Amrut Portonova - Indian Single Malt

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 62.1% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Amrut Portonova is an unpeated Indian single malt with a three-stage cask maturation. The whisky first matures in new American oak and ex-bourbon casks, then moves into port pipes from Portugal that have previously been used once, before returning to ex-bourbon casks for its final maturation. The port wine stage is therefore not the final stage, but sits between two maturation periods involving bourbon casks. The whisky is bottled at a robust 62.1%, without chill filtration or added colouring.

Its rich, sweet and spicy profile combines fruity and caramel notes with pronounced oak. The name Portonova refers to Parangipettai, also known as Portonovo, on India's east coast in the state of Tamil Nadu. The town was under Portuguese rule from the 16th to the 18th century.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose recalls a rich pudding in which fruit and caramel merge. Powerful oak accompanies the impression of slightly burnt apple pie.
• Palate: On the palate, spicy, jammy fruit combines with plenty of caramel. Salty oak makes the mouth water while also creating an astringent sensation, before leaving a dry mouthfeel.
• Finish: The long finish is dominated by immense oak, with the influence of the new oak casks clearly apparent. Cocoa becomes more prominent as it develops, before muscovado sugar eventually replaces the berry fruit.

Distillery/Bottler:

Amrut Distilleries in Bengaluru is the distillery behind Portonova, which is one of its official bottlings. The company was founded in 1948 by Shri J.N. Radhakrishna under the name Amrut Laboratories. In 2002, Amrut began a feasibility study for malt whisky and launched its single malt in Glasgow in 2004. Maturation in a tropical climate and the use of different casks shape the company's single malt development. In Portonova, this approach to casks is expressed through the combination of American oak and former bourbon casks with Portuguese port pipes.

Facts: