The Paul John Christmas edition

The Paul John Christmas edition

The Paul John Christmas edition. An annual release from the distillery in Goa, India. This limited edition is a apt reflection of the wonderful flavour profile of the distillery.



Started in 2018 this series is become one of the most awaited annual releases in the now bustling single malt space in India. Right from the packaging to the liquid this edition brings together (with harmony) a wonderful celebratory styled whisky.



This year the treat has been delightful with Madeira casks contributing to a nice citrus tinge to the dark chocolate, resinous and date syrup notes.


A must try this season; while tastes and palates differ, this is perhaps the best of the Christmas editions to date by the notes of club founder Hemanth Rao.



SMAC members get to book and crack this open before anyone else! Yes we are exclusive till the edition is released for all in the market shortly. Book your bottle today! Stocks reserved for members limited.https://smacindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/256807974_197793685842930_3640042004947382558_n-1.mp4

Calling all peat lovers!

Calling all peat lovers!

Calling all peat lovers! We are very excited to announce that there are limited bottles of Ardbeg’s Wee Beastie available exclusively for our club members in Bangalore.



This feisty spirit while being complex, packs a mighty set of flavours. We are certainly impressed by Ardbeg’s confidence to unleash this young, 5-year-old single malt, which has been matured in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks.



If you love intense smoky flavours, this one is for you. It has beautiful aromas of cracked black pepper, pine needles, vanilla and honey-glazed ham. The palate offers notes of dark chocolate, tar, smoked bacon, and eucalyptus, and a long salty finish with hints of cocoa and fudge.



đź“ŁThe first 50 members to purchase this whisky receive a stunning, black, Ardbeg bar kit!



Head to https://bit.ly/3DhBBO1 to book your bottle now!






Booking for the Paul John Christmas edition 2021

Booking for the Paul John Christmas edition 2021

Booking for the Paul John Christmas edition 2021 for the members of SMAC has been closed for delivery in Mumbai.
Bookings open for members with Bangalore as a pick up location.



Fantastic 4 campaign for the other bottles remain open for all members across
For members who have forgotten your booking ID please check your registered mail for your latest Whisky Statement.



If you do not have a Membership ID please register today at www.smacindia.com/membership
Booking for the Paul John Christmas edition 2021

This festive season SMAC goes all out to enhance your celebration by offering you 4 stellar Single Malts

This festive season SMAC goes all out to enhance your celebration by offering you 4 stellar Single Malts

This festive season SMAC goes all out to enhance your celebration by offering you 4 stellar Single Malts. Gift yourself and your dear ones these spectacular whiskies that are set to satiate a range of palates preferences from young & seashore peat to sherry & the much awaited Madeira Christmas cake.



Pre book these fantabulous whiskies and make this festive season a memorable one.


Ardbeg Wee Beastie (Includes a festive offer*)

Paul John Christmas Edition – 2021

Amrut Neidhal

Amrut Amaze III


Some of these as you can see are few left from previous campaigns and are available in very small numbers, booking will be on a first come serve basis.



Link to book: https://forms.gle/zU25QwvKa1LA1VWTA
For members who have forgotten your booking ID please check your registered mail for your latest Whisky Statement.



If you do not have a booking ID please register today at www.smacindia.com/membership
stellar Single Malts

Top 3 Whiskies | Today is number 2 which is a Springbank

Top 3 Whiskies | Today is number 2 which is a Springbank

Top 3 Whiskies.
Last week we shared club founder’s 3rd best experience with the Longrow which was his third best whisky of all time. The reason why the whisky is in your top 3 may change from person to person; for him it is the ability of the Whisky to surprise.
His notes:
Today is number 2 which is a Springbank
Springbank 30 year old, bottled for the Milroy Associates. Milroy of Soho on Greek street is wonderful place to spend an evening with friends & drams, and if you dont have friends you are going to make some there!

