The Basics: 

Paul John Distillery

116 Proof - NCF

NAS

$300 MSRP

Nose:

Oak, cherry, nutmeg, cardamom, dates, butterscotch, brown sugar, and turmeric.

Palate: 

Poached pear, kiwi, cinnamon, buttered toast (slightly burnt), and molasses.

Finish:

Honeycomb, jasmine, dark chocolate orange candy, rainier cherry, cranberry, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper.

Final Thoughts:

Paul John’s latest release in the Zodiac series is named after the Indian counterpart of the 3rd zodiac sign, Gemini. It is an unpeated whiskey aged in virgin oak casks before being finished in ex-bourbon casks. On the nose, the influence of the ex-bourbon casks comes through with brown sugar, nutmeg, and dates. The palate brings an unexpected amount of fruit flavors that I do not normally get in whiskey, including kiwi and poached pears. The most complex part of the whiskey is actually the finish with flavors ranging from cranberry and cayenne pepper to jasmine, with more notes to be discovered with each sip. As my introduction to Indian whiskey, I was really impressed by Mithuna. It is evident that the whiskey is modeled after a high-end scotch, however, the more intense heat of the Indian climate clearly has a strong impact on the end-product. The tart flavors coming from the kiwi and cranberry provided a really nice counter-balance to the sweet honey and molasses. Having tried this whiskey, I am even more excited to try Paul John’s other expressions to see what else Indian whiskey has to offer.