Amrut Cask Strength Indian Single Malt Review

If you enjoyed the standard Amrut Single Malt, but it left you wanting a bit more, then the Amrut Cask Strength Indian Single Malt might be what you’re looking for. However, the term cask strength is a touch… not accurate.

When Amrut comes out of the cask it’s around 70% ABV (+/- a couple %), but the regulations laid down by the Indian government don’t allow whisky to be bottled above 62.8%. Which is why all of their CS releases are bottled at 61.8-62.8%.

So if I wanted to get pedantic about it, this is really Amrut Bottled-At-Close-To-The-Highest-Strength-We-Legally-Can-Per-The-Indian-Government Indian Single Malt. Though I think we can all agree that’s a mouthful and Cask Strength works just fine.

Amrut Cask Strength Indian Single Malt – Details and Tasting Notes

Whiskey Details

Region: India

Distiller: Amrut
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon, New Charred Oak
Age: 4+ Years
ABV: 61.8%

Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Price: $70

White background tasting shot with the Amrut Cask Strength Indian Single Malt bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.

“Classic house style with glorious bourbon notes fused with the richest of barley statements; not entirely unlike caramelised biscuit dunked in coffee; oh, and a bit of spicy attitude, too.” – Amrut

Tasting Notes

EYE
Honey

NOSE
Salted pistachios, malt, hay, herbal pine, banana chips, orchard fruit, melon rind, wax and vanilla. Just a wonderful, sweet and nutty, fruity whisky that’s shockingly different from the regular Amrut Classic Indian Single Malt Review.

PALATE
Waxy banana, malt, orchard fruit, melon rind, herbal pine, vanilla, pistachios, golden raisins, oak, baking spice and a touch of black licorice. The palate of the Amrut Cask Strength Indian Single Malt is so much more powerful and decadent with an oaky pop that starts light but grows. This is nice.

FINISH
Long -> Waxy banana, oak, spice and, herbal pine and pistachio gelato mix into one of my favorite fades in recent whisky memory.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Well balanced, full body and a warm, creamy, feel.

Amrut Cask Strength Indian Single Malt – Overall Thoughts and Score

What… the… hell? This is so different from the regular release, and that’s astounding to me. I can’t believe this dense, pistachioed, piny, whisky ends up being the regular Amrut Single Malt with some added water. But sure enough, start adding water and this whisky changes rapidly.

First the herbal pine notes disappear, then the pistachio notes and after a bit more water it changes to more of a fruity malty graham style whisky. I’ve had very few malts that change this dramatically with some water. It’s quite remarkable, and, quite tasty.

SCORE: 4/5