With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to think about the perfect gift for the whisky lovers in your life. Whether the recipient enjoys smoky, peaty notes or prefers a softer fruity finish, Indian whiskies have a wide variety to offer. Our Spirits Guru, James Bunting, has put together a handy guide to help you find the ideal match.
If they like a rich and decadent whisky to go with the Christmas pudding… try Rampur Asava
Rampur Asava is matured in ex-bourbon barrels to bring out plenty of tropical fruits from the underlying spirit but the whisky is then finished for a period in Indian Cabernet Sauvignon casks, which is when it really comes into its own. The wine cask has added sumptuous notes of red fruit, tobacco and a hint of dark chocolate that you just know will be perfect after a rich Christmas feast. The Indian climate has intensified these notes in a way you rarely find in a Scotch whisky, even those sherried Speyside wonders, so this is going to be the whisky you keep coming back to even long after the turkey is gone.
Buy this for your loved one if…
They love a rich, sherried whisky that sings of fruit and spice.
2. If they like peaty, smoky and intense whiskies that taste like the best open fires… try Amrut Peated
Does your giftee have a love for smoky, peaty whiskies? Amrut Peated is a brilliant option that balances a delightful smokiness with rich oak, demerara sugar and ginger spice. With a slightly higher ABV of 46%, this whisky has the weight and punch to carry that smoke well and balance it with plenty of classic maltiness. This isn’t Islay-style iodine, this is altogether more nuanced and the perfect whisky for an open fire and a cheese board.
Buy this for your loved one if…
They love fires, smoked cheese or expensive cigars.
3. If they like elegant whisky with layers and depths of flavour to uncover… try Rampur Double Cask
Rampur Double Cask has spent the first portion of its maturation in American oak ex-bourbon casks before transferring to European oak ex-sherry casks. This might all sound very technical but the the key takeout is the depth of flavour that these two casks provide and the wonderful interplay between them. The American oak provides tropical fruit, coconut and some elegant vanilla before the European oak added in plenty of spice and berries. It’s a whisky you can enjoy at Christmas but all year round as well - perfect!
Buy this for your loved one if…
They’re a whisky lover who gets geeky about cask profiles, barley types and maturation conditions.
4. If they like a classic whisky profile and want to dream of the beaches of Goa… try Paul John Brilliance.
For whisky drinkers who always reach for the classics, Paul John Brilliance is the drop for them. This whisky hits every note you could ever want in a whisky, from barley and cinnamon through to caramel, vanilla, nutmeg and plenty of citrus fruits.
Matured exclusively in ex-bourbon barrels, Brilliance showcases what the Indian climate can do to maturation, accelerating the notes you’d expect in older whiskies and making them the stars of the show. Brilliant.
Buy this for your loved one if…
You know they look for the best example of everything they’re into.
Need some more ideas for Christmas? Take a look at our Indian wine pairing recommendations for your festive meal as well as our guide to winter flavour pairing recommendations using Indian drinks.
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