We first reviewed Rampur Choose when it was new to U.S. shores in 2019, a number of years after its 2016 introduction in its residence nation of India. After tons of awards and fandom, the one malt — created from 100% Indian barley and aged completely in first fill bourbon barrels — was “reintroduced” as a 2022 restricted version known as Classic Choose. It’s unclear how this expression is completely different from the usual Rampur Choose, however we’ll take a run at all of it the identical.
The nostril is daring and peppery, evoking spices that one could be tempted to credit score to India. Heady notes of recent flowers once more evoke incense, orange blossoms, and once more a touch of camphor. The extra simple grain character of Choose is absent right here, changed with notes of brown banana and a few purple pepper notes.
The palate carries a lot of the identical high quality — barely astringent and oxidized, with notes of incense, extra camphor, and Meyer lemon peel. Stronger granary-driven notes mingle with some spice, pushing on to lavender and linen notes on the end. Relatively heavy on the entire, the fade-out gives a mixture of overripe fruit, incense, and black tea, sharp as could possibly be for fairly some time.
I don’t have a pattern of the usual Rampur Choose to match towards, however my tasting notes line up virtually precisely with the Classic Choose model. At double the worth, you’re most likely tremendous with the OG bottling, which ought to nonetheless be available.
86 proof.
B / $120
Rampur Classic Choose Indian Single Malt (2022 Restricted Version)
$120
