Company: Rock and Water Distilleries
Distillery: Paul John Distillery
Region: Goa, India
Aging: No Age Statement – aged in charred American oak barrels
ABV: 40% ABV
Proof: 80 Proof
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Non-Chill Filtered: No
MSRP Price: $35
Paul John Nirvana – Indian Single Malt Whisky Tasting Notes
Appearance: Light Golden Honey
Nose: Malted Barley, honey, toffee, oak, vanilla, dark fruits, black cherry, plum, fig, candied apricot, apples
Palate: Fig, black cherry, tropical fruits, pineapple, apple, honey, vanilla, toasted oak, smoke, raisin, malt, grain
Finish: Long finish that leaves you with an oily mouthfeel full of rich fruit flavors, honey, oak, and malt with lingering pepper, spice, and smoke on the tail end
Is Paul John Nirvana an Approachable Whisky?
Paul John Nirvana is a pretty approachable whisky.
While it does have a bit of spice and heat to it, this pour is backed up by nice flavors for only $35.
Indian whisky often has a unique single malt flavor and this bottle is no exception.
It is quite malty and backed up by tropical fruits like apple and pineapple.
Is Paul John Nirvana Complex?
Paul John has a few layers of complexity and depth of flavor.
This pour is full of malt, fruit, and spice.
In addition to those flavors, it also has a nice level of honey sweetness that helps balance out the flavor profile to be pretty well-rounded for only $35.
What are Paul John Nirvana’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Paul John Nirvana Whisky’s best attribute is definitely its price tag.
It is very difficult to find any smokey Single Malt whisky for $35, let alone one with the nice fruit flavors in this bottle.
Is Paul John Nirvana a go-to whisky?
Paul John Nirvana could easily be a go-to whisky if you’re a fan of smokey Single Malt Whisky.
For the price, you’re getting a lot of flavor in each sip.
*Side Note: I purchased this bottle for the first time because I had an absolutely amazing cocktail that used it as an ingredient at a sushi and whisky bar in my area called Gi-Jin.
I really wish I could find out how to make that cocktail. I’ve tried and it’s come out okay, but not quite as nicely as theirs.
Is Paul John Nirvana priced accurately to its quality?
Paul John Nirvana delivers on its price tag.
It’s very difficult to find any Single Malt Scotch Whiskeys let alone with a smokey flavor profile for under $40-50, so this bottle comes in a bit less than that and delivers a nicely balanced flavor profile.
I probably wouldn’t pay much more than $40 for this bottle, but it is an excellent option for a smokey Single Malt fan looking for a bottle on a budget.
Conclusion for Paul John Nirvana
Paul John Nirvana is a solid purchase at the $35 price point.
I really enjoyed the flavors in this one and it definitely offers the unique flavor profile that comes with most Indian whiskeys.
At the price point, you just can’t go wrong with this one.
And if you are looking for other excellent bottles from India, I highly recommend Rampur Double Cask and Amrut Cask Strength.
Rampur Double Cask is extremely delicious and has a lovely fruit flavor profile.
It has a bit more fruit flavors and not as much heat on it. I really enjoy this one a lot.
Amrut is my favorite Indian Whisky distillery and in particular, the Amrut Spectrum 004.
The Amrut Spectrum bottles are a limited release so they may be hard to find now, but it is one of the bottles I would take from my collection if I could only keep 5.
Amrut Cask Strength is also an excellent choice and is much more available.
But overall, I am becoming a fan of Indian whisky more and more each time I try a new bottle.
They aren’t super popular yet, but I have a feeling we’ll be seeing more and more coming from the Indian Whisky market in the near future.
Let Us Know What You Think
I hope you enjoyed this tasting experience with me.
If you decide to give this bottle a shot, please let me know on social media via Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Thanks for reading and cheers!
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