February 2019

Amrut Peated Indian Single Malt Whisky

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / ,

Amrut Peated Indian Single Malt Whisky

46% ABV
$80
Website

What the Distiller Says

According to Indian mythology, when the Gods and Rakshasas – the demons – churned the oceans using the mountain Meru, a golden pot sprang out of the oceans containing the “elixir of life”. This was called the “Amrut”.  The great founders of our distillery aptly named it Amrut Distilleries.

Amrut Single Malt Whisky Peated is a product of many years of research and development with an aim to produce world class whiskies. This whisky is made from the finest imported Scottish peated barley.

It is carefully mashed and distilled in small batches to preserve the natural aromas and matured in oak barrels in unique tropical conditions at an altitude of 3,000 feet above sea level at Bangalore, the “garden city” of India. To retain the natural characteristics of this oak aged Indian Single Malt Whisky we do not chill filter and it is bottled straight from the barrel in its natural color.

Tasting Notes
Nose: Unusually dry peat; not dissimilar to peat reek absorbed by an old leather armchair; a hint of citrus, too
Taste: Despite the nose, the immediate sensation is one of being caressed by molassed sugar and then a ratching up of the peat notes. As they get more forceful, so the experience becomes that little bit drier and spicier, though not without the molasses refusing to give way
Finish: You can tell the quality of the distillate and the barrels it has been matured in by the crystalline depth to the finish. Everything is clear on the palate and the butterscotch vanillas wrap the phenols for a comfortable and clean finale

What Gary Says

Nose: Peat! Seriously, loads of peat, with some exotic wood, incense, and mustiness in the background.
Palate: Sweet Earthy malt, some hints of fruit with vegetal notes.
Finish: Short to moderate in length, on the damp side.
Comments: Nothing off putting, but a bit one-dimensional for me. The nose is heavy on the peat, and on the palate it is sweet and earthy, but all of the exotic subtly I get from Amrut Single Malt is lost in this offering. Definitely unique though, and I applaud them for trying, but not something that I’d rush out and buy a bottle of (not without trying first!)

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Amrut Indian Single Malt Cask Strength Whisky

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Amrut Indian Single Malt Cask Strength Whisky

61.8% ABV
$80-$90
Website

What the Distiller Says

According to Indian mythology, when the Gods and Rakshasas – the demons – churned the oceans using the mountain Meru, a golden pot sprang out of the oceans containing the “elixir of life”. This was called the “Amrut”.  The great founders of our distillery aptly named it Amrut Distilleries.

Amrut Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky is a product of many years of research and development with an aim to produce world class whiskies. This whisky is made from select Indian barley, grown at the foot of the Himalayas, nurtured by the waters flowing there and cultivated by traditional agricultural practices.

It is carefully mashed and distilled in small batches to preserve the natural aromas and matured in oak barrels in unique tropical conditions at an altitude of 3,000 feet above sea level at Bangalore, the “garden city” of India. To retain the natural characteristics of this oak aged Indian Single Malt Whisky we do not chill filter and it is bottled straight from the barrel in its natural color.

Tasting Notes
Nose: Classic house style with glorious bourbon notes fused with the richest of barley statements; not entirely unlike caramelised biscuit dunked in coffee; oh, and a bit of spicy attitude, too
Taste: There we go with that unique bitter-sweet overture where the oaks and barley appear joined at the hip; lovely soft oils and then a sharp jolt of blood orange citrus, which is removed by something more buttery and delicate
Finish: Long, elegant with the most intricate of fades with the oaks showing various bourbon then buttery characteristics; there is a trace of dark sugar and cocoa to help it along its way

What Gary Says

Nose: Musty, exotic wood, vegetal (celery perhaps?), rubber, worn leather, fresh tobacco, a bit of smoke and toasted orange zest.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel, warm, twangy sweet – dark fruits with an exotic citrus note, almost sherry-like – building to a sharp spice with allspice and pepper.
Finish: Short to moderate in length with a drying, musty spice note coasting in smoke.
Comments: I’ll admit that subconsciously, when I see the term “single malt whisky”, my mind (and apparently nose/palate) go to single malt Scotch. To me, the primary theme that came across with this lovely pour was ‘exotic’, which according to Merriam-Webster can mean “strikingly, excitingly, or mysteriously different or unusual”. This absolutely is how this whisky hit me. This is the first Amrut offering I’ve studied carefully, and I really enjoyed it. It brings a sweetness that reminds me a little of a lightly sherried single malt Scotch, but still a bit different. It takes water well, lessening the degree that it sharpens but not knocking the spice out of the picture.

