About this whisky

Amrut is the Bengaluru family distillery that put Indian single malt on the international map, and Fusion is the bottle that made people sit up. The idea is in the name: most of the barley is grown in the Himalayas, with a portion of peated barley brought in from Scotland. Each malt is distilled and matured separately in new and used American oak at the distillery, around 3,000 ft above sea level, where the warm climate speeds up maturation, before the two are married. Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2010 rated it the third-finest whisky in the world.

At 50% it is big but gentle. Barley sugar and soft smoke open up into vanilla custard, ripe barley fruit and a rich chocolate-fudge middle, finishing with dry peat, oak and a lively spice. It rewards slow sipping, with a few drops of water to open it up. A fine gift for the whisky lover who thinks they know single malt, and a proud bottle to pour for guests from abroad.

Key facts

• Made mostly from Himalayan barley, plus a portion of peated barley from Scotland
• Each malt is distilled and matured separately in new and used American oak, then married
• Matured in Bengaluru at about 3,000 ft above sea level; bottled at 50%
• Rated the third-finest whisky in the world in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2010

Tasting notes

Nose:

Rich oak and barley sugar over soft smoke

Palate:

Builds from gentle to powerful, with warming peat, vanilla custard, barley fruit and chocolate fudge

Finish:

Dry peat and oak, molasses-like sweetness and strong closing spice

Serve

Neat in a tulip glass with a few drops of water, or as a Rob Roy: 60 ml Fusion, 30 ml sweet vermouth and 2 dashes Angostura, stirred and served up with a cherry.

Food pairing

Lovely alongside smoky mutton seekh kebab or tandoori pomfret, and with dark chocolate or a slice of rich fruit cake.