Amrut Cask Strength

Amrut is one of my favourite distilleries and consistently turns out winners as far as I’m concerned. Most of the expressions I’ve enjoyed are at or near cask strength. My first experience with the cask strength was the 2007 limited edition version which I found in a miniature. I loved it enough that I bought several large bottles over the next 2 years. However I am not reviewing the 2007 edition…

The unpeated CS comes in numbered batches. Curiously, all but the 2007 edition are bottled at 61.8%. Could this be a coincidence similar to the Glenfarclas 105?

This bottle was opened at the Ontario Summit 8 days ago, is 80% full and has been preserved with gas. It is reviewed in my usual manner, allowing it to settle after which I take my nosing and tasting notes, followed by the addition of a few drops of water, waiting, then nosing and tasting.

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Nose:

Neat – On first sniff I could be excused for thinking I was nosing a bourbon. Rich vanilla and caramel notes. Sweet. With time, a little pineapple in the background, maybe some green banana, maybe apple? 22/25

With water – Tropical fruits begin to come to the foreground. Not much else seems to change. (22/25)

With the “Modified Ashok Manoeuvre” (MAM), specifically designed for Amrut whiskies, I get some clove or nutmeg on the nose. However the alcohol vapour becomes a little overwhelming.

Taste:

Neat – Sweet and sour, hot from the ABV. Loads of vanilla and caramel. Definitely reminiscent of a dry bourbon. Not as much fruit as on the nose. 21/25

With water – Much sweeter, more fruity, some spices appear. With more water the flavours are intensified. (23/25)

With warming (MAM) the flavours explode in the palate, with bourbon-forward vanilla, fruits, caramel. Very much like the taste after water was added but cranked up to a whole new level! ((24/25))

Finish: Long, dry, bitter but not unpleasantly so, slight sourness lingers. 21/25 With water the finish shortens, but is not very altered.

Balance: The nose and palate go well together. There is complexity in this spirit but you have to look for it. If you don’t it’s also a pleasant sipping dram to enjoy in its entirety. 22/25

Score: Neat - 86/100 With Water: 88/100

With water and warming: 89/100

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This is an excellent single malt. I seem to remember the cask strength as more “awesome” the last time I had a bottle open but it has been a while. My memory may be clouded by my intervening enjoyment of a bottle of the Single (Bourbon) Cask that was available in Ontario, which a little more complex and probably a little older.

It must be noted that, like many Amrut expressions, this goes very well with Trader Joe’s Milk Chocolate.

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