Double the Celebration!
Well, we’re in luck. Deepavali and Halloween are both coinciding on 31 October this year, making it a double festivity of East meets West, and quite possible a long weekend holiday for many people. For the home party people, or to those yearning for a quiet long weekend - here are 3 great choices to crack open with loved ones, or alone.
(from left to right of photo)
1. AMRUT Portonova, 62.1% ABV
Amrut Portonova is yet another demonstration of cask 'playfulness' that works. Initially matured in a combination of new American oak and ex-bourbon barrels, it is then transferred to ex-port pipes and then back to its final cask 'resting ground' in ex-bourbon casks. The name Portonova was inspired from a town called Parangipettai (Portonovo) on the east coast of India, in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, a territory that was under Portuguese control from the 16th to the 18th century.Tasting Notes
Nose: A Thick pudding of a nose; fruit and caramel have merged into one slightly over-oaked soup; burnt apple pie;
Taste: This is essentially a port pipe sandwich.... and it shows. Th spicy, jammy fruit is interwoven through any amount of caramel while the oaky saltiness gets the taste buds both salivating and puckering until you run dry;
Finish: Long, massive oak with quite evident traces of the virgin barrels now detectable. And more of a cocoa hue as it progresses. At last some muscovado sugars arrive to supplant the berry fruits.
(The ABV gives you the flexibility of watering it down to your personal sweet spot!)
2. DOORLY'S 14 Year Old, 48% ABV
Had a sipping rum before? If you are thinking of mixing rum in cola, this is definitely not it. Doorly's Rum is a distinguished brand of rum produced in Barbados by the Foursquare Distillery. Established in 1908, it is one of the oldest rum brands on the island. Doorly's is known for its high-quality, meticulously crafted rums that are aged in oak barrels, often using a blend of traditional and innovative techniques. The range includes various age statements and finishes, offering a spectrum of flavors from light and fruity to rich and complex.
The brand is also recognized for its iconic macaw bird labels, which add a touch of Caribbean charm to its bottles. Doorly's Rum is celebrated for its smoothness, depth, and versatility, making it a favorite among rum enthusiasts.
Tasting Notes
At 48% ABV, this expression is certainly spicier & oiler than the XO; with ginger and spiced oak on the initial palate. The mid palate shows more of the Madeira influence. Notes of red wine and blackberries mingle alongside dark chocolate and some faint notes of marmalade. Another spicy, long finish.
3. RAMPUR Asava Single Malt, 45% ABV
Here's an Indian whisky you don’t quite hear that much about (yet). Rampur Distillery is a leading Indian distillery with efficient operations spread over 100 lush acres. The distillery is self-sufficient, utilizing effluents to generate biogas for steam and power. Their prized possession is the “Rampur Single Malt Whisky,” named after the distillery.
Matured in American Bourbon barrels and inaugurally finished in Indian Cabernet Sauvignon casks for the first time in history resulting in a unique expression with an impeccable balance.
A key player instrumental to the flourishment of the Indian Whisky scene!
Tasting Notes
Nose: Typical tropical fruity note of Rampur with added notes of apricot, blackberry & plum followed with a faint hint of tobacco and spices.
Palate: Velvety, manuka honey sweetness highlighted by spicy oak, vanilla and balanced with dryness from Indian red wine.
Finish: The Indian trail lingers with a medium finish. Tantalizingly long, lingering and generous.