Review: Amrut Old Port Deluxe Rum and Two Indies Rum
Amrut is best known in the U.S. for its whisky, which is famously hyper-aged in the hot and humid Indian climate. In addition to whisky, however, Amrut is also quite the rum producer. In fact, they are the 7th largest rum brand in the world. During our conversation with Assistant Distiller Ashok Chokalingam back in 2018, he told us that Amrut makes its rum from both traditional molasses and also jaggery, a type of sugar common in East Asia made from cane juice. Another distinction for Amrut’s rums is the rate of evaporation which, as with their whisky, stands at a whopping 10 to 12% a year. When we spoke with Chokalingam, we had the chance to sample both Amrut’s Two Indies Rum and their Old Port Deluxe Rum, but we thought they deserved a proper revisit today in 2021.
Amrut Old Port Deluxe Rum – This rum was the first product Amrut ever produced, way back in the 1960s. It is made from 100% molasses, distilled on a column still, and aged in a mix of ex-whiskey and new oak casks. On the nose, Old Port showcases dark, sugary notes that aren’t quite the classic brown sugar profile of so many Caribbean rums. There’s more fruit – banana and toasted coconut – and a lot of bold baking spice – grated nutmeg and cinnamon stick. The palate finally unearths more traditional brown sugar, but that sweetness quickly fades. By the mid-palate, notes of brown butter and spicy ginger have given this one a decidedly dry edge which sees a slight return to sweeter form on the medium-length finish, which is accented with bubblegum and spearmint. A unique rum, best for cocktailing. 85.6 proof. B+ / $22
Amrut Two Indies Rum – This rum is a blend of Caribbean-sourced rum (pot- and column-distilled from Jamaica, Guyana, and Barbados) and Amrut’s own rum distilled from jaggery on pot stills. Two Indies is earthy and mildly sweet on the nose with notes of dried plantains, raw coconut, and some Jamaican hogo that turns slightly rubbery as it opens in the glass. The palate is a touch sweeter with juicier tropical fruits and a soft, gingery spice that builds into the medium-length finish. It’s crisp and clean, with a more classic rum profile, but it lacks the depth and complexity of Old Port. 85.6 proof. B / $28
Amrut Old Port Deluxe Rum
$22
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