The Bagheera is a reclusive animal, one that has been part of local folk lore and even a main charachter in Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book.” This expression of Amrut takes an unusual route adorning the Bagheera along with the very regal Mysore Palace, with splashes of shades of green taking backstage.

Why the Bagheera?

The Black Panther (or Bagheera in hindi) is nothing more than a leopard with a really dark skin tone – attributed due to melanism; hence the pseudo name Black Leopard or Black Jaguar. And possibly it is this “dark finishing” in my eyes why the Bagheera was chosen mascot for the expression. The Spirit is a sherry cask finish of Amrut’s malt spirit, made from a combination of exbourbon and newly charred american oak barrels. The Mysore Palace… possibly an ode to one of the historical monuments from the state the distillery calls home – Karnataka!

The Bagheera is made from the traditional Indian six row barley and doesn’t come with an age statement – something common with whiskies originating from the Indian subcontinent. Over to the review…

Eye : Deep gold | Non Chill Filtered, Natural Colouring

Nose : Caramel infused with sultanas, dates and dried fruits. Herbal nuances with fresh wood accents; charred melons, cherries, vanilla shortbread, with hints of leather, a whisper of paint thinner paired with white pepper.

Taste : Brown sugar and dried fruits immediately flood the palate, followed by melons, char and wood. Influences from the sherry casks are well felt along with the richness of plums along with a mild dryness. Spices with herbal nuances combined with a lovely warmth is left towards the end.

Finish : Medium to Long | Warm and woody, dried fruits with a deep sweetness and some herbal spice.

The Bagheera is both interesting and bountiful with both tropical and dried fruity nuances rearing their heads. The expression echoes so much maturity beyond its age, both in terms of flavour and mouthfeel – so well rounded and well bodied. The exbourbon influence may have dominated the stage, but the sherry cask finishing is the real hero; and that too so well constructed that there is little to complain.

At AUD $150, though a pinch on the pocket, is one I would certainly circle back to without a doubt. Complexity – check, depth – check and a stellar mouthfeel, all adding to a delightful experience that caresses the senses with so much warmth and comfort.

Slainte!