THE COFFEE AND ITS CANVAS SACK – Score: 6/10
Paul John stands as one of the two distinguished distilleries within the select circle of whisky connoisseurs who seek excellence beyond the borders of Scotland. Its reputation has grown steadily, earning admiration for both its technical mastery and its distinctive Indian identity.
Founded in 1996 by Paul John, a Christian Indian from Bangalore, the distillery proudly emphasises its commitment to using exclusively locally cultivated barley. This choice sets it apart from its competitor Amrut, which relies on barley imported from Scotland, and reinforces Paul John’s ambition to craft a genuinely Indian single malt that remains faithful to its terroir.
Since 2018, Paul John has released an annual Christmas Edition, each year offering a nuanced interpretation of its house style. The 2021 expression is composed from a selection of casks—bourbon, port and madeira—resulting in a richly layered profile intended to showcase both generosity and complexity.
The tasting notes shift between evocative aromas of roasted coffee and the dry firmness of wood bark. It is an undeniably intense whisky, sometimes excessively so: the strength of its components appears to clash rather than harmonise. The imbalance is evident, giving the impression of a spirit whose ambitions exceed its final cohesion.
