Bhakta Indian Single Malt Dist.2012 10yr Armagnac Cask Finish 750ml

BHAKTA Spirits is helmed by Indian-American entrepreneur Raj Peter Bhakta, who first made his name reviving the rye category with WhistlePig before turning to a global portfolio of finished spirits. The BHAKTA 2012 Indian Single Malt marks the brand's first foray into Indian whisky, sourced from Northern India and matured for a decade before making the journey to the company's cellars in Vermont. It stands as one of the oldest single malts ever produced in its native country.

This whisky is distilled entirely from six-row North Indian malted barley grown in Rajasthan, using traditional copper pot stills in Goa. After ten years and four months of primary maturation, the spirit was transferred to a set of 1982 vintage Armagnac casks sourced from Château BHAKTA in France for an additional 131 days of finishing. Bottled at cask strength, 113.8 proof, the release is limited to roughly 500 nine-liter cases, making each bottle part of a genuinely small production run.

The nose carries warm cardamom, cacao, and notes reminiscent of fresh sourdough. On the palate, roasted chestnut meets a wisp of peat smoke, layered with baking spice, cracked black pepper, and ripe peach. Adding a few drops of water helps the whisky open further, revealing a malty, delicate sweetness beneath the smoke. The finish is lengthy and bright, carrying the Armagnac influence through to the very end.