Tag: Paul John Distillery

Paul John is a brand of Indian single malt whisky and single cask whisky, manufactured by John Distilleries in India. The whisky is made from Indian malted barley and, for some variants, imported Scottish peat. It is distilled in traditional copper pot stills and then matured in American Oak Casks in Goa

Paul John Single Malt Whisky was first launched in the year 2012 in the United Kingdom and in Goa, India in 2013 followed by the launch in Bangalore in the year 2015.

Whisky of the Week review and tasting notes for whisky from the Paul John Distillery in Goa India.

Paul John Mars Orbiter Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/29/2019

In Single Malt whisky

An extraordinary tasting this week: The Paul John Mars Orbiter Indian single malt whisky! During this last year or two, this whisky brand from India has taken SA by storm. From being an unknown distillery to being stocked in all the good liquor stores, the Paul John whisky is the one people want to try.

The Paul John Classic Select Cask was one of the best drams I tasted during 2018. I have tasted most of the expressions available in SA and love them all. Michael D’Souza, the Master Distiller, has impeccable taste.

Now and again, the John Distillery also brings out limited releases such as their annual Christmas releases and limited cask finish releases. Thanks to WhiskyShop, a few of these bottles make it to SA for enthusiasts, and I can stock up.

During March, there was a Paul John whisky dinner that I was invited to, but due to family commitments could not attend. I was unfortunate to miss out on tasting more, but Brett from Valotone saved me the last bit of the Paul John Mars Orbiter single malt whisky, and I got a wonderful surprise when the sample arrived at my office.

The Paul John Mars Orbiter Peated is a limited edition single malt whisky which celebrates the successful launch of India’s first interplanetary mission. An Indian space probe to Mars that has also provided observations on Phobos, the Martian moon.

The Mars Orbiter has been orbiting Mars since September 2014 and has sent back incredible pictures of never before seen areas of Mars. It designed mission life was only 6 months, but Orbiter has been circling Mars for 4 years and is still in good health. What a remarkable achievement.

The John Distillery produced only 330 bottles of the Paul John Mars Orbiter Whisky in celebration. So it is a very limited edition. This single malt was drawn in the same month that Orbiter was launched. I have a sample from bottle no: 278.

Also Read: Glenfarclas 12 yo Whisky

Paul John Mars Orbiter Whisky Review

COUNTRY: India

ABV: 57.8%

COLOUR: Aged Red copper

NOSE: Bit of alcohol heat. It needs to breathe a bit. Then comes soft peat, fruity sweetness, maple syrup, bits of burnt wood and vanilla. The second sniff brings floral notes. The nose is delicate and elegant.

PALATE: Peat and ash mixed with fruity sweetness, pepper and nutmeg spice. Woody notes balanced with bits of dark chocolate-covered oranges and hints of salt. The peat perfectly balanced with the sweeter fruit notes. But it is not a fishy type of peat such as Lagavulin or Laphroaig. It is a more woody type of peat.

A bit of alcohol heat but add water carefully. Despite the high ABV, just a few drops of water is needed to bring down the heat and bring more sweetness to the front.

FINISH: The finish is like a smoky campfire next door. You can smell the wood burning in the air, but it not overwhelming. Ends on notes of sweetness and peat with bits of pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

What a special bottling. A fitting release for a special achievement. From the luxurious red box with the gold lettering to the stylish bottle, it is obvious that attention to detail went into every step. Even the bottle top; it feels like it is solid gold, it is heavy and grand.

The whisky and the drinking experience is unique and a celebration. If you are looking for a release with a special story, this is a collector’s item worth having. From what I have heard, the few bottles that did make it to SA got snatched up rather quickly. As I am writing this, only 2 bottles of the Paul John Orbiter remain in retail.

If you are lucky enough to travel via Bangalore, you might also spot a bottle or 2.

Sample disclosure: I received this whisky sample from WhiskyShop. The review and tasting notes are my own honest, fair and independent thoughts about the whisky

Also Read: Paul John Nirvana whisky

Whisky of the Year 2018

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 12/31/2018

In Lifestyle

Bottles of whisky on the shelf to celebrate the whisky of the year for 2018 During the year, I am fortunate to taste many new whiskies. Some are not bad, and some I never want to taste again. Just search for “Ordinary” on this blog, and you will find quite a few examples of these. However, now and again, I taste something that blows my mind.

