Press release: Tuesday 6 October 2009

Indian malt rated one of best three whiskies in world

Leading whisky expert, Jim Murray, has named an Indian malt the third best in the world in his new Whisky Bible.

In The Whisky Bible 2010 published this week, Murray awards Amrut Fusion Single Malt Whisky the title of World’s Third Best Whisky. It gained 97 points in Murray’s most extensive collection of tasting notes ever published, with nearly 4,000 included this year.

Murray said Amrut Fusion Single Malt Whisky “has to be one of the great whiskies found anywhere in the word this year”. Admitting his No 3 choice  could come as a  surprise to some people, he said: “The fact that it is Indian? Irrelevant, from distillation to maturation this is a genius whisky from whichever continent.”

In his tasting notes, Murray  adds: “It is one of those which command a big mouthful, a chair with a headrest … and silence. You will chew for seemingly hours and never quite get to the bottom of its mystical complexity. It is massive whisky, but its genius is that you get the feeling that there is some almost invisible element keeping the malt together so the proportions are never less than perfect.”

Amrut Fusion Single Malt Whisky gets its name from the fact that it uses two barleys: Indian and Scottish – with the latter being peated. It comes from Amrut Distilleries, the Bangalore-based company which introduced the first single malt from India to the UK in 2004.

Amrut’s Indian barley comes from the Punjab and the distillation takes place in the tropical garden city of Bangalore at 3000ft. The barley from Scotland is also distilled in Bangalore and both are matured there separately. After they have reached their peak,  the two whiskies are married in the bourbon casks in proportions which give both a subtle peat flavour and a rich fruity flavour from the Indian barley. This is bottled at 50% abv to reflect the depth and finish of the whisky.

This rare combination of Indian and Scottish elements means Fusion has a really excellent mouthfeel and palate, combining oak, a hint of vanilla, fruit and the sublime peat.

The public obviously agreed with Murray when Fusion was launched in June 2009: the first consignment was sold out within few weeks of its release. The next batch was completely pre-ordered before it even reached the UK.

 “This is a great honour for Amrut Distilleries as our special East-meets-West whisky is named one of the best by such a respected whisky expert,” said Ashok Chokalingam, Amrut’s International sales manager. 

“We are proud that our vision to combine Indian and Scottish barleys in a subtle fusion which  produces a malt whisky which is rich in flavour and character has been so well received.  As we see the whisky industry become more global and good single malt whiskies coming from all parts of the world, it is exciting to be at the leading edge,” he added.

Amrut intends to continue with its innovative strategy and has two exciting new releases planned for next year.

Notes to editors

Ashok can be contacted for further comment on 07838 229914

Further information: Amrut Distilleries

Amrut Single Malt Whisky from India is relatively new to the global market, with it only launched officially in Glasgow in 2004. Since then its reputation has grown.

One of the Amrut Single Malt Whisky bottlings by Blackadder International won “The Best Daily Dram” category of this year’s Malt Maniacs Awards. All the Amrut brands entered into the same competition won silver and bronze medals.

Amrut Peated Malt Cask Strength Whisky won Silver  and Amrut Single Malt Cask Strength Whisky a Bronze at the IWSC in 2008

Amrut is now sold widely in Europe (UK, Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Spain) as well as Canada and South Africa. In August it was officially introduced in Australia and it will be launched into the United States this year.

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2010

A full account of the 2010 World Whisky Awards can be found in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2010, published on 5 October by Dram Good Books priced at £10.99 www.whiskybible.com
 

Images

high res images of Amrut Fusion and Ashok are available from Fiona Laing

Contact details

Ashok Chokalingam, General Manager – International Operations

The Grainger Suite, Dobson House, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE3 3PF.

Tel: + 44 191 233 6316.

Fax: +44-191 233 6346.

Email: ashok@amrutdistilleries.com

 Issued on behalf of Amrut Distilleries

by Fiona Laing, Communications Consultant

0794 665 4451 or flaing@btinternet.com