About this rum

Old Monk Amber takes the house style that has defined Indian dark rum since 1954 and dials it towards sipping. Mohan Meakin blends its classic Old Monk with a portion of 20-year-old rum, and the carton describes it, fairly, as mellow and matured, with an XO tag to signal the older component. It is made and bottled at the company's Ghaziabad plant, and the golden-amber colour gives the bottle its name.

In the glass it is lighter in colour than the XXX, with a softer, drier character: gentle sugarcane sweetness on the nose, then a smooth palate with a touch of spice and a long finish without much heat. It suits the Old Monk loyalist who wants to sip rather than mix, and it is a smart, recognisable bottle to bring to a family gathering or to gift during the winter festive season.

Key facts

• Blends classic Old Monk rum with a 20-year-old rum component
• Packaging calls it an XO rum and carries 'Mellow and Matured Rum' on a deep maroon carton
• Made and bottled at Mohan Meakin's Ghaziabad plant
• Name refers to its amber colour

Tasting notes

Nose:

soft sugarcane sweetness and caramel

Palate:

smooth and slightly dry, toffee with a light peppery spice

Finish:

long and mellow

Serve

Neat or over a single large ice cube; a few drops of water open it up.

Food pairing

Lovely with nolen gur sandesh or a dark chocolate dessert, or alongside mutton chaap.