Something so delicious that I want to go out and buy many more bottles.Sometimes these Divine drams are limited releases, and when my bottle is finished, there will be no more. But sometimes they are standard releases that are readily available.

And this has been such a year. I have tasted 4 whiskies that we rated Divine. And each of these is readily available. They are not mindbogglingly expensive; they are quite affordable actually. But they were stand out drams that I loved.

And as always, at the end of each year, we gathered a few friends and blind taste-tested the year’s Divine whiskies to choose the Whisky of the Year 2018. The friends who helped was Roelia from Boozy Foodie and her hubby Jan from Social Savage.

The process is similar every year, a blind taste test and then every person individually ranked the glasses from 1 to 4. This gives us our Whisky of the Year. Here are the 4 whiskies in alphabetic order.

Best Single Malt: Ardbeg An Oa Whisky

Ardbeg An Oa single malt whisky header It was with great fanfare that Ardbeg launched an extension to their core range – Ardbeg An Oa. The first permanent expression to join the Ardbeg core range since Corryvreckan in 2009. I have been less impressed lately by the Ardbeg Day releases, so I was rather sceptical about this new release.

Was this just another premium-priced release that does not live up to the hype? Oh Hell No. This Islay dram was just perfect. It warms you up with the traditional peat and smoke, but it is elegant and smooth. The Ardbeg An Oa single malt Scotch whisky is not the salty, TCP and strong tar pole notes of an Ardbeg Uigeadail, but a softer, more classic version of it.

Notes of peat, creamy honey, salted liquorice with hints of cough syrup. Bits of toasted nuts and pine needles mixed with vanilla, lemon pepper and chocolate. It’s a fascinating and glorious mix of aromas and tastes. It’s complex, subtle and different all at once. It has a finish that is a mile long and lingers around you like a favourite old jersey.

Best Bourbon: Blanton’s Gold Edition

Blanton’s Gold Edition Bourbon whiskey header Blanton’s bourbon whiskey was launched in 1984 as a Single Barrel Bourbon. It is part of the Sazerac Company and distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky at the Buffalo Trace Distillery. What makes the Blanton’s bottle unique is the eight different stopper designs.

The stoppers feature a figurine of a racehorse and jockey in eight different scenes of a horse race, from standing at the gate to crossing the finish line with a win. I was wondering if this will be the only stopper in my collection, but after tasting this delicious bourbon, I am going to be looking for more bottles.

The Blanton’s Gold has notes of oak, warming rye, condensed milk, hints of sun-dried oranges and vanilla. It is rich and creamy bursting with a complex mix of tastes. There are notes of toasted oak, fudge, cinnamon, chocolate-covered oranges, Sichuan pepper with faint hints of cherries. And with an impressive ABV! A beautiful finish that leaves you with fudge, cinnamon, pepper and hints of orange peel.

Best Blend: Johnnie Walker Black Label

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 yo blended whisky header Affordable, available all around the world and an icon! Johnnie Walker Black Label is a blend of about 40 whiskies from all around Scotland. Smoother and more drinkable than its little brother the Johnnie Walker Red, the Black Label has reached cult status. And I can understand why.

It offers a consistent, delicious experience which I keep on going back to. The Johnnie Walker Black label Scotch whisky has notes of smoke, red berries, fruit, citrus flowers, oak and malt. A toffee sweetness with hints of spice. You don’t even need to add water, but water releases a bit more sweetness.

This Black Label is an all-together impressive dram. I always have a bottle of this in the house, and I love this (FAR) more than the more expensive Johnnie Walker releases I have tried.

Best World Whisky: Paul John Classic Cask Select

Paul John Classic Select Cask Whisky header Paul John is a brand of Indian single malt whisky and single cask whisky, manufactured by John Distilleries in Goa. John Distilleries was founded by Mr Paul P. John in 1992, when they began producing several spirits, including Indian molasses-based ‘whisky’.

In 2008, John Distilleries attempted a single malt whisky, and the rest is history. Paul John Single Malt was launched in 2012 in the UK, and there was an overwhelmingly positive response to the golden liquid from this Indian distillery. And I am so glad that it is readily available in South Africa too.

The Paul John Classic Select Cask is an unpeated single malt that has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels and bottled without chill-filtration at cask strength. Again it comes at an impressive 55.2% ABV. The Paul John Classic Select Cask has notes of freshly baked apple pie sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, barley, faint hints of vanilla and candied fruits.

