The Indian Paul John single malt has been in production since 1992 and their two base products are Paul John Brilliance and this Paul John Edited.
While the first is unpeated and made with Indian 6-row barley, the Edited version uses about 15% peated spirit, made with imported Scottish barley. It gives the malted barley a phenol level of about 20-25 ppm. Like Brilliance, it is matured in ex-bourbon casks.
Paul John Edited (46%, OB 2013)
Paul John Edited (46%, OB 2013)Nose: sweet honey and juicy barley, oranges and peaches. Ripe banana. Some damp earthy notes, rather than a clear peat blast – this is quite subtle. Becomes lightly tropical, with some pink grapefruit and papaya. Vanilla cream too.
Mouth: apples and peaches before it goes to rougher grainy notes, porridge and green, vegetal notes. Quite dusty and peppery. Again not the usual peat smoke but rather a medicinal overtone. Cinnamon. Not as pleasant as the nose, there’s something acrid and unbalanced about it.
Finish: medium long, caramel with antiseptics and peat?
They’re not at the same level as Amrut’s whisky for instance, but it’s not bad either. I just think their Brilliance was… well… slightly more brilliant. Around € 60.
Score: 75/100