Tasting the new Amrut ‘Portonova’

Another very interesting Amrut is out, and this one is nothing but boring. Like the Kahdambam and sherry intermediate, this one has been aged in several types of barrels:

The unpeated Amrut single malt was matured initially in a combination of new American oak and ex-Bourbon barrels. Then it was transferred to once-used Port pipes imported specially from Portugal before being put back into ex-Bourbon casks. Interesting experiment, and hence the name Portonova. Ashok C. sales person for Amrut explains: “This was a maturation we just had to try,The Indian links to Portugal go back centuries, so it was natural that we should want to put our whisky into barrels that had spent time there. It’s also a new port of call for Amrut”

I had the pleasure of trying out a wee sample of this one (in a blind tasting, I had no idea which Amrut this one was) , and immediately took to it, I had guessed it was something with port and wine but it was a longshot. This Amrut should be available for sale in the US and Europe from mid December.  Here are my notes:

Amrut Portonova , 61.2% ABV , $115 (US)

Nose – Sweet golden syrup, quite a few winey notes here, tannins flying high. exotic fruit in liquor : banana bread.

Palate: Big fortified wine, port. a lot of coconut, spices, banana and milk chocolate. This is a luscious mouth coating beast.

Finish : Milk chocolate, cherries (think Kirsch liquor)

All in all, an excellent dram, one of the best from Amrut in a while. It’s a wham bam in your face sort of dram. Worth getting, and at that high ABV, it’s a wonderful way to pass winter.

Score: 90/100

Sincere thanks to Ashok for providing the official sample.