Rating: Stands Out

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Clan Macgregor Scotch Whisky

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Clan Macgregor Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$11
Website

What the Blender Says

The Taste
Fifteen of Scotland’s finest malt and select grain whiskies from the Scottish highlands, lowlands and the heart of Speyside have been skillfully blended to create the smooth and mellow, award winning flavour of Clan MacGregor. The result is a high quality, light and fragrant whisky with a well-balanced, smooth, mellow taste that resonates with whisky drinkers across the world.
Explore the flavours and aromas from one of the finest blended Scotch whiskies.
COLOUR: Straw gold
NOSE: Distinctive sweetness, vanilla, malted, drying, hints of smoke
TASTE: Rich, grainy sweetness, hints of dry smoke, baked apple, biscuity, smooth, malty, lingering
FINISH: Long, clean, delicate sweetness

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweet malted grain, slightly sour vegetal grain note with sea weed/salted sea air brine; hint of alcohol.
Palate:  Thin mouthfeel; young, sweet malty grain.
Finish:  Short and forgetful.
Comments:  I’m a big believer in thoroughness, including exploring the bottom shelf/value brands – at least once if only to appreciate the difference (and sometimes re-visiting later is helpful). I hadn’t ever explored this area in Scotch, so figured it was about time. Sometimes that journey is a pleasant surprise that finds something you really enjoy, and value above the already inexpensive price tag. This wasn’t one of those. This fit squarely in my expectations. Nothing objectionable, but nothing that left me wanting more.

Rating: Probably Pass

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George T Stagg (2018)

/ / Bourbon, Review /

George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

2018 Release
62.45% ABV
$90 to ??? (retail has gotten unpredictable)
Website
Stagg

What the Distiller Says

This extremely hearty whiskey ages in new charred oak barrels for no less than 15 years. Straight out of the barrel, uncut and unfiltered, the taste is powerful, flavorful and intense. Open it up with a few drops of water, sit back and ponder the wonders of the universe.

The 2018 release is comprised of barrels aged for more than 15 years and 4 months.

TASTING NOTES:
Lush toffee sweetness and dark chocolate with hints of vanilla, fudge, nougat and molasses. Underlying notes of dates, tobacco, dark berries, spearmint and a hint of coffee round out the palate.

What Gary Says:

Nose: Rich dark chocolate, charred oak, vanilla, brown sugar, cigar paper; bit of water tamps the oak, brightens it and brings out more caramel with toffee.
Palate: Warm, dark chocolate with vanilla, raisins, hint of cherries, cinnamon; bit of water brings out malted chocolate candy with milk chocolate and caramel.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with a spicy smoke note.
Comments: Very similar to the 2014 (in fact, I took a bit of both vintages, brought them down to 100 proof – and found them virtually identical).  Which is to say delicious.  My track record of never meeting a George T. Stagg I didn’t like remains unscathed.

Rating: Must Buy

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George T Stagg (2014)

/ / Bourbon, Review /

George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

2014 Release
69.05% ABV
$80 to $100 (retail)
Website
Stagg

What the Distiller Says

This extremely hearty whiskey ages in new charred oak barrels for no less than 15 years. Straight out of the barrel, uncut and unfiltered, the taste is powerful, flavorful and intense. Open it up with a few drops of water, sit back and ponder the wonders of the universe.

The 2014 release is comprised of barrels aged for more than 16 years and 4 months.

TASTING NOTES:
Lush toffee sweetness and dark chocolate with hints of vanilla, fudge, nougat and molasses. Underlying notes of dates, tobacco, dark berries, spearmint and a hint of coffee round out the palate.

What Gary Says:

Nose: Rich dark chocolate, charred oak, vanilla, molasses, cigar paper; bit of water tamps the oak and brings out more brown sugar and toffee.
Palate: Warm, bitter chocolate with vanilla, raisins, cinnamon; bit of water brings out more caramel, more milk chocolate and mixed nuts.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with a smokey note of dark roasted coffee.
Comments: I have never met a George T. Stagg that I didn’t like. Are some years “better” than others? I suppose if you’re blessed to have multiples laying around to compare – sure.
I’ve never had one that I thought wasn’t pretty damn great. Where does this sit? No idea; I did a blind side-by-side between this and the 2018 vintage – which is 13 proof points lower – and found the differences to be few/far between. This is one of those that if I ever see it retail (stop laughing, it might happen again some day) and it isn’t marked up obscenely – it’s an automatic buy for me.

Rating: Must Buy

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