The Glenwalk Whisky Review

This is the newest Blended Scotch in the market and this is the first exclusive review of this Whisky as well. Now what’s special about this whisky? It actually comes from Sanjay Dutt. Yes you heard it right! The famous actor is one of the partners in this whisky and other than him there are four other partners who have come together to form a company called Cartel and Brothers. All of the partners in this company seem to have good experience in this industry and from the looks of it they have all the bases covered between them.

Apart from of course have Dutt as a partner, the other thing special about this scotch is its price. It’s just costs Rs. 1550 in Maharastra for a 700 ml bottle (not 750 ml), it is a 40% ABV. This is also currently only available in Maharastra only. Now this is a category where you have your Indian Premium whisky’s like Blenders, Oaksmith, Antiquity Blue, Signature, etc, who are millionaire brands, making this experience, something that those consumers might be interested in.

The makers also highlight that while this is a scotch, it is tailoured to the Indian tastes buds, which means there might have been much thought gone behind making this.

How is it Made?

Of course being a blended scotch it is made in Scotland and this uses a 3-year-old malt that is mixed with grain spirits. Most scotches as you know come with an age statement of 3-4 years malt.

Now the Glenwalk is made using the traditional production method, which involves using malted barley that is soaked in water and allowed to germinate until the sugars are released. This is then fermented to create the blend. This is also made and bottled at the Aceo Ltd in UK, which are the producers of number of malts and scotches.

What’s also interesting is that this is a whisky that the company is also pushing as a mixer, they have a host of recipes on their website, which is a trend that is ongoing in the industry now – much like the Jhonnie Walker Blonde, which is doing well in the market.

Packaging

As you would expect, being a blended scotch it comes in a mono carton and they’ve gone for the black colour. The carton also featured a picture of the highlands on it, which is where this is made. The carton has also the relevant info and the idea behind the scotch. Much like the communication surrounding the whisky, the packaging also tries to sell the story about a more premium brand and taste experience that is suppose to inspire the consumer.

Personally I feel the outer packaging could be better. It’s difficult to read the bottle name from a distance since it is presented in a vertical. I am not sure if this was a strategy that the makers went with, much like the Black Label, which deliberately slanted its logo at 24 degrees on purpose to stand out on the shelf at that time.

On the inside I like the packaging. The bottle shape is kind of a cross between the Glens of the world and also a little bit of Bagpiper honestly? Let me know in the comments if you also think so, or what is the type of look of this bottle do you think it is?  

Nosing

On the nose the you get a little hint of sweetness which is common from the whisky’s that come from the Highlands. It’s 40% ABV and it doesn’t seem very potent. The colour is dark-deeper brown.  

Tasting

A nice swirl and you get the fruity sweetness for sure, a hint of caramel and the spicy nature. There is also a hint of smoky aroma which isn’t in your face, but you get it surely when the spirit is in your mouth. Another thing to notice is that it is a strong spirit. For a 40% ABV it surely feels more potent. And it also has a long finish which lingers with a slightly buttery texture on your tongue. 

Verdict

So the biggest question is how is The Glenwalk Blended Scotch Whisky? I think it is interesting. It offers a scotch flavour at a very attractive price for the consumer, where some of the most popular Indian premium whiskies are positioned. Yes for the price of Rs. 1550 in Maharastra it isn’t the best premium scotch experience, but there is enough here to make you want to try it atleast Once. Yes but this is only available in Maharastra currently, so that might be its drawback because it has the potential to be a lot cheaper when it goes to the other states.

So if you are able to get this then surely taste it and tell us in the comments how you felt.