Amrut Single Malt Cask Strength Whisky 70cl 61.8%

Bottled at natural cask strength, this uncoloured and non-chill filtered single malt is produced from a blend of several American oak barrels. It is a well structured single malt with great balance between the oak, barley and citrus notes. Softer than you might expect from the high strength, but still intensely flavoured. It starts with sweetness and spice, cinnamon toast, Dutch Speculaas biscuits, clove-studded oranges and a touch of bitter barrel char. As it develops in the glass, more tropical fruit notes develop; papaya, star fruit and the mango from the nose. Best consumed with a splash of mineral water. In the 2010 Whisky Bible, whisky expert Jim Murray awarded Amrut Fusion Single Malt Whisky (not the whisky on offer here but from the same distillery) the title of Third Finest Whisky in the World. Murray said Fusion was 'one of the great whiskies found anywhere in the world'. Admitting his choice could come as a surprise to some people, he said: 'The fact that it is Indian? Irrelevant, from distillation to maturation this is a genius whisky from whichever continent.'