This month’s review treads on familiar territory, within the realms of the Indian Subcontinent with this one diving into an expression from Amrut distilleries, the Rajigala. The whisky falls under their base category though from a price point there isn’t a large variation from other standard expressions from the distillery. The name Rajigala translates to “King of Eagles” and was named to embody the high standards the distillery holds itself to and the efforts that go into every drop that gets bottled and sold.

The bottling keeps with the stereotypical Amrut contours, but with a royal blue labelling and a golden border featuring traditional indian elements – elephants, flowers and wines. The logo, a mirrored eagle, takes an almost flourescent blue seated at the centre of the bottle’s label. The whisky is made from six row barley and carries no age statement, but holds spirits that are matured for a minimum of three years. This ones aged exclusively in exbourbon casks and lacks any artificial colouring. However it is chill filtered, which is not the case for other releases from the distillery, possibly due to its lowered abv- at the basic 40%.

Abv : 40%

Eye : Old Gold | Chill filtered, Natural Colouring

Nose : Cantaloupe with a whiff of vanilla and a bit of char. Some floral notes are interrupted with nectarines, honey and mild traces of banana. Cardboard and a bit of smoke with a pinch of white pepper.

Taste : Sweet vanilla and charred melons accompanied by a whiff of smoke. A bit of maritime that is cut by a mild citrus zest; some creaminess and woody influences leaving the palate with a lovely bit of spice.

Finish : Medium |Woody and spicy with some sweetness emanating from the melons.

Born with a young and light charachter, the Rajigala does exhibit some peaty influences. The temperate climate has enabled it to adorn most of what the exbourbon barrels were able to deliver, colour included. The expression has strong tropical notes with the peat being an added bonus and the spice being more floral in nature. I do wonder though if the whisky was quite one dimensional…

This reminds me of the Limeburners’ American Oak but with a mildly tropical spin being the distinction (possibly the price range too…lol!). At AUD $89, it’s not cheap but with a handful more you can bag the Fusion at 50% abv which is a better steal! And for that very reason, I find this dram to be an ‘everyday joe’ of an expression with nothing really compelling me to pick this from the others.

Slainte!