Paul John 6 Years (Boutique-y Whisky)

Paul John was launched as a single malt in 2012, after Amrut made a reputation for artisan Indian whisky. They use local Indian barley and have both unpeated and peated expressions. Since a few years they also appear from independent bottlers in Europe, like this peated Paul John 6 Years from That Boutique-y Whisky Company.

Paul John 6 yo (52,9%, That Boutique-y Whisky Company 2016, Batch #3, 822 btl.)

Nose: starts like a sweet American bourbon (maple syrup, baked apple, vanilla) quickly picking up toast, incense and mentholated smoke. The peat really grows in this one. Hickory. Burnt cinnamon rolls. Banana cake and exotic fruits underneath.

Mouth: smoky and spicy. Ginger and aniseed on a background of burnt caramel, menthol, molasses and quite an intense peppery side. Pretty big. Some charred pineapple and citrus in the background. Dark chocolate. Oriental spice and leathery notes.

Finish: long, on chilli, blackcurrants and sandalwood.

Very intense and rather complex Indian whisky, with the mentholated peat as a nice extra. An interesting cross-over whisky. Still available from Master of Malt.

Score: 87/100