Gurgaon: Amrut Distilleries, the pioneer of Indian single malt whisky, celebrating its 75th year in the industry, announces the launch of two new limited edition whiskies for the Gurgaon market exclusively. Amrut Bagheera (46% finish) and Amrut Portonova (48% finish) are the product of in-depth research on single malt whiskies carefully crafted with distinct tastes and characteristics. The new limited edition single malt whiskies were released by the world’s renowned whisky connoisseur Jim Murray along with Mr. Rakshit Jagdale, MD, Amrut Distilleries in Gurgaon today.
AMRUT BAGHEERA: 46% Finish: The new expression in India
Amrut Bagheera single malt whisky is inspired by Black Panthers in the lush, beautiful jungles of the Kabini River in Mysore. The single-malt whisky is made entirely from six-row barley aged in ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks. The rare and limited edition of single malt is named after the enigmatic Bagheera from Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book. This single malt exhibits vibrant fruity notes with a tone of dried fruits and peaches, complemented by mild orangey citrus, vanilla, and toffee.
AMRUT PORTONOVA: 48% Finish:
Amrut Portonova single malt whisky is made from selected Indian barley grown at the foot of the Himalayas, nurtured by the flowing waters, and cultivated through old and traditional agricultural practices. It is carefully mashed and distilled in small batches to preserve the natural aroma and matured in oak barrels in a unique tropical condition at an altitude of 3,000 feet above sea level in Bangalore, the garden city of India. This exclusive bottling of Amrut Cask Strength Single Malt offers the connoisseur the rare opportunity to sample this treasure of India.
On the occasion of the launch of the limited edition single malt whiskies, Mr. Rakshit Jagdale expresses, “Amrut Bagheera and Amrut Portonova are exclusive and premium expressions from our single malt whiskies portfolio, as these are limited edition and are launched here in Haryana. Our objective in releasing these two expressions in India is to offer a unique experience for whisky lovers. We see a rising demand in the premium and luxury categories of single malt whiskies as current Indian consumers have a wide knowledge of their choice of drinks. This is one of the driving factors that inspires us to craft limited editions of expressions.
On the launch of Amrut Bagheera and Amrut Portonova, Mr. Ashok Chokkalingam, Master Distiller and Head of International Sales, said, “The Portonova and Bagheera single malts have stories behind them, and they reflect the characteristics of the places. Our aim in crafting these single-malt whiskies with different flavour profiles is to offer a different experience. Portonova is a process of bourbon, port-pipe, and back to bourbon and is named after a small village called Portonova or Parangipettai (in Tamil). Bagheera is a blend of ex-bourbon and Oloroso casks, and the name is inspired by Kipling’s jungle book. These two limited edition single malt whiskies will be available only in the Gurgaon market in India”.
Taste Notes: AMRUT BAGHEERA:46% Finish
Nose: Salted caramel in tandem with dark chocolate. There is an array of fruity notes, presumably dried fruits, with an underlying oak tone. There is a hint of sandalwood, which becomes floral with time.
Taste:A fruity affair complemented by floral tones, and the experience is very oily too. The middle ground is creamy, and the sandalwood and wood phenols show their face but are completely controlled by an underlying peat note.
Finish: A sweet and dry peat finish.
Taste Notes:AMRUT PORTONOVA: 48% Finish
Nose: Extremely fruity, with toffee sweetness and tropical spices and hints of coconut and cracked black pepper.
Palate: Homemade red berry jam; caramel sweetness leads to tropical fruits and banana fritters; and some saltiness.
Finish: A very long and fruity end to this, with hints of raspberries and cranberries.
