Review #105: Amrut 2008, Blackadder, 62.7%, Cask #BA 1/2008, oak cask matured, 277 bottles

I have no idea when this was distilled.

It was bottled in June 2008 in Scotland. I wonder if it was aged in India, though -- that's a pretty high abv. Nice coppery color, anyway, despite its presumable youth.

Anyway, I was saying yesterday that I think Amrut can be overrated because it's unusual. I don't mean to say it isn't good, but I think it plays better to people who give ratings than it should. But I haven't tried any of these Blackadder casks yet.

nose: I kind of like this: it's a nice combination of sour and greasy before the phenols really kick in. If there are any fruit, they're pretty lean -- maybe some grapefruit rind and some plums that shouldn't have been picked yet. Then there's the part I don't like: a gristly, sour milk note, like youth that is where it doesn't belong. Some nice sweet apples and a little meatiness come through at the end -- maybe I just need more patience. Really starts opening up -- starts to become spicy and floral.

palate: not that big a monster -- more like two sharp blows: first peat smoke and then spicy, woody apples with vanilla. slightly numbing.

finish: the vanilla fades, the peat and alcohol are still numbing, and an odd (for me) gristly, sour, greasy note reasserts itself. not my favorite part.


This might be a little at odds with itself, but it turns out I was wrong about it being overrated. (Although I still don't like the Cask Strength.) There's a lot going on and it packs a punch.

score: 88