Amrut Indian Whiskey

[DeanSheen]

Amrut has hit the states.

I received notice today that it is available in NYC. They have the Peated CS Single Malt, Fusion, and regular Single Malt versions.

[Dramiel McHinson]

Amrut has hit the states.

I received notice today that it is available in NYC. They have the Peated CS Single Malt, Fusion, and regular Single Malt versions.

Tell us more. Inquiring palates want to know:drink:

[silverfish]

Here's a Luxist piece from Feb 25th.

"Just prior to its U.S. entry, noted whisky writer Jim Murray

rated Amrut Fusion "third best whisky in the world in his 2010

"Whisky Bible," rating it 97. The rating stunned the whisky

establishment, especially in Scotland.

Prices range from $45.00 for the Single-Malt to $72.00

for the Peated Cask Strength.

Amrut's distributor says the initial foray will be New York,

New Jersey, Illinois and Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Park Ave. Liquor and Astor Wines & Spirits are among the

retailers taking pre-orders. In Boston, it's Federal Wine &

Spirits. In Chicago, it's Binny's. The initial shipment will be

900 cases. But by the end of the year, Amrut expects to

have 3000 cases circulating. It will go into Florida, Texas

and California by year-end."

John Hansell mentioned them on March 29th.

Amrut website lists the Single Malt variants.

[Dramiel McHinson]

One of the highest rated whiskys for the same price as some of the mid shelf scotches is one of those bang for the buck bottles you just gotta have. I'm on my way to Florida.......

[StraightBoston]

I was fortunate to finish off a private-label bottling of the Amrut single malt at cask strength at a bar in Tokyo last week. I'm not a Scotch drinker, and I was very impressed. I'll hunt down the Fusion at Julio's when it comes out.

[unclebunk]

I'll be checking with Binny's here in Chicago tomorrow. It's kind of hard for me to get my head around the notion of great whisky coming from India, but after all that I've read I can't wait to pick up a bottle.

[cowdery]

I've heard good things about Amrut but haven't had a chance to try it.

[DeanSheen]

Sorry,

I found it at Astor Wines in NYC.

(I am in no way affiliated with this retailer, simply posting the location as a public service.)

[BigRich]

I tried most of them at last year's WFNYC and the Fusion stood head and shoulders above the other offerings.

[Gillman]

I bought the Fusion here, it is very good and I like the proof. Big biscuity and Islay-like flavours.

Gary

[Megawatt]

I opened my bottle of Amrut Fusion tonight. I found it somewhat floral, quite sweet, with a decent hit of peat. Good complexity and a very nice finish. I look forward to getting better acquainted with this one.

[JamesW]

I bought the Fusion here, it is very good and I like the proof. Big biscuity and Islay-like flavours.

Gary

Same here. But I think I like the peated slightly better.

[Megawatt]

Same here. But I think I like the peated slightly better.

Already discontinued, I'm afraid.

[JamesW]

Already discontinued, I'm afraid.

....................................

[Megawatt]

On the topic of Indian whisky, the LCBO has brought in Desert Queen, an Indian blend, bottled at some weird proof like 42.5%. It seems most Indian blends are bottled at such a strength. It is only $24.95, I believe.

I'm curious but a bit wary because I've heard that Indian blends can be little more than imported Scotch mixed with industrial alcohol. I'm also not sure about their aging policies. Still, I'm curious to try it.

[Gillman]

Well, I can help.

I bought it to conduct an experiment, which was to blend grain spirit with malt whiskies, about 50/50. In the 1800's, in Scotland as well as here, grain spirit, i.e., un-aged, was used to blend with straight or single whiskies, and the practice carries on in the States for American (blended) whisky. I wanted to use real grain spirit though, not vodka as such. In British countries or those under that tradition, grain spirit, which in time can become grain whisky, can have some taste and be less neutral than vodka. The Desert Queen bottle states it uses grain spirit and malt whisky, proportions not disclosed. So I bought it and tried it of course on its own. Can't say it's a favourite. Quite bland with some whisky flavour, and I think I got some caramel flavor too. Then too it is not that expensive, so fair enough. However, mixed 50/50 with a mix of malts (my own again) I thought it made an excellent lighter Scotch.

Gary

[Megawatt]

Well, I can help.

I bought it to conduct an experiment, which was to blend grain spirit (GNS basically) with malt whiskies, about 50/50. In the 1800's, in Scotland as well as here, neutral spirit was used to blend with straight or single whiskies, and the practice carries on in the States for American (blended) whisky. I wanted to use real grain spirit though, not vodka as such. In British countries or those under that tradition, grain whisky can have some taste and be less neutral than vodka. So I bought it and tried it of course on its own. Can't say it's a favourite. Quite bland with some whisky flavour, somewhat caramel-flavoured too. Then too it is not that expensive, so fair enough. However mixed 50/50 with a mix of malts (my own again) I thought it made an excellent lighter Scotch.

Gary

You are talking about Desert Queen? I thought it contained malt as well as grain. At least the distiller's description would lead one to believe it does. But maybe I should avoid going out of my way to buy a cheap blend.

[Gillman]

Right, it appears to be a combination of grain whisky and malt whisky, but how much of each is not stated, and I assumed the malt whisky component is low, from the taste and price. I wanted a whisky where I could increase the malt part, in other words. I mixed it 50/50 with a mix of malts I had. So if the Indian whisky had 20% malt say (just throwing out a number), the blend ended up 70% malt, 30% grain whisky. If it had 10%, then my blend was 60% malt.

Just making a richer blend basically. But to buy something to drink as is as most would, I'd take any Scotch blend on the market over the Desert Queen, any difference in price is worth it IMO.

Gary

[Megawatt]

Right, it appears to be a combination of grain whisky and malt whisky, but how much of each is not stated, and I assumed the malt whisky component is low, from the taste and price. I wanted a whisky where I could increase the malt part, in other words. I mixed it 50/50 with a mix of malts I had. So if the Indian whisky had 20% malt say (just throwing out a number), the blend ended up 70% malt, 30% grain whisky. If it had 10%, then my blend was 60% malt.

Just making a richer blend basically. But to buy something to drink as is as most would, I'd take any Scotch blend on the market over the Desert Queen, any difference in price is worth it IMO.

Gary

[silverfish]

Amrut Fusion is awarded Malt Advocate's World Whisky of the Year.

[cowdery]

I assume that Canada's laws are similar to ours and the EU's, so that the many 'whiskies' sold in India that have a sugar cane base cannot be imported into our countries as whisky. If it's labeled as whisky it must have a grain base. However, just like the least expensive scotch blends, the malt whisky component is likely very small.

[Gillman]

I agree and it tastes like a Scotch-style blend, but the malt whisky component is, judging by the taste, not large.

Gary

[cowdery]

I've only had it at WhiskeyFest. I found it quite pleasant, better than I expected, but very superficial, almost a scotch-by-the-numbers. It might hit the sweet spot for some people but it didn't for me.

[StraightNoChaser]

Anyone else a little apprehensive about drinking anything that was made in India? Not that this stems from any sort of racist sensitivity... It has just always been my impression that India is a very, very dirty and unhygienic culture/country. Pictures of dead bodies floating in the Ganges river probably did that one in for me.

[unclebunk]

After reading many decent reviews, I picked up a bottle of the Amrut Single Malt Whisky and was largely unimpressed. I guess I should have spent a bit more and gotten the Fusion which seems to get more favorable reviews. I'm just having trouble dropping $60 for it when I can buy many premium quality single malts for that price.