Amrut Peated Indian Single Malt Cask Strength Review: A Taste of Islay from India?

When you think of Indian whisky, the Amrut brand undoubtedly springs to mind. The distillery is one of the country’s best known and has released countless expressions.

Whisky is often called the water of life, from the Gaelic word ‘uisge beatha’. In India, there’s a completely different word for whisky. In Old Indian, the drink is called Amrut which is also the name of the distillery based in Bangalore.

The distillery already has a wide array of Indian whiskies to its name, including a remarkable meeting of Scotland’s signature peat and Amrut’s distinctly Indian character.

This whisky is distilled using specially selected peated barley from Scotland. The distillery flew it in and set to work at 3,000 feet above sea level, in a tropical climate. The result is Amrut Peated Indian Single Malt Cask Strength whisky.

Amrut generally uses a standard bottle for its whiskies, and this Peated Indian Single Malt is no exception. The glass bottle has a slightly rounded neck and carries a stylish green label, with a mountain picked out in gold. It’s a modest vessel for the nectar of the gods within.

The same mountain appears on the dark green metal tube the bottle comes in. On the back, there’s space for Amrut’s story and a quick overview of this whisky, with the distillery expressing the hope that connoisseurs will appreciate the spirit. Another touch of humility.

One detail on the tube does stand out. Against the green, a yellow panel pops. It highlights a noteworthy achievement: Amrut scored a full 92 points with this whisky, a badge of pride that’s become a permanent part of the tube. A promising sign.

The whisky pours an old gold that almost leans copper. As it hits the glass, you can tell this dram will be highly aromatic. On the nose, smoke makes an immediate entrance, the kind you smell when you stoke wood chips in the fireplace or a campfire.

If you hadn’t seen the bottle or tube, you might think you were dealing with an Islay whisky. Given the ingredients, that’s not surprising. Alongside the smoke come notes of citrus, ripe banana and sea salt, with a hint of dark fruit.

Once it hits the palate, there’s an explosion. This is unmistakably a cask strength whisky. The 62.6 percent ABV introduces itself with a spicy character led by nutmeg and pepper. For those not used to barrel-strength whiskies it may be a bit intense, but nothing that a drop of water can’t tame.

After the blast (especially with a touch of water), gentler notes emerge. The smoke lingers high on the palate, while sea salt, plantain and licorice roll by in a balanced mix. As the finish approaches, the smoke settles back toward the tongue and grows increasingly ashy.

These two elements ultimately take the lead in a long, satisfying finish, with the occasional whisper of malt.

Amrut has crafted a whisky you can savor slowly. Fans of smoky profiles—especially an ashy finish—will feel right at home. That said, other whisky lovers shouldn’t overlook it. Thanks to its complexity and sweet undertones, it’s an engaging dram for everyone, with or without a dash of water.

+ Packed with smoke

+ Also appealing to those who prefer gentler smoke

+ Gorgeous nose

- The ABV hits hard