Do you ever have one of those incredibly unique bottles that comes your way that is so exciting you don't even know where to begin? We are going to be completely transparent when we say that we were skeptical about this brand at first, only to be proven wrong on so many levels. Founder Raj Peter Bhakta is just creating a footprint in the spirits world. He is planting a flag - a BIG one - and is generating excitement for what most consider a completely new category that we call Vintage Rare Blended Whskey.
If Bhakta's name sounds familiar, it is because he is the founder of WhistlePig Whiskey, a top tier luxury rye whiskey brand that helped lay the foundation of this venture. In 2019, he sold his stake in WhistlePig and he eventually landed in Condom, France, discovering and purchasing an ancient cellar of Armagnac dating back to 1868. The rest? Well, that's history.
In order to truly appreciate what Bhakta is doing with this brand, you have to first understand and value this history and production of Armagnac. Armagnac is France's most ancient distilled spirit with a rich and colorful history dating back to 1310. It is a brandy meaning "burnt wine" and is the lesser known family member to the ever popular Cognac.
While Cognac is very popular worldwide and is produced in grand scale, Armagnac is fashioned using wood-fired alembic stills by very small family producers. Armagnac can include up to ten different grape varieties and is distilled singularly. It is truly a labor of love, with an emphasis on quality.
Prior to this tasting, we had seen very limited bottles of Bhakta in a select number of higher end liquor stores. When you read the details on this 1928 bottle, you really appreciate everything that goes into (literally) this blend:
- 60% is 2018 Rye Whiskey
- 30% is XO Calvados Brandy
- 10% is Armagnac from 1928, 1941, 1962, 1973 and 1996
This is expert blending on a grander scale. To think that some of what you are consuming is 30 to nearly 100 years old is mind blowing. It makes us wonder what was happening all of those decades ago? Surely all of the distillers from 1928 died many years ago. Oh, if we could only listen to their stories. But they live on in this delicious drink!
Safron and Tangelo colors with golden raisin hues. Vanilla custard, apricot, spring boquet on the nose. Initially we tasted homemade caramel candy, vanilla, mild grilling spices and roasted nuts. After some time in the glass (tasted neat, of course) we noticed an introduction of cocoa bits, vanilla, oak and dried citrus fruits. The flavors and overall tasting experience remain for moments while you anticipate the next sip. This is one of the more affordable releases in the portfolio, but it is not an entry-level bottle by any means.
For those of you who have been wondering what is in the Bhakta bottle, we can confirm that they do not have an identity crisis. They are setting the bar for Vintage Rare Blended Whiskey. Our score on this included not only what is in the bottle, but also the packaging, uniqueness, availability and price. Home runs all around!
ABV: 50.0% (100 proof)
Distillery: Bhakta Spirits
Suggested retail price: $69.00
Drink The Bottles score: 97/100
