or two to my eyes. There was industrial vanilla and something that tried to imitate peat, but it was like machinery in desperate need of lubrication. There might have been a front, middle, or back, but I couldn't get past those two sensations. My whole body shivered involuntarily.

 

Finish: The short finish was entirely too long. I could time it, but that would require yet another sip that I'm unwilling to take. Oy vey iz mir. It was chemical and bitter.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: There's no way to spin this positively. I've tasted a handful of godawful things in my years of reviewing whiskeys, and I don't recall anything being as offensive as 8PM Master's Reserve. It was beyond unpleasant. I've had excellent stuff from Rampur Distillery, but if this had been my introduction to what it produces, I'd be terrified to try anything else from it. My Bust rating is too high. Avoid 8PM Master's Reserve at all costs.

 

 

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.