Further expanding the ubiquity of the whisky market, Paul John Distillery’s Mithuna in India has nabbed a podium position in Jim Murray’s hugely influential Whisky Bible.
Becoming the world’s first-ever full-time whisky writer more than 25 years’ ago, Jim Murray is a legend and leading player on the whisky stage and releases an annual edition of his hotly-contested Whisky Bible, ranking the world’s best drops. [Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2021]
Typically featuring a litany of American and Scottish whiskies, Mithuna took third-finest honours in the 2021 list, posting a score of 97.
“If Mithuna means ‘Ultimate’, then it is the perfect name,” says Murray.
“It is that very rarest of things. And, if nothing else, announces Paul John Distillery on the world stage of truly great distilleries. This is a whisky to devour … while it devours you.”
This is the first win in more than a decade for a South Asian whisky. Paul John was founded in 2004 in the tiny Indian state of Goa, as a single malt whisky from John Distilleries, and produced by the Sazerac Company – the second-largest family-owned spirits company in the US, which took a strategic investment in John Distilleries.
Sazerac also produces Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (128.4 proof), which claimed Second Finest Whisky in the World in the 2021 Whisky Bible.
Mithuna is part of Paul John’s zodiac series, its predecessor being Kanya, which was named Asian Whiskey of the Year in the 2018 edition of the Whiskey Bible, boasting a score of 96.
“India is not generally known for its whiskies so we’re incredibly proud and frankly, over the moon with this accolade,” said Mark Brown, Sazerac President and CEO.
Master Distiller at Paul John Distillery is Michael D’souza, who began in the industry aged 21, after finishing his college degree in 1993.
D’souza says venues are a major ingredient in whisky finding new devotees.
“We find consumers to be experience seeking and on-premise plays a vital role in delivering as per expectations. It is the key channel to be present in and develop to drive awareness and visibility.”
D’souza notes some non-traditional aspects of Indian whiskey production, such as the ingredients used, single malts in India featuring six row malted grains, and that the level of ‘extraction’ in barrels is four times higher for Indian single malts, as compared to whiskies from colder regions, meaning an age statement on the bottle “is of no particular significance”.
He offers the following tips for appreciating their products.
“Paul John single malts are non-chill filtered. We recommend having our expressions either neat or with a few drops of water, for an enjoyable experience.”
Mithuna will be released worldwide in November.
