The Guys at Amrut Single Malt never cease to surprise, and this new expression is one of their new releases for 2011. Batch #1 was a success, and batch #2 follows , but with some radical changes: different casks havebeen used for the maturation. Instead of ex-grain casks, second-fill bourbon casks
have been used this time. The Amrut Two Continents Second Edition has also
been bottled – in individually numbered bottles – at 50% abv, not 46% abv. Why two continents you ask? Two Continents refers to the fact that this is matured first in India and then Europe, where climate is drastically different than India’s. Using the finest barley from India’s fertile North West provinces, the single malt whisky is created at Amrut’s distillery in Bangalore, the vibrant city which sits at 3,000 feet above sea level in the tropical
heat of Southern India. Four casks of Amrut Single Malt Whisky were shipped from Asia to a secret location in the temperate climate of Europe and matured for a further period of two years. cool eh?
I was fortunate enough to have received a preview sample of this one, which goes on sale start of October 2011. Quantities are indeed small (larger than batch #1, though. with 360 bottles for the US market, and 900 for Europe and rest of the world).
Amrut two continents , batch #2 , 50% ABV, 960 bottles (worldwide)
Nose: starts with an avalanche of vanilla , rose water , some wood varnish. Exotic fruit , and baklava.
Palate: malty spicy, with a nutty edge. Oak and cumin. A rather unique combination.
Finish: bitter wood, dough, spice, bread crust.
Bottom line:
A very interesting dram, at 50% it’s very very good,I’d say more East than west with the spices, vanilla and baklava and cumin. Good stuff, and what a great experiment in maturation. Keep it up Amrut.