Over in Goa, Paul John has made what might just be the ultimate post-Christmas dinner dram — it's the Paul John 2020 Christmas Edition! This lightly peated Indian single malt has been matured in a trio of first-fill casks, with bourbon, American virgin oak and Oloroso casks all making an appearance. Lots of dried fruit, chocolate and orange citrus to be found in this festive whisky.
Candied orange peel, set honey and plum jam on fresh toast, with delicate peat smoke running through.
Dried fruit and spices appear, with peppery oak, barley sugar and more smoke, balanced by date sweetness.
Crystallised ginger and earthy peat linger.
Preferred the nose than the palate. Usual tropical fruitiness, honey flavours with an overlay of oak spice from the virgin oak casks, orange candies, warm spices. A tad monolithic but a nice christmas dram.
Wealthy and sweeter, more honey, sherry fruits and dark chocolate noticeable before a modest growth in spice. Peat and smoke are really palate filling here, adding detail and depth without ever standing or overly speaking out. Different to the nose now a gentle base of dry leather appears. As often the level of maturity Paul John reaches in NAS expressions is exemplary to me, the palate is pleasantly diverse and soul warming.
