Review #463 - Indri 9 Year Ex-Bourbon Single Cask - ImpEx Selection
The Indri brand from Piccadily distillery is probably best known for their 'Trini' release, which combines three types of casks: ex-bourbon, ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry, and ex-red wine. They also release some single cask variants - these can be a way to taste the individual components of Indri's in-house blending process. Here we have one example: an ex-bourbon single cask, distilled in 2014.
Actually, this cask is quite old for Indian whisky: 9 years, which is uncommon because of the hot, aggressive climate that casks are subjected to in India, which generally 'speeds up' the maturation process. There are still some flavors that only longer time can bring, but the hotter climate does definitely increase the wood impact on the spirit in a shorter amount of time.
After the 9 years of maturation, Indri bottled this single malt at 58.5% ABV, which seems to be somewhat of a standard strength for their single casks. This specific cask was picked by ImpEx Beverages, Indri's importer in the United States.
Indri 9 Year Ex-Bourbon Single Cask - ImpEx Selection
India - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 179 (2025)
Age Statement: 9 Years
Strength: 58.5% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon barrel
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; distilled June 12, 2014, bottled February 2024; cask 1151; 132 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle 90% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Richly oaked - caramel, vanilla, and clove show that strong baking spice influence. The oak takes on more of a perfumed character with additional time; there are also some earthy scents in the background, as well as a sort of rum-like funk.
Palate: The mouthfeel has a medium thickness; again, this is very oaky, with dry cooking and baking spices. Clove and nutmeg are prominent, and there are herbs of sage and rosemary. A little thread of fruit arrives, too: juicy nectarine.
Finish: That nectarine at the end of the palate grows stronger, but it never overcomes the oak dominance. Nutmeg is also present once again, and we get more of a malty backbone in the finish. It's a medium-long finish, and the texture is quite oily.
Final Note: This is a very good single cask from Indri. It's one of the older Indian whiskies that we've tasted, and that definitely shows in the flavor profile - oak is dominant, though this wasn't overly tannic or 'over-oaked.' The juicy fruit we often find in Indri products was present at the end of the palate and into the finish, but it was more subtle this time.
In terms of value, it's a different story - this is a very expensive bottle. Of course, due to the longer aging time in the hot climate, the angel's share is likely very high for casks like this, making the remaining liquid all the more valuable; still, for this level of flavor, there are some better values available in the market.
Our Average Rating: 7.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.32
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other Indri reviews:
Review #464 - Indri 9 Year Ex-Red Wine Single Cask - ImpEx Selection
