Paul John’s Christmas treat (2021 edition)

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I last tried Paul John’s Christmas editions at their distillery in Goa! It was August 2019 and a few Whisky Ladies of Mumbai got together to spend a special weekend together – with our primary mission to spend time at Paul John! We were impressed with the 2018 and 2019 editions. Originally these special seasonal celebration expressions could only be purchased in Goa, however, now living in Europe I’ve seen a couple pop up here and there!

This particular 2021 edition is one I managed to acquire in India, then brought it to Germany to share in a special Diwali celebration. I have a been a bit slow preparing tasting notes, however found myself on Christmas eve, back home in Mumbai, listening to the birds, looking out at the palm trees, contemplating the mix of Indian and western traditions that are part of any Anglo-Indian home. It seemed fitting to brush off my notes and share them today.

Paul John Christmas Edition 2021 46%

  • Nose – What a nose! Port, sour cherry, juicy berries, pepper, koffee candy
  • Palate – Silky smooth and full of flavours, dried fruits, some ginger, caramel, the coffee shifts into mocha, a sweet peat smoke, it is robust and rewarding
  • Finish – Lingers

Overall this whisky was pronounced as “really very good!” You could really tell the influence of all three casks – ex-bourbon, Port wine and Madeira barrels. Particularly on the nose the Port and Madeira shone through, yet there is something about the palate that brings all three dimensions together.

There is nothing shy about it – it is bursting with aromas and flavours, and generous in its approach. I found less of the tropical fruits I tend to associate with Paul John however the longer the whisky lingered in the glass, the more elements emerged. This is not a lightweight whisky and it deserves time to open up. Thankfully it remains at home, so I will have plenty of opportunities to come back and explore further.

One evening later that wintery month, I had a sudden hankering for egg nog. Not the store-bought variant but a rich, indulgent homemade egg nog, one that would be generously laced with whisky rather than rum. I just so happened to have all the ingredients except vanilla extract… so set about making a mini-batch – just enough for one person. As I considered which whisky to use, my thoughts were drawn back to the rich full flavours of this Paul John. I pulled out the bottle, splashed a few drops in a glass neat and knew this was EXACTLY what I wanted to pull off a truly exceptional egg nog.

What do the folks at Paul John have to say?

With tawny tints and aromas of malt-tinged caramel, a rare dash of coconut, and sweet berries balanced against dry raisins, Paul John Christmas Edition 2021 is crafted from malts finished in Ex-Bourbon and a melange of Port and Madeira casks. Entice the palate with creamy flavours of delicate spice and butterscotch riding on a light smoked-laced barley that lead to a long finish of alluring spices, light peat and a flavourful cocoa.

The 4th release of the limited Christmas Edition series from the award-winning Paul John Indian Single Malt, this expression bespeaks the joys of Christmas.

  • Colours: Tawny.
  • Nose: Caramel, orange marmalade, berries, malty, coconut and dry raisins.
  • Taste: Creamy, spicy, light smoke, butterscotch and barley.
  • Finish: Rather long and warming notes with Cocoa, light peat and spices.
  • Balances: An exotic and multi-faceted peated malt with deep, creamy flavours and a rich finish.

I bought this via The Drammers Mumbai group for INR 5,500 in December 2021. It later made its way to Europe to be tasted during a special Diwali evening in Nurnberg with our International Whisky Tasting group where we also sampled:

And now? Time to get into the seasonal spirit! Paul John Christmas Edition 2021

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