Once a year, two of our Mumbai whisky groups come together to celebrate our mutual passion for a fine dram. This time, I selected the whiskies – ordered online and brought in by another member for our sampling pleasure. I was inspired by an earlier introduction to North Star Spirits and honed in on their series 5, tending towards the more affordable options available with a nice cross-section from different regions.

While the Whisky Ladies sponsored the whiskies, the gents hosted our evening in a gorgeous South Mumbai home with a most civilized sit down tasting followed by a brilliantly paired dinner. To put it mildly, the bar was set high!

And did the whiskies deliver? Read on to discover…

Our 5 Region North Star Spirits cask strength quintet from Cask Series 005 included:

• Speyside – Glentauchers 11 year (Apr 2007/May 2018) 58.9% by Nikolina Berg – Lots of fruit, peaches, pears and s’mores, salty dark liquorice
• Campbeltown – Campbeltown 4 year (2014/2018) 57% by Paula McGlynn – Mandarin orange, honeycomb, ginger, bitters, exceptional for such a young whisky 
• Highland – MacDuff 11 year (2006/2018) 55.2% by Rekha Sharma – A sprightly highland dram – flowery, apricots, big red chewing gum, a bit metallic
• Island – Orkney 12 year (Mar 2006/May 2018) 57.8% by Shruti Sutwala – Island sea salt with subtle smokiness, buttery with burnt caramel, tobacco pipe and vanilla
• Islay – Caol Ila 12 year (Apr 2006/May 2018) 54.6% – No doubt this was an Islay with clear stamp of peat. Yet curiously combined burnt maple bacon with green asparagus, Crêpe Suzette with cherry liquor flambé!

Each was distinctive, unique and completely worth trying!

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