Hints of toffee, oak with warming cinnamon and soft pepper nicely balanced with honey sweetness. It has a delicious finish rich with oak, cinnamon and fruit. This year, the winning whisky and the runner up was only 1 point apart. But in the end, there can only be 1 winner.<

And the winner of the Whisky of the Year 2018 is…

Whisky of the year 2018 - Ardbeg An Oa I have to mention the runner up – it was the Paul John Classic Cask select. A delicious dram. From a distillery that I will be exploring more of! Well, that it is for 2018. Thank you for all your support this year. Wishing you many wonderful glasses of whisky in 2019. Early next year I will start again. But now it is time to sit back and relax and enjoy a glass of An Oa.

Whisky and Appenzeller Cheese

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/11/2018

In Whisky & Cheese

Appenzeller Cheese and whisky pairings that work
For World Whisky day, I planned a whole whisky inspired menu. From a cocktail made with Tomintoul 10 yo whisky, whisky infused chicken to a whisky cheese pairing. I wanted to celebrate whisky from around the world. The chicken was infused with a Bain’s whisky marinade, and for the whisky cheese pairing, I chose the Paul John Classic Cask Select whisky and Appenzeller cheese.

When I do a whisky cheese pairing, I usually start with the cheese first and then look at what whisky will work with the cheese. This time, I chose the whisky first and then went to find a cheese that works.

The cheese I chose was an Appenzeller full fat semi-hard cheese from Switzerland. Appenzeller has a documented history of at least 700 years. Today, about 75 dairies produce it, each with a different recipe for their brine wash.

I chose this cheese because of the smooth texture and fruity, nutty flavours. The Appenzeller was only aged for around 3-4 months, so it is quite young with mild spicy notes. Made from cow’s milk this hard cheese is produced in the Appenzell region of Switzerland.

Also Read: My Favourite Margarita Recipe

A herbal brine, sometimes incorporating wine or cider, is applied to the wheels of cheese while they cure, which flavours and preserves the cheese while promoting the formation of a rind.

After the weekend, there was still some cheese left. The pairing with the Paul John whisky was delicious, but I wanted to try a few more whisky and Appenzeller cheese pairings. So I grabbed a few more bottles of whisky and started experimenting. This is one of the loveliest cheeses to pair with whisky. Any of the medium-bodied, sweeter style whiskies should pair well with this cheese.

Whisky and Appenzeller Cheese Pairings

Santis Malt Alpstein Edition No 7 Whisky

Appenzeller Cheese and Santis malt whisky pairing
What grows together, goes together. The first whisky I wanted to pair with this cheese was something from the same region in Switzerland. The Locher brewery has been owned and run by the Locher family for five generations. Situated in Appenzell, close to Liechtenstein, they have produced beer and spirits for more than 100 years.

The Alpstein Edition no 7 whisky matured first in some Old Oak Beer Casks and was finished for two years in Sherry Casks. My tasting notes for this world whisky release included notes of sherry, fresh fruits and vanilla. There are some very unusual crème brûlée notes that soften when you add water.

What a great pairing. The combination is creamy and soft and brings more fruit out in the whisky. The Santis Malts works perfectly with this cheese, and I gave it a RATING: 4.5 /5

Paul John Classic Cask Select Whisky

Appenzeller Cheese and Paul John Classic Cask Whisky pairing
My tasting notes for this Indian release include hints of freshly baked apple pie sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, barley, faint hints of vanilla and candied fruits. The Paul John Classic Cask Select whisky has the perfect balance between spice and sweetness.

Another great pairing. The cheese brought more wood out of the whisky and enriched the spiciness. It created a rich, delicious experience. I give this pairing a RATING: 4/5

Dewar’s 15 yo Blended Whisky

Appenzeller Cheese and Dewar's 15 year old whisky pairing
A great affordable blend, this Dewar’s 15 yo Monarch whisky has notes of fresh fruit salad with apples, melons and pears, honey nicely balanced with oak spices, orange peel, wood, and vanilla.

Easy drinking and rewarding this is a great whisky to pair with cheese. And it worked so well with the Appenzeller. The whisky cut through the butteriness of the cheese and created an enjoyable experience. RATING: 4/5

Cardhu 12 yo Whisky

Appenzeller Cheese and Cardhu 12 yo pairing
This Speyside classic is full of honey sweetness, malt, fruits with hints of vanilla. Toasted dry oak, ripe pears, honey, toffee apples and pepper with faint hints of vanilla. Pairing the Cardhu 12 yo whisky with the cheese created a more fruity whisky drinking experience.

