This whisky is the eighth bottling in the annual Christmas Edition series from the Indian single malt distillery of Paul John. Many Indian brands release limited edition Diwali whiskies, but Paul John’s Christian heritage and location in Goa (which has a largely Christian population) dictates otherwise. Each year, Paul John’s spirit is pushed in different directions. This year’s release is 8 Years Old – five years maturing in ex-bourbon barrels, then split into ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks and matured for a further two years, before re-combining for one year in ex-cream sherry casks.
John Distilleries was founded in 1992 by Paul P. John. They own two grain distilleries in the southern Indian cities of Konkan and Bengaluru, and a single malt distillery in Goa. The single malt distillery was built in 2007 with the first single malt under the Paul John name released in 2012. They produce both unpeated and peat spirit, and the distillery has an annual capacity of 3 million litres. For context, their two grain distilleries produce 500 million litres per year. The company is now 60% owned by the American whiskey producer Sazerac, with the remaining 40% owned by Paul P. John.
The Paul John Christmas Edition 2025 is released at 48% ABV and there are just 6,254 bottles available. It is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It is available in India and selected global markets including the UK, Europe and North America. Each bottle will cost £75/ US$95.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is deep gold and the nose is rich and inviting. Initial aromas of raisin, treacle and dark chocolate give way to dried apple, sandalwood and hints of fried lime and dusty rose petals. Peppery spices sit underneath and build nicely with time.
On the palate this whisky feel syrupy and rich with a distinct sweetness and fruitiness upfront. The sweetness is driven by caramel and brown sugar notes that is supported by hints of dark chocolate and molasses. These characteristics marry well with plenty of dried fruits – think of raisin, prune, plump juicy sultana and candied orange peel. A hint of dried apricot is also evident. A vanilla custard note adds some creaminess to the mouthfeel. This is joined late on by hints of tropical fruit, gingerbread, cherry cola and something reminiscent of dried sage.
The finish is much drier and more woody than the palate suggests. The oak really takes hold especially once the sweet and fruity characteristics have begun to fade. The exception is the late tropical fruit – imagine dried pineapple and papaya – which holds on nicely. The whisky becomes hot and peppery at the end with some clove and orange oil also coming through.
What’s The Verdict?
This is a sublime whisky from Paul John. It is packed with rich and bold festive flavours but maintains a classy and elegant feel throughout. The use of different casks for maturation at different stages feels like it has added layer upon layer of complexity to the whisky. This is sure to be a real hit and we love how the brand push their spirit in unorthodox directions each year with this bottling. This is Christmas in a glass. Grab a mince pie, sit calmly and then sip, savour and enjoy.