As a dram Springers are of a very different profile from most whiskies. Generally its notes refer to the ‘funk’ in the whisky, which is difficult to grasp unless you taste. It’s a note which is like drawing from the brine and saltiness of a Talisker (without the peat), some minerals from an Old Pultney. A nose which is as fragrant as a Benriach with some elements of Farclas. A hint of medicine from the Islay whiskies & oilyness of a Clynelish. So yes it has Funk! This was my first ‘big’ Springbank and this one knocked my scoring around as it kept evolving. It has Golden strength on the label and is bottled at 50% abv which is an excellent bottling strength IMHO.
The nose is a combination of a mineral loaded citrus syrup (yes I felt the thickness on the nose!) with soot of a diesel locomotive. Very vibrant and not a shy one.

Mouth – The elements on the nose seem to sort of take a step back and other performers take the centre stage. The oily texture is not huge but enough to keep the minerals and the reek of peat in harmony. It turned quite spirity and showed a bit of rawness for a couple of seconds leaving you gasping before a creaminess takes over. Motor oil like dirtiness with freshness at the same time? Tobacco and leather with just some sherry sweet oils.

Finish – Its one of the whiskies that had the longest finishes experienced and kept me on the hooks for a while. Some Heather and vegetal notes with a bit of chocolate. Rubbery and chewy
Twisted description? It is an understatement
What are your top 3 Whiskies of all time?
springback

Club (SMAC India) founder, Hemanth Rao shares his top 3 Whiskies of all time

Club (SMAC India) founder, Hemanth Rao shares his top 3 Whiskies of all time

Festivities in India are around the corner and I am sure some of you are looking forward to time with family and friends. This is the time that perhaps the celebratory bottles come out! Yes, it’s the time for the best liquid in your stash.  Club founder, Hemanth Rao shares his top 3 Whiskies of all time. What’s your top 3?  Hemanth Rao’s notes – Longrow from Samaroli
Distilled 1973 and bottled in 1985
12 years old
ABV – 53%  One of the most unusual whiskies that I have had ever. The number of layers and wildly different notes that I found in this whisky were outstanding. Right from bacon to minty toffee (Some in India of my time may know this). Plethora of vegetation and brine, add peat and smoke with the minerals and you have a look on your face that makes you wonder if this is really a whisky that you are drinking. Mind you this may not be the easiest whiskies if you dont like peat, a bit of sulphur and minerals; but if you do then its a one to take you to orgasmic levels. The raw natural appeal of this is quite a charm and the 53% while delivering a punch on your palate settles down and the next few sips offer quite some salty and peaty aftertastes. A very unusual note of Indian chutney which I felt was my mind playing tricks but it had “churan” and ginger all over it.  Not had the good fortune to have many whiskies from Samaroli but this one showed me why the name is revered in the fraternity.  Top class. This whisky makes it to my top 3 as I thought I had largely tasted the usual profiles of all types of whiskies but this made me this as always ingraved in my mind now – ‘Amateur’!
Top 3 whiskies

Giveaway Alert! Contest Duration: 25th Oct – 1st Nov | SMAC India

Giveaway Alert! Contest Duration: 25th Oct – 1st Nov | SMAC India

GIVEAWAY ALERT! 📣 Follow these simple steps and you and your friends can stand a chance to win a curated virtual whisky tasting with the professionals. CONTEST DURATION: 25th Oct – 1st Nov*T&C’s apply. Pick the whisky of your choice from the market and have experts from SMAC curate a tasting session for you. The contest is open for participants aged 25 years and above, across the globe.
Win Whisky

