Amrut Fusion

Great review @dbk! Based on the admittedly limited experience of just the one sample (I do want to get a bottle) that you kindly provided at our tasting, I would lean more towards your end of the rating scale (as opposed to Jim Murray's 'near perfect' appraisal a couple of years ago).

I compare this to the Strathisla 12 that I reviewed recently, in that there is a lot of potential for greatness...but it falls short of coming together fluidly. Whereas Strathisla fails to pull its positive aspects together, Amrut (I felt) pulled them together too harshly, creating more a collision, instead of a fusion, of otherwise wonderful notes.

I would at this point rate Amrut higher than Strathisla on the basis of having the more vibrant, lively, set of aromas and flavours than the Strathisla. Both solid drams, but the Fusion is more likely to make a regular appearance in my cabinet.

Thanks for the compliment, @Pudge72. I do think it's worth a try—it is very interesting, and well executed. I'm just disappointed by the direction the palate takes.

@dbk, I have drunk from your reviewed bottle and found it to be as you have said. I have also sampled from another bottle that had nothing of the hot-astringent development that was present in your bottle. It is hard to say what is going on here, but I think that it would be worth your sampling at least one or two other bottles of the Amrut Fusion for comparison. It is possible that your bottle is unrepresentative. The other bottle I have sampled was quite delicious and I had a great deal of difficulty connecting it and your reviewed bottle as having contained the same-named whisky.

One more clarifying thought, the additional sample of Amrut Fusion which I have had was, indeed, VERY dry in character. But it did not have the prairie fire all-enveloping and all-eclipsing heat develop that we experienced with your bottle.

You raise an interesting point, @Victor. Unfortunately, I have indeed sampled from more than one bottle (bought in different places), and I have met two others who have also had similar experiences from their tastings (also bought in different places). I suspect you're right that there is batch variation, but I don't know how unrepresentative my bottles have been. I hope the answer is "very unrepresentative," but I just can't say. I do hope to one day try the better stuff, however.

Nice review, dbk. I'm having a glass of the whisky in question right now. I find it hard to decide just how much I like it, though I scored it 91 in my official Connosr review. It is tangy, complex, and plenty hot. Though my reviews don't reflect it, based on today's tastings I find myself preferring Taketsuru 12 year old. It is not really a bad comparison since both whiskies incorporate peated and unpeated elements.

Do you know what batch your bottle came from? I love my bottle (Batch No. 17)

Unfortunately, @talexander, I don't. As I wrote above, I think I've just had bad luck with the Fusion (and @Victor can testify to that). I have had two "hot" bottles (one was just a mini, fortunately) but have yet to try the batches that everyone raves about. That said, I have had other solid Amruts—particularly the Intermediate Sherry.