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.

Key Information

Serving Suggestions
First things first, be comfortable, relaxed and free from distractions. Pour a healthy amount (15-25ml) into a nosing glass (e.g., glencairn) and let it sit for a while. We recommend a minute of resting in the glass for every year in the cask. Otherwise, let it settle down for 5-10 minutes at least.

Help yourself to a 'warm up malt' in the meantime - something simple to open up the palate. When ready, start nosing the whisky, followed by sipping it (noting how it arrives on your palate and its development), and finally the finish. Take your time to get to know the spirit, noting its expression, character, depth, complexity and flavours. These can all change with adding drops of water so play around to find different sides of the spirit and identity a personal sweet spot for yourself!

But always remember, the best way to drink it is the way you like it!