Selling, Soliciting Sale, is Strictly Prohibited | SMAC India

Selling, Soliciting Sale, is Strictly Prohibited | SMAC India

All, thank you for your attention. We have worked towards ensuring that members of this group have a great forum to exchange views and information about whiskies, particularly Single malt whisky. We have guidelines and rules to ensure the core subject of posts remain around the same. SELLING, SOLICITING SALE, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED 🚫 In the past few months we have received multiple complaints by members of being cheated by operators impersonating our partners Anurag Wines & Dewars. This post is to create awareness and requesting members to stay alert and be aware of the rules and regulations. 1. SMAC INDIA is an organisation which is registered and trademarked. It does NOT sell alcohol of any kind2. Any communication from us will be through our social media handles and/or to your registered email id/ mobile number3. Official website is www.smacindia.com and contact numbers are 9880290243 & 9900191149. Contact email id is members@smacindia.com4. Your membership ID is not to be shared with others as we extend benefits through the same5. Any sale of limited edition bottles or SMAC exclusive releases will be presented through legitimate channels and our partners6. Please excise caution when searching for contact numbers of our partners on Google. If in case of doubt please reach out we will do our best to help you7. Legal issues -India is a large country with very different laws of excise. Please do check local laws especially on* Shipping of alcohol* Online shopping* Using couriers to ship alcohol8. Ordering alcohol from outlets and online stores from outside India.* Ordering alcohol from outside India has a host of challenges* Taxes, the taxes range from 100 – 167% based on the invoiced price and/or what the custom official decides based on his/her study of the imported product* Ordering alcohol through online services into India is illegal and invites a fine. This might be clubbed with your custom duties.* Most large operators offer these services at YOUR risk. Please read T&C’s carefully before making a payment* In our experience some orders slip through and some don’t. If you would like to take a chance it’s your decision 🙂 Happy dramming
Alert

The story in ‘Black & White’ | Single Malt Amateur Club India

The story in ‘Black & White’ | Single Malt Amateur Club India

The man behind this creation is one of the ‘big 4’ as referred to in the whisky industry – James Buchanan. There is a lovely short video on the story of Black & White whisky that we will find and post shortly but for now a short snippet.

 
James moved at the age of 30 in the year 1879 from Leith to London. He worked as an agent for Charles Mackinlay (The folks who bottled whisky for the Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition). His formative years in Scotland presented him the knowledge and friends in the industry early on, hence when working as an agent, James learnt that the English folk did not appreciate the robustness of the whiskies (most whiskies at the time were pure malt or contained very little grain).

Being a shrewd businessman and with his knowledge of the blenders in Scotland he started his own enterprise by sourcing a whisky from Glasgow blenders W. P. Lowrie & Co. It was named the “Buchanan’s blend”. Dalwhinnie, Clynelish and Glendullan were the distilleries from which the whisky was sourced. This was around the year 1884 and this blended whisky was supplied in a distinct black bottle with a white label. Within a year of this whisky being marketed it became extremely popular and made its way to the members bar at the House of Commons in London.
This whisky was renamed by James as “House of Commons Finest Old Highland whisky”; but the story goes that the public did not care much for its name but rather referred to it as ” That Black & White Whisky” owing to the bottle and label colours. This name was adopted by James Buchanan and thus Black & White brand name was created around the year 1902.
The terriers on the label came much later between 1930 -1940, when James visited an animal show and incorporated a picture of them in the label. This remains to be one of the best and early trademarks of the industry. This brand now forms a formidable part of the blended scotch whiskies portfolio at Diageo.

In this post bottle 1(without the royal warrant) estimated from around the 50’s and the subsequent one is from the 70’s nstrating the label evolution.

black & white

Amrut Aatma (USA Exclusive) | SMAC India

Amrut Aatma (USA Exclusive) | SMAC India

Hot malt! This was one of the bottles that one had to chase in the USA 

Deep sherry influence and a phenomenal cask strength whisky.

Name: Amrut Aatma (USA Exclusive)

Series: Single cask, Single Collector’s Series

Cask Type: Port Pipe

Cask # 4670

Unpeated Barley

Distilled: April 2013

Bottles: December 2020

One of 360 bottles

Amrut Aatma (USA Exclusive)

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