Rampur Signature Reserve is a new super-premium Indian single malt whisky, launched to celebrate 75 years of distilling (other spirits, single malt production started fairly recently) by the Radico company.
This limited edition was aged in four American oak barrels for an ‘extended period’ and then transferred to a single Pedro Ximénez sherry butt for its final years of maturation. It started at 63% ABV and has now gone down to 43.9%.
Rampur Signature Reserve
(43,9%, OB 2019, PX sherry cask #1292, 150 btl.)
Nose: a very seductive profile, almost a mix of whisky and old cognac. Rancio notes, quinces and stewed apricots, as well as a hint of rhubarb pie. Warm oaky notes. Some tropical fruits emerge (papaya, mango) with beeswax and honey. Light vanilla and cinnamon dusting. Whiffs of mint too.
Mouth: again this reminds me of well-aged cognac. Still some nicely polished oak but this time it comes with a sour edge, Seville oranges and the bitterness of pink grapefruit peels. Some lychee and mandarin in the background. A floral side. Some pepper. It has a glorious side but it is also quite thin. Not entirely what you’d expect from a PX finish.
Finish: medium, on woody notes, walnuts, fruit tea and Seville orange.
Nice fruity notes, and the appearance of cognac-like elements is really wonderful, especially on the nose. On the palate you feel the pressure-cooked warm climate character quite well. Great, but it doesn’t come cheap. In Europe you can get it from The Whisky Exchange.
Score: 90/100