Amrut Distilleries releases a limited-edition Gin, Amrut Nilgiris Cask Aged Gin

Amrut Distilleries have once again added, after many months of research & development, adds another member to its list of global releases with the limited-edition release of Amrut Nilgiris Cask Aged Gin. 

Amrut Nilgiris Cask Aged Gin has been matured in the same casks that produce their highly reputed, award-winning whiskies. 

Amrut, known for its innovation and ability to surprise its consumers with novel experiences with each new release, has yet again pushed the boundaries of Indian craft spirits. Using both imported and locally sourced South Indian botanicals, this Cask Aged Gin is carefully handcrafted at the Bangalore distillery, in locally made copper pot stills. and then matured entirely in Ex-Bourbon casks with final maturation occurring in a combination of peated and unpeated Amrut casks for a few months to enhance the layers of complex flavours of the gin.  

The story!

It all started when the curious minds at Amrut decided to dive deep and understand the aging of gin and the impact of oak in extracting the desirable wood congeners. Unlike in whisky making, the new make spirit needs the oak aging to enhance, mature and deeply homogenize the flavors resulting from fermentation and distillation, while Gin is made as a finished product and needs no further processing. We wanted to break that boundary and play a part in understanding the maturation of Gin in a cask and the variety of flavors resulting from it. 

Since the famed Amrut Single Malts matures in the tropical weather of Bangalore, it was going to be an interesting experiment to oversee the transformation of Nilgiris Gin by maturing it in casks that have held Peated and Unpeated whiskies. The yearlong experiment also included studying various cask types, char levels, cask strengths, maturation time and marrying processes. The idea was to use oak as an enabler to transcend the profile of an already robust gin and make it complex yet adaptable in cocktails as well as be consumed neat.

Another important facet of our yearlong experimentation was the duration of marrying our aged gin. After studying samples across various timelines of our marrying process, it was clear that we needed to marry our matured gin for almost as long as the aging time, to enable the depth in flavors to accentuate and make the gin truly versatile.

The extent of experimentation makes this release extraordinarily special. Amrut has used their decades of experience in maturation and their youthful enthusiasm in Gin to bring together a complex product for their discernable aficionados.

It's a limited edition!

With only 1800 bottles worldwide, this novel gin comes in limited stock. Amrut Nilgiris Cask Aged Gin is a testament to Amrut and India's commitment to constantly innovate and release beverages that will push the boundary yet amaze the discerning consumer of what craft spirits can be capable of.

Priced at Rs.3295/-, 900 bottles are distributed to Indian consumers, while the rest of the 900 bottles will hit the international markets such as the US, Europe, Canada, Taiwan, Australia, Singapore, and the Netherlands.

10 botanicals in Nilgiris Cask Aged Gin: Juniper berries, Coriander seeds, Lemongrass, Angelica roots, Orris roots, Mace, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Nilgiris Tea and Paan (Betel leaves).

Quote from Nikhil Varma, Gin Distiller, Amrut Distilleries:

“A release that took more than a year in experimentation, for it to extract the desirable wood congeners and add a subtle yet dynamic profile to the original Nilgiris Gin. The first of many Cask Aged Gin experimental releases from Amrut. A gin for the mixologists, aficionados, and amateurs alike."

Tasting notes from Nikhil Varma:

Nose: It starts with a bitter orange ascent, marmalade jam. A touch of dark chocolate, mint and dried berries blended with wood kissed juniper, the dust of cinnamon and musk. Adding to the mix is an abundance of warm spices that invigorate the senses.

Palate: It's a spice affair! The richness of oak is fused with bitter spices and marmalade. Soon, it relaxes into soft florals and pine that meet with a hint of liquor chocolates and paan at the back. 

Finish: A salivating long finish of pine, marmalade and spices, coupled with the dryness of oak.