amrut fusion

Malt Advocate Shocks Scotland: Names Indian Amrut "World Whisky of the Year"

Filed under: Spirits

The influential Malt Advocate Magazine has named Indian whisky Amrut Fusion "World Whisky of the Year."

It is the second major honor bestowed upon Amrut's Fusion, having been named third best whiskey of the year in the 2010 edition of "The Whisky Bible." This time, it scored top of the heap worldwide, besting and shocking Scotland, American and Canadian whiskey producers.

World Whisky of the Year is a new award category for the magazine. Editor John Hansell says: "We created this category to recognize that there are some wonderful whiskies being produced in countries like Japan, India, Sweden, England, and many more, but there aren't enough whiskies made in any of these countries (and imported to the United States) to warrant their own category."

Amrut Fusion, about $60.00, sold in the U.S. bears no age statement, but contains no whisky aged more than six years old. Much of the whisky in Fusion is less than four years in the barrel. Aging in second-fill casks in India speeds maturation because of India's warm climate. The whisky is made from combining Indian malted barley with peated Scottish malt.

For the benefit of the uninitiated, Amrut Distilleries Ltd. belongs to the N.R. Jagdale Group, which is an old line Indian industrial company based in Bangalore. The company also produces vodka, gin, brandy and rum.

Malt Advocate awards honors for several other categories. Of the six major product awards, it is worth noting that only one is currently priced above $100.00.

Click links below for detailed Luxist reviews and inormation about the products and distillieries.

Scotch Whisky Single Malt of the Year
Glenfarclas 40-Year old: At $460.00 Malt Advocate calls this single-malt a "steal."

Scotch Whisky Blend of the Year
Compass Box "Flaming Heart": A blend of malt whiskies from seven distilleries in three regions of Scotland, Compass Box proves again that you don't have to make your own whisky to produce great blends. Price: About $85.00.

Tags: Amrut Fusion, Buffalo Trace, Compass Box, Forty Creek Confederation Oak, Glenfarclas, Kilchoman, Malt Advocate, Rebreast 12 Year Old, Whisky Bible, World Whisky of the World

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Six Lovely Whiskies To Buy For Valentine's Day

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Whiskey for Valentine's Day? Why not.

It's not there aren't any female whiskey aficionados. But I will say most of these suggestions seem to me to be much more appropriate for men than women. After all, how many really great Valentine's Day gifts are there for men? Jewelry? Sure, for the right man, who wants a new ring or cuff-links. Bracelets? Not so much. Please.

But whiskey, special whiskies, for the whiskey loving man? That's a can't miss present. But not just any whiskey. Given the nature of the day, look for a whisky that is lush, special, characteristics. Deep amber colors, nice age, finishes of chocolate and marzipan. To do it right, think "sex in a glass."

Here are six suggestions that fit the bill. And they all should be available at better liquor stores with a decent whiskey selection.

Glenmorangie 18-year old: Price $100.00
Once it has spent 15 years maturing in American white oak casks approximately 30% is transferred into Spanish Oloroso casks to spend a further three years maturing. Then, when both have reached 18 years, it is blended back together to create a whisky with a rich bouquet and full, rounded flavor. The taste is balanced between honey, malt and flowery scents. Dates and figs emerge in the background with a hint of wood smoke. Think of Glenmorangie 18-year old like having candy, flowers and a wood fire all in the one glass.

Amrut Fusion: $50-$65.00
Introduce your mate to a whisky he or she has probably never tried. This whisky, from India, is one of the best in the world, especially under $100. Combining Indian malt and peated Scottish malt, it has a sweet side, but not too sweet. The taste includes vanilla custard, peat, dried pineapple. It will be unexpected, like a good gift should be.

Tags: amrut fusion, ardbeg corryvrecken, crown royal, Glenmorangie 18, Parkers Heritage Collection, Valentines Day gifts, whiskey, whisky

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Whisky Bible Awards Ballantine's and Buffalo Trace Top Three 2011 Honors

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

A blended scotch whisky, Ballantine's 17-Year Old, was named #1 whisky in the world in the 2010 edition of The Whisky Bible by author and influential whisky rater Jim Murray.

Second place went to Thomas H Handy Sazerac Rye (129 proof), and third place went to William Larue Weller (134.8 proof)-both from the same Kentucky distillery: Buffalo Trace.

Speaking at the publication of the Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2011, Jim Murray said, "Blends are seen by many as the poor relations to single malts. Ballantine's 17 proves, quite spectacularly, what many of us have known for a great many years: it isn't. A blender has the chance to create something unique and quite beautiful by putting together many whisky styles. With Ballantine's 17, the blender has done his job in glorious, quite majestic fashion." The average price for Ballantine's 17 has been $86.00, but that is likely to climb now.

Murray is hardly a new fan of Ballantine's 17, naming it Best Scotch Blend in his 2010 Whisky Bible. Giving the blend 97.5 points out of 100 this year, Jim Murray describes the whisky as "one of the most beautiful, complex and stunningly structured whiskies ever created."

Sainsbury's Dún Léire Aged 8 Years Single Malt, won Irish Whiskey of the Year, the first time a supermarket brand has gained top country honors in The Whisky Bible. Produced by the Cooley Distillery for Sainsbury's Jim Murray said, "This is Cooley at its best and a very astute and masterful piece of whiskey buying".

Last year, the World Whisky Award went to Sazerac 18 Year Old Kentucky Rye. No. 2 went to Ardbeg Supernova single-malt, and the no. 3 honor was bestowed, to the shock of many, to Indian Whisky Amrut Fusion.

Conducted over a four month period, while writing the 2011 Whisky Bible, Jim Murray tasted in excess of 1000 whiskies to reach his final decisions.

Gallery: Whiskey Bible Winners