Introduction
Today, we're diving into the Bardstown Bourbon Company's Collaborative Series with Amrut Whiskey, a unique blend that merges straight rye whiskey with Indian malt whiskey. This 110-proof whiskey is the latest addition to the lineup at Bardstown, known for its innovative approach and high-quality releases.
Previously, we've tried one Amrut whisky: Amrut Fusion, a game-changer in the world of international whisky.
The following review is taken from our episode "Toy Story 3 / Bardstown Amrut." Click the link to listen to this review in audio format.
Nose
Brad: This reminds me of the note we gave over and over on the Amrut Fusion, which was plum. Maybe it's just me manifesting that into existence, but I get plum on this nose. There's some raspberry, some cherry, and some cinnamon.
All in all, you're getting a unique experience here. I'm almost surprised they blended in the bourbon because I'm not getting much of it. Maybe it was just a hint to give some sweetness back into the palate, but right now, I'm getting all sorts of fruit, barley, and cinnamon. There is a little bit of that rye spice. I'm at a 9/10 on the nose.
Bob: This is really nice. I do get a bit more bourbon than you do on the nose here. It’s fruity, but it’s not the usual suspects that we pick up on bourbons and ryes—it’s not green apple. I do get a bit of peach. Plum is a good note, though. As I push through some of those initial fruity notes, I do get cinnamon.
I wonder if it was just too spicy to release the rye finished in Amrut because, to be honest, I think the bourbon tamps down the bolder notes we got on the Amrut. But this is still a really good nose. I'm going to give it an 8.5/10.
Taste
Brad: The taste notes once again bring out the plum somewhat strong. There’s barley, vanilla, and a hint of powdered sugar. The more I thought about it, as I put those four notes together—plum, barley, vanilla, powdered sugar—I realized what I’m tasting, Bob. It’s something that I know for a fact you ate growing up. This is a classic Kolaczki.
Bob: A what?
Brad: Did you even grow up in Northeast Ohio? It is a Polish cookie. You’ve had them before. There’s a bit of pastry, it’s almost shaped like a diamond, and the outer parts are wrapped around a bit of fruit.
Bob: My wife's family makes those. They call them kifli.
Brad: Most likely. But this tastes like a plum kifli, and it’s incredible.
Bob: This is significantly different than I expected it to taste based on the nose. It’s immediately much more dark, with a sweet brown sugar, almost maple character that tips into vanilla and then gets even darker with really dark prune and plum notes.
As you kick it to the back of your palate, the rye takes over, and when you go to swallow, the malt starts creeping in, with a wave of vanilla after that. This is (a word I don’t typically use) a really smooth finish because of that addition of vanilla. It’s like a three-act play on your palate; it just continues to go in waves. It’s not consistent from front to back, but they keep introducing new characters the whole time. Really cool experience. I'm going to give it a 9/10.
Finish
Brad: As I get to the finish, this is where I think this whiskey really takes off. There are some interesting spices here. There’s a ginger flavor.
My wife recently bought a box of blueberry zinc tea, and I got notes of that here. There’s a bit of that blueberry tartness and a classic grape feel to this. Overall, the rye spice finally comes through here on the finish. It wraps it all up into this spicy, delicious finish. I'm sitting at a 9.5/10 on the finish.
Bob: The finish is the best part. Blueberry is a great note, and specifically blueberry tea—I think you absolutely pinpointed it. This is delicious. The rye doesn’t take away from the malt character and doesn’t take away from those unique, terroir-inspired notes from the Indian malt. 9.5/10 for me on the finish as well.
Balance
Bob: I don’t know if I want to give it an 8.5 or a 9. I think I’ll give it a 9/10. The nose tipped me off to things that I didn’t really pick up on the taste or the finish. It was a lot brighter than the taste and finish were, but it did tell me this is going to be an interesting, complex whiskey, and it definitely delivered on that.
Brad: I’m at a 9.5/10 on balance. I think the flavors all work together well, and then they get wrapped up with a giant bow of that rye spice at the end.
Value
Bob: At this price point, we are very close to "premium whiskey" territory. We settled on $200 and up as "premium." This is a $160 bottle of whiskey--not quite enough for us to label it officially as a premium whiskey, but it’s close.
Comparing this to last week’s whiskey, the Barrell Vantage, which is quite literally half the price, I would argue it’s a whiskey that I like better because I can see myself returning to that every other Friday. Whereas this is one that I think might be the better whiskey, but this is a once-a-year, sit-and-think-about-life-for-an-hour kind of drink because it’s so complex. I almost feel like the $160 price is justified because it’s an expensive, imported whiskey. I would say this is probably the best of the Bardstown Collaborative series offerings I’ve had since Pfiffer Pavitt. I think I’m gonna give this a 7/10 on value.
Brad: Yeah, those are all good points. The way you were talking about it, it sounded like the enjoyment of a "Fast and Furious" movie versus the enjoyment of French cinema from the 1950s. There’s definitely something going on here that you don’t often get in the world of whiskey, and I think that’s what they are selling for $160—a unique experience. I think they succeeded at that.
I still think $160 is a lot of money. I’ll give it a 7.5/10 on value. What they have to offer here is worth it, and I would encourage people to buy it, but the sticker shock is going to hit differently for everyone, and that’s okay.
Final Scores
Bob: I’m coming out to a 43/50.
Brad: I’m a little bit higher. I’m at 44.5/50.
Bob: That takes us to a 43.75 on average, or an 87.5 out of 100. It’s just slightly lower than last week’s Barrell Vantage, although I rated it higher. Brad, you were two full points lower than last week.
Brad: Yeah, I just don’t think I could say one’s better than the other. They serve two very different functions, even as pricey whiskies. My three tasting scores might be the same or like a half point off. I’m right at 37 out of 40 on both of them, and then it’s the value score that makes a difference. As far as drinking these whiskies, I would drink the Barrell Vantage anytime I want a classic bourbon plus, like, the better version of a classic bourbon. If I want a unique “what just happened” experience, I’m going to come over here to Bardstown.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaborative Series: Amrut Whiskey is a unique and complex blend that offers a distinct tasting experience. With a final score of 43.75/50, it stands out as a whiskey worth trying. While the $160 price tag may cause some sticker shock, the complexity and depth of flavors justify the cost for those looking to explore something special. If you're looking for a whiskey that makes you sit and reflect, this one is a must-try.
