First Impressions
Amrut Distilleries in Bangalore is India's most famous spirit-maker — their single malt whisky shocked the whisky world when it scored higher than established Scotch in blind tastings. When Amrut turned to gin, they went to the Nilgiris — the Blue Mountains of the Western Ghats, rising to 7,000 feet, where tea plantations, spice gardens and pristine forests provide some of the freshest botanicals on Earth. 'Nilgiris' is Tamil for 'blue mountains', named for the blue-tinged Kurinji flowers that bloom across the range.
Tasting
Nine botanicals macerated and distilled in copper pot stills: juniper, coriander, lemongrass, angelica, orris root, cinnamon, mace, nutmeg and Nilgiris tea. The nose is citrus and juniper with a spicy background, delicate brewed tea and floral notes of crushed white flowers. On the palate, smooth and almost buttery juniper with raw mango and citrus, fused with a peppery bite. Mace and nutmeg provide the spice of the Western Ghats, tea adds tannic structure. The finish is long, dry and wholesome — it packs a punch.
The Bottom Line
Amrut Nilgiris earns an 8 — 95 points from Tastings.com and #5 on the Global Drinks Guide 2023 confirms what the palate reveals: this is one of the world's finest gins. Amrut brought Indian whisky to global attention; now they are doing the same for gin. The Nilgiris botanicals — tea, mace, nutmeg — provide a spice-forward complexity that is unmistakably Indian yet universally appealing. Best neat or in a Martini where the buttery mouthfeel and tea tannins create something extraordinary.