The Appenzeller also brought more wood out of the whisky and the whisky enhanced the buttery creaminess of the cheese. Another great pairing. RATING: 4/5

A very successful pairing experiment. This cheese will probably not stand up to a smoky, peaty Islay or Highland dram, but for Speyside (and softer world whisky) drams, this is perfect. Have you paired this great cheese with any whisky? What did you think?

Also Read: Nectarine Bourbon Smash

Paul John Classic Select Cask Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 01/22/2018

In Single Malt whisky

I start 2018 on an Indian note – with the Paul John Classic Select Cask Indian single malt whisky. I love exploring world whisky. Especially whisky that comes from non-traditional countries such as South Africa, France, India or Taiwan.

Drinking a whisky from a new country allows me to dream about travelling there. When I got invited to taste a few Paul John releases during a tasting at Churchills bar, I was understandably excited.

A night out, tasting whisky from a country I love to travel in – what can be better. I have been to India quite a few times. The colours and tastes of India are unique. It is a fascinating country to travel in, steeped in history and filled with amazing stories.

Tasting this whisky in Churchills far allowed me to escape back to India. I know Amrut from Bangalore well and have tasted many of their expressions, but where is Paul John distillery from?

More about Paul John Distillery

Paul John is a brand of Indian single malt whisky and single cask whisky, manufactured by John Distilleries in Goa. Mr Paul P. John founded the John distilleries back in 1992 when they began producing several spirits, including Indian molasses-based ‘whisky’.

One of their best-known products is Original Choice whisky, brandy, rum and gin. The head office is in Bangalore, but the John distillery is situated in Goa.

Goa, with its blend of Indian and Portuguese culture, has a rich colonial heritage, white sand beaches, warm weather, pleasantly charming people and wonderful food tradition.

Paul John whisky is made with six-row barley, harvested in the summer months to obtain that perfect maturity. Then it is double distilled in traditionally designed copper pot stills. The master distiller is Michael D’Souza.

Due to Goa’s location in a tropical zone, the angel’s share is much higher than cold Scotland. Annually evaporation in India is around 10% – 12 %. The warmer temperature also means that the whisky is ageing faster, compared to colder countries.

The Paul John Classic Select Cask Indian whisky is an unpeated single malt that has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels and bottled without chill-filtration at cask strength.

The rest of the Paul John range include the Paul John Nirvana, Paul John Brilliance, Paul John Edited, Paul John Peated, and the Paul John Bold whisky.

Paul John Classic Select Cask Whisky Review

COUNTRY: India

ABV: 55.2%

COLOUR: Golden amber with light orange hints

NOSE: First up is whiffs of alcohol. You need to let the liquid breath for a bit. After a few minutes, there is a smell of creamy sweetness. The Paul John Classic nose has notes of freshly baked apple pie sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, barley, faint hints of vanilla and candied fruits. Complex and rich. There is a wholesome yumminess on the nose that invites you to taste.

PALATE: The yumminess from the nose translates onto the palate. It is a beautiful, full-bodied dram. Even at the 55.2% ABV, you don’t taste any alcohol, and I could easily finish the glass without water. The palate itself has the perfect balance between spice and sweetness.

Hints of toffee, oak, baked apples, barley with bits of vanilla floating about. Warming cinnamon and soft pepper are well balanced with honey sweetness. After adding a bit of water, the spices softened, and more honey came through.

FINISH: Warming, long, lingering, complex, rich, with hints of oak, fruit and cinnamon.

RATING: DIVINE

What a HUGE note to start the year on. Amrut set the bar very high in 2009 when they launched Fusion, and the world started noticing Indian whisky. But the Paul John effortlessly vaulted over that high bar with this Classic Select Cask release. Masterfully done!

The Paul John Classic Cask Select single malt whisky as well as the other expressions in the Paul John range is now available in SA.

This is a great dram to pair with food. I paired Paul John Classic Select Cask whisky with some Swiss Appenzeller cheese for World Whisky Day.

This whisky made it into my Whisky of the Year 2018. See what happened when we blind-tasted all the Divine rated drams for 2018. I had the fantastic opportunity to taste the Paul John Mars Orbiter Peated release and wrote about it.

Also Read: Amrut Intermediate Sherry whisky