Amrut Peated Indian Single Malt Whisky Review

 

If you’ve not yet delved into the magical world of Indian Single Malts, but you’re a fan of Scotch whiskies, you may be missing out on a wonderful experience. Indian Single Malts share characteristics of Speyside and Highland Malts. What differentiates whiskies from these two nations is the use of six-row barley in India versus two-row nearly everywhere else and the significant climate differences. 

 

Amrut is the original single malt distillery of India. Founded in Bengaluru in 1948, it didn’t produce its first single malt whisky until 2004. It grabbed worldwide attention when Jim Murray gave Amrut Fusion a 97 rating in 2010. Its name, Amrut, translated from Sanskrit, means nectar of the gods.

 

Bengaluru is about 3000 feet above sea level, with temperatures between 61°F and 94°F, while the average humidity is 66%. The climate causes whisky to age about 3.5 times yearly compared to what Scotland experiences, translating to about 12% loss annually to the angels.

 

Today I’m sipping on Amrut Indian Peated Single Malt. Unlike many Indian single malts, including those from Amrut, this version is distilled from 100% peated barley sourced from Scotland. The phenols are between 20 and 25 ppm. Although it has no age statement, it spent four to six years in former Bourbon barrels and new, charred oak. It is non-chill filtered, naturally colored, and weighs in at 46% ABV (92°). You can expect to pay around $78.00 for a 750ml package.

 

Before I get to my tasting notes, I want to thank Glass Revolution Imports (Amrut's US importer) for providing me a sample of this whisky in exchange for a no-strings-attached, honest review. Now, it is time to #DrinkCurious.

• Whiskey Type: Indian Single Malt
• Distiller: Amrut 
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: 100% peated Scottish malted barley
• Cooperage: Former Bourbon barrels and new, charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 46% ABV (92°)
• Price per 750mL: $109.99

Appearance: I poured this whisky into my Glencairn glass and sipped it neat. Inside, it resembled matte gold. A medium rim formed and released fast, long tears.

 

Nose: I encountered smells of peat, allspice, molasses, date, and barbequed meats. As I inhaled through my lips, I found earthy peat notes.

 

Palate: The light and airy mouthfeel introduced me to flavors of vanilla, dates, and fried plantains on the front of my palate, while the middle consisted of smoked meats, toffee, and citrus. I tasted salted caramel, charred oak, and clove on the back.

 

Finish: Amrut Peated featured one of those Energizer Bunny finishes. It went on and on for what seemed like forever. It was spicy with peat, smoke, and charred oak but also mellowed with a gob of salted caramel.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: There is nothing here to dislike unless you don’t care for peated whiskies. Considering the name, the peat is expected. However, it doesn’t drown out other flavors. Between the sweet, smoky, and savory notes, I found it just lovely. Amrut Peated is a whisky you should have in your whiskey library, and as such, it earns my Bottle rating. 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.