When you hear Nepal mentioned, I’m certain the first thing that springs to mind is not whisky. The country’s name probably conjures images of vast Himalayan peaks, ancient temples, or perhaps even fearsome Gurkha warriors. However, this small landlocked country is home to something of a burgeoning whisky industry. Over the next few months, I’ll be tracking down a few examples of Nepali whisky to review, hoping to paint a picture of how far Nepali whisky has come. After all, just over the border, India is now producing award winning single malt whisky at the Amrut distillery.

Whisky used to be something of a luxury good in Nepal; however, it has become increasingly widely available. Off licenses stock growing ranges of imported spirit, and locally produced drams can be found in even the most remote of shops. The amber nectar has become something of a must-have drink.

Kala Patthar is a rather recent arrival on the Nepali whisky scene, having only been released in December 2022. It is named after the famous vantage point below Mount Everest, reported to offer the best views of the world’s highest peak. The name and superbly rendered mountain vista on the packaging are designed to invoke images of adventurousness. This is coupled with a charismatic bottle (slightly spoiled for me by the screw top – I know I’m a cork snob) that hopes to portray the product as a luxury. All in all, this works for me: the whisky seems like an attractive proposition.

One part of the text on the side of the whisky’s box stood out to me. There is a reluctance to claim full ownership of the whisky: we are told that it has been “matured in Sherry and Oak casks from Scotland” and “blended with the best Nepalese grain spirits and the pristine glacial water of the Himalayas”. This implies that there is another, unclaimed part of the blend. This continues with the statement of origin: “Blended & Bottled by Vijay Distillery… Nalaparasi, Nepal”. If I was cynical, I would suggest that this might be to suggest that the spirit had more Scottish heritage than it actually does. I would, however, appreciate a bit more information on origin: is all the spirit from the Vijay distillery or is some of it sourced from elsewhere? Unfortunately, even a lengthy trawl of the internet provided no answers.

And so, with this minor mystery, we embark on our Nepali whisky adventure.

Kala Patthar Blended Reserve Whisky

Nepali Blended Whisky, blended by Vijay Distillery.

42.8% ABV. Aged in sherry and oak casks imported from Scotland. No age statement.

Colouring and filtration not mentioned.

NPR 2660 (£16.11) from Bhat Bhateni. Not yet available outside Nepal.

Nose: Golden syrupy sweetness and citrus zest come through strongly. There’s a strong note of plum and sultana from the sherry cask, as well as creamy vanilla, oat – perhaps hobnob biscuits – and a little white pepper.

Palate: Golden syrup leads again, with vanilla ramping up. Citrus, plum, and sultana are slightly diminished, although still present, and accompanied by an oaty cereal note. After a second, you are met by a rising warmth from white pepper, a little chilli powder, and light tobacco smoke. There is however a slight sharpness at this stage, likely from very young grain spirit. The addition of ice (as suggested by the packaging) really mellows this out without a significant impact on the rest of the palate.

Finish: The finish is medium-long, with light cigar smoke lingering and becoming a touch bitter as the golden syrup sweetness slowly fades.

Opinion: Not bad at all. There’s far more complexity to this whisky than I was expecting. With the exception of the slight harshness from young grain on the palate, the balance is pretty good as well. Given that drinking whisky with ice is quite common in Nepal, a lot of the local market won’t be too concerned by this foible.

Kala Patthar is clearly trying to compete with two different sets of whisky: imported blends and low cost locally produced whiskies. Against the former, it does a pretty good job. I’d probably opt for a glass of Kala Patthar over Johnny Walker Black Label, even before considering the difference in price. However, other Nepali whiskies offer stiff competition: I’m not certain this quite beats out the likes of Old Durbar Reserve or Gurkhas and Guns 10-year-old, both available locally at a similar price point.

I would like to see more made of this whisky’s Nepali identity, rather than just a vague statement about it being “blended and bottled” by a Nepali distillery. The spirit is decent enough to warrant claiming its identity. I would really like to see the result of a few more years in wood: a bit more smoothness and finesse should make this a whisky to be proud of, worth rolling out to the international market.

All in all, this is a decent blend, especially when its low price is considered. I quite like it and will consider buying another bottle when mine is finished.

5/10