Hi all, well we’re properly into 2020 now! We have an absolute gem of a whisky this month…a superb 48 cask limited release single malt direct from the foot of the Himalayas. Delivered by award winning distillation giant Radico Khaitan, we will be the first in Australia with a bottle on our shelves (or to our members as the case may be!) So for February we’re proud to be the first in Australia to be able to offer the Rampur PX Sherry Finish!
The Rampur PX Sherry Finish is a limited release of 48 casks. Aged initially in Bourbon casks, they have been finished in Spanish Pedro Ximenez (PX) sherry butts. If you’re unaware of what PX is, it’s a very sweet, very dark variety of sherry style fortified dessert wine.
Following on from award winning distilleries such as Paul John and Amrut, India is a surprisingly good climate for whisky maturation. Which is why this isn’t the first Indian whisky we’ve featured. We’ve done Amrut whiskies in the past and they have all received amazing feedback from members.
On first thought, you may not think of the Indian climate to be ideal for maturing whisky but on further examination it makes perfect sense. Whisky maturation is all about the interaction between the wood of the cask and the spirit. So, the more you can get the spirit to interact with the wood the faster maturation can happen. A variation in temperature will act to expand and contract the wood of the cask – effectively pumping spirit into and out of the wood of the casks.
With Rampur being slightly elevated (average 1021m) they get hot days, but cooler nights. This variation in temperature of around 14 degrees C is vastly different to (say) the average Scottish temperature variation of around 8 degrees in summer (and less in winter). So the spirit is being ‘processed’ by the wood of the cask at a vastly different rate – up to 5 times as fast in fact.
Nose: Wow – marzipan, apricots and peaches with sawdust around the edges and the occasional waft of fresh washed linen.
Palate: A big lychee burst to start, melting into marshmallow, caramel and stewed fruit with hints of vanilla and honey.
Finish: A warming, medium finish with dried fruit and cloves.
DISTILLERS NOTES
ABV: 45%
Bottle Size: 700ml
Region: India
Peated: No
Chill Filtered : No
Rampur is distilled in traditional copper pot stills in the oldest distillery in India, dating from 1943 with 75 years of distillation expertise. The Himalayas provide polar opposite of climate conditions throughout the year with the flavour of the famous Indian Summer giving Rampur an added dimension and depth. Rampur is a non-chill filtered single malt, distilled and matured in the foothills of the Himalayas.
48 Exceptional casks of Rampur Single malt Whisky post maturation in American oak were handpicked by our malt master and transferred to PX sherry butts from Jerez, Span for further maturation. The result is a rich and fruity whisky with layers of complex spice and dried fruit. Marrying the malts in two distinctive woods in Indian climate has created a whisky with intense depth and richness. Rampur PX Sherry Finish Indian Single Malt Whisky Non-Chill Filtered – A limited 48 Casks release.
Nose: A flare of sweet spiced aroma evoking the nostalgic notes of toffee, dried fruits and cinnamon; a dash of creamy vanilla and rain forest honey follows.
Palate: Rich sweet caramel twirled with layers of spices entices the taste buds to detect winey texture & mouth feel.
Finish: Long finish with dried fruits; complementing the vanilla & honey after taste.
ABOUT THE DISTILLERY
Rampur single malt whisky is produced by Radico Khaitan. Radico ( is one of India’s largest producer of ‘Indian Made Foreign Liquor’ (IMFL) – a classification in India that spirits such as whisky, gin, rum etc fall under. All ‘hard liquor’ outside of indigenous Indian alcoholic beverages such as fenny, toddy, arrack and others is classified as IMFL.
Established in 1943, Radico (formerly Rampur Distillery LTD) has over 75 years of experience in distillation and production of many types of liquor. They have a large and diverse portfolio with 15 spirit brands in including Contessa Rum, Morpheus brandy and a range of ‘Ready to Drink’ (RTD) ‘cooler’ type drinks.
Radico are a very large concern with two distilleries (one in Rampur and one in Aurangabad ) pumping out 157 million litres of spirit a year. They have 28 (yes…28!) bottling plants spread over India which service not only their own distilleries, but also contract out to other producers to bring in revenue.
