Since Amrut launched the first Indian single malt whisky in 2004, India has become established as one of the global whisky industry’s major producers, while a range of multi-award-winning malt whiskies have secured India’s reputation for quality spirits.
India’s tropical climate produces diverse and uniquely characterized malts, so if you’ve ever been curious about this world whisky category, this complete guide explores the production, tasting notes, and biggest brands of Indian whisky.
What Defines Indian Whisky?
The Scotch Whisky Association’s 2013 annual report declared that, unlike the EU, “there is no compulsory definition of whisky in India, and the Indian voluntary standard does not require whisky to be distilled from cereals to be matured”.
The majority of Indian ‘whisky’ would not qualify as whisky in the UK/EU due to the use of neutral alcohol, limited maturation, and flavorings. For Indian malt whisky distillers seeking to produce quality whiskies meeting legal requirements for sale in the UK and EU malt whisky must be aged for at least three years in oak casks and distilled using malted barley.
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Is Indian Whisky Made From Molasses?
A category of alcohol known as Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), which includes the majority of India’s distilled spirits labeled and sold domestically as ‘whisky’ is closer in consistency to rum due to being distilled from molasses.
India’s IMFL brands, which predominantly blend sweet molasses-based spirit with flavorings or spices, cannot be marketed in the US, UK, or EU which require products labeled as ‘whisky’ to be distilled from cereal grains. Amongst the most popular IMFL brands are ‘Officer’s Choice’, ‘Original Choice’ and ‘8PM’.
How Is Indian Single Malt Whisky Made?
Indian single malt whisky is produced using much the same process as scotch whisky; copper pot stills are used for distillation and the spirit is matured in oak casks. India’s malt whisky distillers use indigenous six-row barley, grown in northern states including Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan for distillation. This contrasts with the majority of whisky producers around the globe including Scotland which more commonly uses two-row barley varieties for distilling malt, although Indian distillers prefer six-row barley believing it imparts a spicier flavour profile.
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For peated expressions, such as Amrut Fusion and Paul John Bold, pre-peated Scottish barley is imported for distillation. Some expressions may combine a percentage of Indian and Scottish barley, although unlike bourbons Indian whiskies do not use mash bills of multiple grains.
The maturation period for Indian whiskies is much shorter than Scottish malts due to the country’s tropical climate; by standard, the malts are matured for between four and five years, with Indian malts only rarely released with higher age statements; one year of maturation in India is believed the equivalent of three years in Scotland. India’s hot climate, also results in a larger ‘Angels Share’, the liquid lost to evaporation during the maturation process, estimated to be between 10-12% annually in India, compared with 2% for Scottish malts.
What Are The Top Indian Single Malt Whisky Brands?
Since Amrut Distilleries pioneered the Indian whisky category by releasing India’s first single malt bottling in 2004, five popular brands have emerged; Amrut, Paul John, Rampur, Indri, and Godawan. India’s original single malt, Amrut launched the brand in the UK on the 24th of August 2004. The Amrut Fusion expression, produced using a combination of 75% unpeated Indian barley and 25% peated Scottish barley was released in 2009.
The Goa-based John Distilleries began distilling malt whisky in 2008, launching the Paul John single malt Indian whisky core range to the international market in May 2013; a trio of bottlings named ‘Brilliance’, ‘Edited’, and ‘Bold’, including unpeated and peated expressions.
Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, the Rampur Distillery was established at Rampur, Uttar Pradesh in 1943. Owned by Radico Khaitan Ltd since 1972, the first Rampur Single Malt Indian Whisky was launched in 2016.
The Piccadily Distilleries Group established one of India’s largest malt plants, the Indri distillery in 2010, with the brand’s first bottling, the Indri Trini expression launching internationally in 2021, followed by the cask strength Indri Dru in 2023.
Rajasthan’s first distillery Godawan is owned by international beverage company Diageo, with the brand’s core expressions launched in 2022.
Can You Buy Indian Whisky Outside Of India?
The majority of India’s IMFL brands are sold domestically or within the Asian spirit market; those which reach the UK/EU cannot be labeled as ‘whisky’ but only as a ‘spirit drink’. After Amrut’s UK launch in 2004, the brand has been launched internationally, followed by the global launch of the Paul John, Rampur, and Indri brands.
Diageo’s Godawan brand core expressions are currently available in Dubai, Malaysia, Australia, and the USA; a UK and European launch can be expected soon.
Why Is It Becoming Popular Globally?
The surging popularity of Indian whisky can be attributed to raising interest in response to award-winning malts, complex flavors, and affordability. India’s single malt distillers are focusing on the production of premium high-end malt spirits adhering to UK/EU legislation rivaling whiskies produced in Scotland; a reputation supported by multi-award-winning expressions applauded by recognized industry competitions.
Faster maturation results in younger Indian malts possessing complex flavours equivalent to much older scotch bottlings, whilst also allowing distillers to experiment with cask finishes and market Indian whiskies more affordably.
What Does Indian Whisky Taste Like?
Indian malt whiskies tend to possess a fruity and sweet flavor profile, emphasizing tropical fruit notes, including banana, pineapple, and mango, balanced against sweet flavors of vanilla and caramel. Official tasting notes for brands’ Indri and Paul John’s core expressions can be found below:
Indri Dru:
“Nose: Whiff of mixed fruit basket, vanilla, subtle citrus hints, gentle spice, chocolate, and honey tones expressing robust nose profile.
“Palate: Sweetish fruity forward taste with soft spice, followed immediately with sweet vanilla, hints of chocolate with wood lactones, and citrus appearing from the back of the palate.
“Finish: Fuller bodies, complex with mixed fruit finish that is fairly long, chewable and salivating dram.”
Paul John Brilliance:
“Nose: Sweet notes touched by a gentle whiff of spice.
“Palate: A honey-like smoothness with rare, cocoa-flavoured crispiness.
“Finish: A deep woody finish of American oak blended with creamy tones of intense vanilla.”
Are There Any Award-Winning Indian Whiskies?
Indian single malt whiskies from brands including Indri, Paul John, and Godawan have collected a range of awards and medals from international spirits competitions. Since the core range launch in 2013, the Paul John brand has won over 300 awards in less than a decade, including medals at the World Whiskies Awards and International Wine & Spirit Competitions.
Similarly, Amrut’s Fusion expression was voted as the Whisky Bible’s 3rd Best Whisky in the World in 2010, and Indri’s Diwali Collectors Edition 2023 competed against over 100 global whiskies to be awarded ‘Best in Show Double Gold’ at the Whiskies of the World Awards 2023.
In 2024, the Indri Dru expression was named the Best Indian Single Malt at the World Whisky Awards. International beverage company, Diageo’s Godawan distillery has received 46 awards since its inaugural launch in 2022. The collector’s edition expression Godawan 100, was awarded Single Malt Whisky of the Year at the London Spirits Competition 2024.
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