Paul John Bold (46%, OB, 2018)

• Category: Indian single malt scotch whisky
• Origin:  Paul John distillery
• Bottling: Paul John, OB
• ABV: 46%
• Cost: £39.95

Image courtesy of Master of Malt

What they say

https://pauljohnwhisky.com/en/singlemalt/bold

Bold is a journey that leads you down the unexplored, unchartered terrains of Goa. It offers you a slice of its best-kept secrets, unravelling the mysteries, bit by little bit. This expression of ours invites you to leave the trail, tread the path less taken and plunge headlong into the delicious depths of Goa.

Official tasting notes:

• Colour: Liquid Gold
• Nose: After the slightest whiff of smoke, a dizzying array of Manuka honey, prickly spice and bourboneque red liquorice takes over.
• Palate: This melt-in-the-mouth malt has the most profound flavours crashing in like waves. At first, the delivery feels sublimely silky and studded with oak-like honey. And just when you think you’ve savoured it all, you are surprised by a hefty second wave of spice. This is followed by a cloudy, smoky feel that coats the roof of the mouth and leaves a tidal wave of dry molasses, peaty soot and a degree of copper in its wake.
• Finish: Bold has a light finish with a tinge of copper slowly making its presence known. You can also sense a gorgeous smoked mocha shaped by delicate and intricate spices.

What I say

Revisited during Livingston Whisky Club Paul John Tasting hosted by their brand ambassador Shilton Almeida on 3rd August 2018.

Dram #4 was this Bold expression from their Flagship range.

Distilled from Islay-peat dried Himalayan 6 row barley and matured for around 5 years in American oak ex-bourbon casks.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Yellow Gold (8/20), medium tears and medium-fine legs
• Nose: Vanilla Cream, briny and mineralic, peat influence is medicinal and coastal, some barley malt, honey, toffee and fruit, particularly fruit rinds or dried fruits, tobacco and sandalwood
• Taste: Sweet and peaty, like tablet and peat smoke mixed, with repetitive sips the peat influence diminishes on the palate and reveals vanilla, spiced cinnamon, iqourice and cocoa powder with some coffee grounds.
• Finish: Long, peaty, quite medicinal but restrained by the sweetness, persists.

Overall

On revisiting this I had quite a different experience, the peat influence appears to have grown despite this likely gaining a couple of years maturation since we tasted the inaugural release version back in 2015. Perhaps it was this extra maturation or the gentle introduction by way of the Edited expression prior, but I was much more aware of the peat influence this time and enjoyed it quite a bit more too.

Score 87/100

Shop for Paul John Bold (opens Master of Malt)

Don’t take my word for it:

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