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Paul John Mithuna Review

What makes Paul John's Mithuna stand out in the world of Indian single malts? Discover the unexpected flavors in this bold, unpeated whisky.

OVERALL RATING

7
$253
  • Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant with over a decade of experience in whisky retail and online whisky education. Best known for hosting Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, he is dedicated to making whisky accessible and enjoyable by cutting through jargon and complexity.
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Tasting Notes

About:

The second premium release in the Zodiac series from Paul John, Mithuna is a bold statement of Indian single malt craftsmanship. Bottled at a robust 58 % ABV and crafted as an unpeated, non-chill-filtered whisky, it was matured in new charred American oak and finished in ex-bourbon casks.

Named after the Gemini (Mithuna) zodiac sign, this expression displays the brand’s ambition to deliver something richly layered yet distinctively Indian in character.
Appearance:
Deep Orange.
Nose:
100% Cocoa and heavily roasted coffee beans. There is a sweetness to it, but that’s hidden under a very earthy, nutty, powerful aroma. Malted barley, yeast extract, salted peanuts, burnt caramel, some classic virgin oak notes coming through more after some time in the glass.

You get some regular caramel and vanilla notes, a little touch of coconut – but those malted barley and yeast extract notes are very dominant.
Palate:
Initially sweeter and a little dry, not as much as I thought given the strength.

Those yeasty notes still push through, a very gristy notes from the malted barley and the virgin oak influences trying to push through. You get the odd note of chewy fudge and some sort of caramelised sugar and sugared peanuts.
Finish:
This is where the sweetness actually exists. It has all of those charred sugars from American oak, providing maple, pecan, sugared fruits, poached pears, nowhere near as much spice as I though. Not that much wood spice either, which is a little shocking. The finish is really nice, but I don’t think it makes up for the missing sweeter elements from the nose and palate.
Comments:
I had high hopes for this, but it seems to miss a lot of the big hitting spots that you’d expect from virgin oak matured Indian single malt.

The lack of initial sweetness and the power of these earthier, more savoury notes are unexpected. Not bad in anyway, but certainly unexpected. Not my favourite Paul John expression, but I can see why they’d bottle this. It is certainly challenging.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant. With a decade of experience in whisky retail and nearly as long running Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, Phil is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow whisky lovers. His goal is to make whisky accessible and enjoyable, dispelling the jargon and complexity that can sometimes surround the spirit. In addition to his online presence, Phil managed The Whisky Shop Manchester, where he curated an impressive selection of some of the finest drams available.

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