Paul John Christmas Edition, 2019
Paul John, Christmas Edition 2019; Christmas in a bottle...but this time hailing from the John Distilleries in Goa, India. One of the most underrated single malt producers, Paul John is pushing out some incredibly serious single malt that can stand toe to toe with just about anything Scotland or Japan have been releasing in recent years. Their annual ‘Christmas Edition’ is arguably the most sought after expression in their lineup, each year delivering a new combination of wood varieties and age ranges. The 2019 Paul John Christmas Edition is aged for 7+ years, 5 years in ex Bourbon and 2 in Pedro Ximinez. Simply amazing and is as decadent as a Christmas dram should be.
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Paul John, Christmas Edition 2019
ABV: 46% // 92 proof
Age: 7 years
Release: 2019
Distilled: N/A
Bottled: August 2019
Bottle: Globally 7,000 // US 2,400
Barrel: Ex Bourbon & Pedro Ximenez
Color: Burnt Mahogany
Non-chill filtered // Natural Color
Nose: To think the barley, this juicy, could have survived PX maturation is unbelievable. But believe it. PX and Peat, punch for punch but neither seems to knock the other out; if balance truly could be perfected, this may be as close as one could come. Wave after wave of flavor. The meaty peat, dipped in salted mocha fudge with two handfuls of dried red Chile peppers of all varieties, bears a Highland or Campbeltown resemblance - think Springbank. With the peat are hints of chemical notes, similar to the ones found in asphalt, otherwise known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Quite a break from what youd find in your average Islay peated single malt, but bewilderingly intriguing nonetheless. A squeeze of fresh lemon zest rounds things out.. Phenomenal.
Palate: Full bodied. Now the peat wants to scrap with the fruit, with Indian spice refereeing but eventually declaring fruit the winner. The waves of flavor are like the plot twist of a Steven King novel. BBQ’d meats over a sooty peat fire marinated with grape marmalade. Bright dried barley notes. Very nice mouthfeel. Fire roasted Chile spices show back up from the nose along with black pepper and paprika. Sweet in certain areas - dry in others. Truly an adventure. The end heats up as things transition into the finish...
Finish: Long. The softest peat turns sweeter now with mocha showing up again. Lip smackingly jammy in the end with tons of red and purple grapes. Chili spices leave a humming warmth. Beautiful stuff.
Bourbon and House Rating: 91.5