Anohka Cask #63: A Complex Grain Whisky Experience

Introduction Curiosity brought me to this bottle. I'd been hearing small murmurs about Anohka and this unusually titled single grain release – Cask #63. What caught my attention wasn’t just the name, but the fact that it deliberately distances itself from traditional Scotch yet clearly respects proper whisky-making. I went in with no expectations, open to wherever this dram might take me. Nose When I first nosed it, it took a moment to warm up – but once it did, I picked up gentle vanilla and soft toasted oak. There’s a sweetness here that reminded me of demerara sugar and faint apple skins. Nothing jumps out too loud, but it feels carefully built. After a few minutes, I noticed a touch of almond and even sandalwood, which gave the aroma a dry, earthy quality that worked nicely against the sweetness. Palate This is where the whisky became more outspoken. Right from the first sip, I got a wave of caramelised sugar and light toffee. The texture is surprisingly silky for a grain whisky – not thin, not cloying, just right. As it sat on the tongue, some mild spice crept in – maybe allspice or clove – but it stayed balanced. There’s definitely a strong cask influence here, with charred oak quietly shaping everything from mid-palate onwards. I also detected a touch of citrus peel and something almost herbal, maybe dried eucalyptus leaf. Finish The finish isn’t long, but it closes cleanly. I found the sweetness gradually gives way to oak tannin and a slightly grassy dryness. There’s a warmth that lingers a few moments after the swallow, more comforting than hot. No lingering burn, just a steady fade into toasted cereal and faint nut residue. It left me reaching, not out of need, but curiosity. Price and Value At its current price point, it will likely divide opinions. You're paying for a limited-cask, independently bottled single grain, matured carefully and bottled at a respectable cask strength. Personally, I think it sits in that category of curiosity buys – not an everyday sipper, but well-made and rewarding if you take your time with it. For those interested in seeing what grain whisky can do outside the major distilleries, this offers a thoughtful example. Background Anohka positions itself as an independent bottler with artistic sensibilities, focusing on single cask expressions that challenge expectations. Cask #63 is a single grain, distilled in India, most likely from a molasses-based spirit, which puts it outside Scotch whisky definition boundaries – hence the “This Is Not Whisky” phrasing. It's matured entirely in a virgin American oak cask and bottled at 62.1% ABV, non chill-filtered and without added colour. While exact production details are limited, Anohka’s broader philosophy seems to embrace transparency and controlled experimentation. More info can be found at their official site: Anohka. Final Notes Would I buy this again? Possibly – though I’d think of it more as a whisky for thoughtful evenings than social pours. It's not the boldest dram, but there’s clear intent in its design. As for newcomers, I’d probably steer them toward softer entries at lower ABVs first, but experienced drinkers who enjoy grain whisky or oak-forward bottlings will likely find something to appreciate here. One question I kept returning to was whether this holds up next to established grain whiskies from Scotland – in terms of depth, it’s not as layered as long-aged Cambus or Invergordon, but it brings a warmer, fresher oak influence that makes it stand apart. Finally, when’s the right time for this? It struck me as a quiet evening whisky – the type you sip slowly after the day’s chaos settles, when attention comes easy and the glass becomes part of the conversation with yourself.