After releasing the world’s first gin containing cashew and a Darjeeling Gin, both under the brand ‘Jin Jiji’, Peak Spirits, co-founded by Ansh Khanna, launches their first-ever whisky called Kamet, as a JV with the Piccadily Distillery. The name derives from Mount Kamet, India’s third highest peak located in Uttarakhand, and it is distilled near Kurukshetra in Haryana. And happily, for us, unlike the Gins that are only available in the international market, Kamet whisky is now available in Goa.

Ansh’s partner Ken Fredrickson has been a keen enthusiast of the Himalayas for years and was very inspired by Mt Kamet and therefore the name.

Kamet whisky is made using the famous six row barley, indigenous to India sourced from the foothills of the Himalayas, irrigated by melting glacier water.

Maturation

The team is very passionate about their casks, and they use a combination of ex-Bourbon American Oak, ex-Wine French Oak and historic ex-Sherry casks. The wine and sherry casks give the single malt a vinous touch, something very close to the hearts of the founders.

A parrot also has pride of place on the label. The Indian parrot from our mythology and popular folklore where the parrot is revered as a messenger, a fortune teller, an important part of the culture in the villages surrounding the distillery near Kurukshetra.

Creators

Made in custom Indian-made copper pot stills, with the skills of two legendary master blenders – Surrinder Kumar, the father of Indian Single Malt and Nancy Fraley – Director of Education of the American Distilling Institute.

Kumar has worked at Amrut Distilleries for over three decades before becoming an independent consultant last year, while Fraley is a whiskey and rum blender based in Berkeley, California.

What does it taste like?

Thanks to the wine, bourbon and sherry casks, Kamet has a fruity aroma profile with oaky spice forward notes, complemented with vanilla and caramel.

At first sip, Kamet is very vibrant with a hint of the oak. There’s certainly a hint of vanilla and dried fruit notes. There’s a sweet chocolatey after-taste on the palate. So smooth in fact, that before I know it, the glass was done.

Khanna recommends the whisky be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or with a splash of water

Kamet is launched with a special introductory price of INR 2699 for the for the first few months and will be INR 2999 thereafter.

Gaurav Sareen, Tulleeho