RAMPUR « Jugalbandi #4 » IPA Cask finish, 2023, 52,4 %| Indian Single Malt Whisky I awarded!

Before kicking off the new whisky shows season, let’s go back to the previous one, reviewing the last of the 4 first whiskies I did award for my "Highlights of the year 2023" video (& of which I own a bottle), this whisky that I ranked as the second Whisky of the Year. It is an Indian Single Malt Whisky from the RAMPUR distillery imported here in France by La Maison du Whisky. It is the fourth release in the « Jugalbandi » series, which was released along with the Jugalbandi #3 which was a Port Wine cask finish. This time it is the « Jugalbandi #4 », matured in first fill Bourbon casks, then finished in IPA casks. It is non-chill filtered, bears no age statement & is bottled the 27/09/2023 (Batch L1138 for my bottle) at a Cask Strength abv of 52,4 % (remember that the Angel share in India is huge).

So, I will review this limited release, but prior to that will give you a quick reminder of what is, or can be, Indian Whisky, and what is my experience with it & the bottles of Indian whisky of my collection. I will also try first an AMRUT Single Malt expression, used as a calibrator & witness of quality standards that Indian Export whisky has. As usual, time stamps will help you navigate into the video & watch whatever you want from it. Thanks in advance for that, and even more to those who will watch it in its entirety.

VIDEO CHAPTERS (Time Stamps) :
0:00 Intro
4:16 What is Indian whisky ? (spoiler)
5:38 An Awarded whisky (the RAMPUR)
7:35 What is Indian whisky ? (summary)

9:30 Indian Whisky distilleries Summary (part 1)
10:30 Indian Whisky in my Collection...
13:10 The RAMPUR Distillery (presentation)
15:10 RAMPUR “Jugalbandi #4”, 2023, ncf, 52,4 % (Bottle presentation, first part)
16:00 The Angel Share question in Indian whisky
17:50 RAMPUR “Jugalbandi #4”, 2023 (continuing the presentation)
20:18 The « Jugalbandi » concept & music pairing ideas
24:35 AMRUT « Single Malt », bottled 2013 (Batch 55), ex-Bourbon casks, 46 % used as a calibrator (Presentation)
25:30 AMRUT « Single Malt », 46 % (Nosing)
27:12 AMRUT « Single Malt », 46 % (Tasting it neat)
31:20 RAMPUR “Jugalbandi #4”, 2023 (Nosing)
34:20 RAMPUR “Jugalbandi #4”, 2023 (Tasting, slightly diluted)
38:58 Rating…but, please see below :

Last minute note : As I did finish to sip the Rampur after the video recording, I had to be honest & accept the truth, that the rating announced in it was below my feeling, and as the whisky had a fantastic nose & gorgeous palate, with a lingering finish, and didn’t stop to developp with a few drops of water, I had to increase the rating & finally got to 95/100, after hesitating at 94/100 (the initial rating in the video being 93,5/100). Of course it is subjective, but this whisky clearly exceeded my expectations... / Also, sorry, I forgot to state the information that the first whiskies under the Rampur brand were released in 2016 (« Double-Cask » & « PX »).

Link to my video about my Highlights of the Year 2023 :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9vsVz4_s00

Link to my video about my favorite whiskies from Whisky Live Paris 2023 show :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB8zcz2Itr8&t=2364s

TO SUPPORT ME (New link) :
*NEW / Crowdfunding (NOUVEAU / Financement participatif) : https://buymeacoffee.com/gregswhiskyguide

REMINDER (Selected links) :
My Whisky website: www.gregswhiskyguide.com
My Instagram: « gregswhiskyguide »
My Artist website (including Whisky related work): https://www.gregoiresarafian.com/
My Blender’s cap : More about it here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS7Rg6loKdM&t=2820s