Paul John Peated Select Cask Single Malt

My last Drinks by the Dram sample. I had always been curious of Paul John...it's raised in a hot climate like an Amrut, which expedites aging, but it's also by the ocean in Goa, unlike the Amrut which is at a high elevation. Just a bit of geography: Amrut is made in Bangalore, which is incredibly hot and at an elevation of 3000 feet. Goa is on the west coast of India, right at the beach, a tourist hippie heaven. Think Mazaltan, minus the drug cartels. But that maritime location is gentle and hot, with warm tropical breezes instead of the salty briny tempest you'd get in Islay or Islands. Ok...so...The nose is very minty, like smelling tic tacs almost. Some eucalyptus as well. Taste is much more earthy and grassy. I love that the peat is really integrated into the taste, reminds me a lot of that recent Ledaig 18 I had last time. It's there, and lets you know of the peat backbone, but it lets the wood shine first. I love the way it goes from the eucalyptus aroma to the grassy earthy taste. It's also potent, almost 55 ABV (angels share in Goa is to blame I guess). What I don't like is the finish. Has a bitter finish, almost like fenugreek. It was doing so incredibly well until the finish. Would I buy a full bottle? Probably not. It's good one time, but not sure I'd be coming back,just because of that fenugreek finish. I'd be open to trying other products of Paul John though.

During Warsaw Whisky and Friends festival I tried all the Paul John products and I find this one and "bold" most intriguing. If you are looking for a very good peated whisky this is your choice. There is a lot of classic earthy notes, but still this is kind of fresh and very well balanced - peat is great, but it does not overcome the other tastes - sweet, spices and fruits. I really enjoyed this and truly wonder what will happen when this stuff gest some serious aging. (130PLN - promo).