I’ve been sitting on this review for a while, but the Indri Founder’s Reserve 11 Years Wine Cask finally seems to be hitting the shelves. If not now then at least very soon. Only 1100 bottles were made and they are currently being distributed in India and to Indri’s international markets.
The Indri Founder’s Reserve 11 Years Wine Cask matured fully in ex-Bordeaux red wine casks. That is a long time, especially considering the climate in which it matured. It can get scorching hot in the summer, up to 50 degrees Celsius, while the temperature drops all the way to 0 degrees in winter.
These temperature fluctuations accelerate the whisky’s maturation. Or maybe accelerate isn’t quite the right word. The hot climate leads to something more akin to a supercharged maturation. It results in a bigger, bolder whisky than a counterpart from a milder climate two or three times this Indri’s age.
Maturation in wine casks isn’t anything new for Indri. This type of cask is an important building block of the distillery’s flagship malt, the Indri Trini. There is a wine industry in India, but according to Madhu Kanna, Indri’s Head of International Business, not of any sufficient size to be able to support the growth of the distillery.
Instead, Piccadily Distilleries (owners of the Indri brand) sources its wine casks globally. Aside from the ex-Bordeaux red wine casks for this release, their warehouses also store casks that formerly held Sauternes, Marsala, Pedro Ximénez, Port and Oloroso.
Indri Founder’s Reserve 11 Years Wine Cask (58.5%, OB, 2024)
Nose: Very cask-forward, but seemingly not too vinous, which is always a relief. Lots of fruits to start. Think cherries, prunes, blackcurrants and fruitcake, but also something slightly solvent, as well as a tinge of orange pith. There’s a soft earthiness lingering in the background, while subtle tropical notes are also trying to find their way.
Taste: Again, the wine cask is influential, but this isn’t a wine-y whisky, thankfully. A combination of blackberries, slivers of eucalyptus, sweet cinnamon buns and a touch of tropicality. Also a some pink peppercorns and ginger.
Finish: Medium length. Dry oak, but succulent fruits and a hint of spearmint. We’re ending on sweet cherry-flavoured candy canes and caramel-glazed red apples.
Sample provided by Piccadily Distilleries
