Paul John Edited

Paul John produce Indian single malt whisky. They are trying hard at the self promotion but someone has gone a step too far on the bottle label in my opinion. Here is what is says...

“Edited is masterfully crafted Indian Single Malt Whisky, created from across selectively chosen cask profiles to delight the cognoscente.

The Paul John proudly holds out an offering from the oceanfront land of meandering waterways, in the Western Ghats, Goa – an equatorial tropic thronged by the world for the spirit in the air”

Maybe it's just me but this sounds like marketing speak after drinking too much of the product. They would have done better had the label been "Edited".

I am a big fan of the Brilliance and the cask strength series expressions from PJ distilleries. I found them really well put together, very drinkable with fruity flavour profiles and enjoyable. As the temperature in Goa reaches 40'C the angels share is 12%. This means that maturation occurs very quickly and even though this is NAS I am told that it is 4-5 yrs in age. Matured in first-fill American oak ex-bourbon barrels (from distilleries including Jack Daniels and Buffalo Trace) this is well planned. All of the ingredients are from India with the exception of the peat (which is imported from Islay). The barley is 6-row Himalayan barley rather than the standard 2 row variant used in most other whiskies.

I have no idea if E150 is used but suspect it maybe, I would be interested to find out for sure.

Bright Gold in the glass the nose offers soft smoke, leather, apples, mint and barley Palate: You get a hit of peat and smoke upfront which has a slightly bitter tang to it before moving through to barley and spiced fruits. The finish is fairly long with pepper and spice.

I know Jim Murray divides opinion but he gave this 96.5 in his 2014 bible and I don't see it. I like it but, for me, it is not anywhere near a 96.5 It is nice but it is not epic. Also, it is not as nice as the Brilliance which I think is very good (JM gave that 94). I suspect that even though John Paul make more Whisky than Scotland they have not mastered the use of peat and some so whilst it is good, it is not a accomplished as Longrow or many of the big Islay distilleries.

It does improve with time in the glass so be sure to give it time to breathe.