Sangam World Malt Whisky Review: 'Almost Like Having a Classic Speyside

India is making serious strides in the world of whisky. The country now boasts several distilleries crafting the water of life. From the Rampur distillery comes the Sangam World Blended Whisky, a fusion of expressions from the East with Rampur single malt. What that does for the flavor, you’ll discover in this Rampur Sangam Whisky Review.

At the foothills of the Himalayas, Rampur Distillery has been distilling whisky in traditional copper pot stills since 1943. It’s the oldest distillery in India and takes its name from the town where the whisky is made: Rampur.

The distillery was founded as a tribute to the Maharajas who once ruled the kingdoms, a nod you can see in Rampur’s logo. It features two crossed sabers, the standard arms of those rulers.

The whisky made at Rampur Distillery is heavily influenced by the climate. The Himalayas see dramatic temperature swings. On the one hand, that adds depth to the Indian whisky, but it also has a drawback: a much higher Angel’s Share, evaporation from the cask.

Fortunately, that’s less of an issue with Rampur’s Sangam World Malt expression. This isn’t a single malt, but a blend. Anup Barik, master blender at Radico Khaitan (the parent company behind Rampur), started with Rampur’s Indian single malt as the foundation.

It’s distilled from a six-row barley variety that lends a slightly sweeter profile. From there, the master blender worked with malt whiskies from various countries across Europe and the New World to craft a balanced composition for Sangam. The goal wasn’t complexity for its own sake, but an approachable whisky for all enthusiasts.

The result is a whisky named after the Hindi word meaning “confluence.” The blended malt brings together unnamed expressions, at least from different malt types. It’s also known to include both peated and unpeated whiskies.

Rampur Sangam World Blended Malt comes in a large bottle with a short neck and a wooden stopper. A compass crowns the top, a nod to the whisky’s essence: East meets West. The glass carries Rampur’s logo, where the two crossed sabers gleam.

On the label, alongside the same compass you see on the stopper, the Himalayan origin is clearly showcased. The distillery further notes only that this whisky is composed of expressions from both East and West.

Pour a dram of Rampur Sangam World Malt and you’ll first notice the light-gold spirit isn’t particularly oily. On the nose, you’re greeted by sweet notes of citrus, caramel, and a touch of florals.

It’s almost like having a classic Speyside in your glass, until wisps of smoke and spices like clove drift in. Give it a swirl and linger a little longer, and ripe apricot and syrupy pineapple begin to shine.

On the palate, a different picture emerges than the nose suggests. The spices take the lead as the blended malt first meets your tongue. The initial tingle is gentle, with fruit notes like apple laced with spice, some nuts, citrus, and a hint of salinity.

In the background there’s just a touch of peat, but you can’t quite pinpoint any specific whisky. There’s a pleasant nod to bourbon in the opening. As it rolls across the tongue toward a medium-long finish, more spice appears, but it never overwhelms the overall sweetness.

With whiskies from different origins, Rampur has crafted a beautifully balanced expression. It never reveals which distilleries contributed, yet it has a distinct character that juggles fruit, spice, and a wisp of peat. It’s an excellent dram for newcomers, as well as bourbon drinkers curious to try something different from around the globe.

+ Beautifully balanced flavor combination

+ Accessible and intriguing at once

- Don’t expect a deep or highly complex dram