Amrut Triparva: triple distilled Indian single malt
Ashok Chokalingam, Amrut’s Head Distiller, is one of the nicest guys you will come across in the world of whisky. I had the great pleasure of meeting him on several occasions, festivals and the like, most notably Maltstock in the Netherlands. Having a chat with this modest and kind man will make you a fan for life, and not only of his whisky. The family-owned Amrut Distillery was founded in 1948, and started producing whisky for blends already in the 1980s. Only in 2004 was Amrut launched as a single malt whisky. I remember from my early days of whisky enthusiasm that the brand had a loyal following, probably due to Ashok himself. But the whisky did the talking. I distinctly remember a few Blackadder bottlings that really caught the eye. The interesting thing about the Bangalorian distillery is that maturing whisky is troublesome, due to the hot climate. Whisky will evaporate quicker that you can spell Karnataka! A problem not uncommon in Asia, Kavalan seems to struggle with the same challenge. In any case, it gives a vibe all its own to the end result, as you will see in today’s tasting note.
Amrut Triparva, Indian Single Malt Whisky, bottled at 50 % abv
First things first: Triple distilled Amrut bottled at 50 % abv in a batch of 5400 bottles. This is the first batch that was filled in August 2020. No age statement.
Upon Sipping: A burst of fruit explodes onto the nostrils with great joy. What a happy, vibrant malt we have here! Lots of tropical delights, like papaya, mango, lychees, and tangerine that squirts in your eyes when you try peeling it. Very mature without losing a certain playfulness. The delight continues when you take a sip. Despite it being a little hot, the fruit promise of the nose is fully delivered on the palate. Oh my, it would be fun to put this in a line up with fruity examples from 1970s Benriach, Tomatin and Fettercain, and then see how it stands out. Only when you add a little water, some youthful flaws are revealed with a little cardboard on the finish. Just avoid adding any and you will have the perfect afternoon aperitive drink. Very balanced maturation.
Word to the Wise: Mighty fruit whisky, warranting a high score. I was a bit sceptic about the price for a NAS triple distilled Indian single malt, but it is actually bang for your buck once you have tasted it.
Score: 88 points.
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