Indian single malt has grown quickly in popularity over the last few years, and more bourbon drinkers are starting to wonder whether it’s worth a try. On paper, the two have little in common, since bourbon is made from a mash of at least 51% corn and Indian single malt is made entirely from malted barley.
However, bourbon drinkers might get more from Indian whisky than they think. Many Indian distillers mature their whisky in ex-bourbon casks or new American oak. In India’s heat, that wood can bring out the vanilla, caramel, and baking spice bourbon drinkers know well, along with tropical fruit and spice you won’t often find in the USA.
If you’re a bourbon drinker curious about branching out, here are five Indian single malts matched to the kind of bourbon you already enjoy.
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Why Indian Single Malt Works for Bourbon Drinkers
Much of what bourbon drinkers enjoy comes from American oak, and heat has a lot to do with how much flavor a whiskey takes from the wood. The temperatures in India often reach as high as 40°C (104°F). The heat speeds up the interaction between spirit and wood, but it also means a lot of whisky is lost to evaporation, with the annual loss at Paul John in Goa as high as 10 to 12%. As a result, many Indian single malts are bottled at a young age while still carrying plenty of oak, caramel, and spice.
The barley adds its own character on top of the cask, since most Indian producers use six-row barley grown in India, which tends to produce a fruitier, spicier spirit. If you usually reach for barrel-proof bourbon, you’ll also find several Indian distillers releasing cask-strength whiskies, and three of the five bottles below are bottled at 57% ABV or higher.
If You Like Wheated Bourbon: Paul John Brilliance, 46%, £40 / $55 / ₹3,600
On the nose, Brilliance has honey, vanilla, and a little cinnamon, and the palate follows with toffee and a gentle sweetness that should feel familiar to anyone who drinks bourbons like Maker’s Mark or Weller Special Reserve. There is a twist of biscuity malt, baked apple, and spiced fruit that kick it up a notch.
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READ THE STORYJohn Distilleries began making single malt in Goa in 2008, and Brilliance is made from unpeated Indian six-row barley matured in ex-bourbon casks. It has more body than Paul John’s entry-level Nirvana, which we covered in our beginners guide, while staying soft and easy to drink at 92 proof. It’s easy to find in both the US and the UK.
If You Like Classic Kentucky Bourbon: Indri Drú, 57.2%, £66 / $80 / ₹9,410 (Duty Free)
Made by Piccadily Distilleries in Haryana from Rajasthan-grown six-row barley, Drú is matured entirely in ex-bourbon casks, which makes it a good match for fans of classic Kentucky bourbons like Elijah Craig or Knob Creek. Unlike Indri Trini, which also uses wine and sherry casks, it relies on American oak alone.
The whisky is rich and full-bodied, with vanilla, molasses, toasted oak, and nutmeg and clove that will feel like home to a Kentucky bourbon drinker. You might also find orange zest, pear, and tropical fruit on the palate, along with cardamom and dark chocolate on the finish.
If You Like High-Rye Bourbon: Paul John Mithuna, 58%, £202 / $300 / ₹18,770
High-rye bourbons like Four Roses Single Barrel or Wild Turkey 101 tend to appeal to drinkers who want plenty of spice and structure, and Mithuna brings both. Part of Paul John’s limited Zodiac series, it’s matured in virgin American oak and then finished in ex-bourbon casks. The virgin oak on malted barley gives it a solid backbone and a good kick, helped along by its relatively high ABV.
You’ll find caramel, burnt sugar, vanilla, and dark chocolate, backed by cinnamon, ginger, and a warming chili heat on the palate. The Indian side comes through in cardamom, chai-like spice, and tropical fruit, and the finish is long, with firm, drying oak tannins.
It’s the priciest and hardest-to-find bottle here, so treat it as a special-occasion bottle.
If You Like Barrel-Proof Bourbon: Amrut Cask Strength, 61.8%, £70 / $86 / ₹9,190 (Duty Free)
At 123.6 proof, Amrut Cask Strength is the strongest bottle here and a natural fit for anyone who reaches for Booker’s, Stagg, or Wild Turkey Rare Breed. The whisky is oily and heavy, with toffee, charred oak, and dark sugar on the palate and a cocoa-rich finish that barrel-proof drinkers will recognize. Blood orange, apricot, and banana give it a brighter, fruitier edge than most bourbons, and the finish is drier and more bittersweet.
Amrut was founded in Bengaluru in 1948 and released India’s first single malt in 2004. This expression is made from unpeated Indian barley and bottled without chill filtration, and despite the name, it has come in at 61.8% for years, so it works more like a consistent batch strength.
PM Spirits became Amrut’s US importer in May 2026, and it’s also widely available in the UK.
If You Like Finished Bourbon: Rampur Double Cask, 45%, £60 / $76 / ₹6,380
Radico Khaitan’s Rampur distillery in Uttar Pradesh dates back to 1943, which makes it one of the oldest in India. Double Cask is matured in American bourbon barrels and European oak sherry casks, and it’s the bottle to try if you enjoy finished bourbons such as Angel’s Envy or the sherry-cask picks in our guide to bourbons for sherried Scotch drinkers.
The bourbon barrels give it vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch, while the sherry casks add raisin, plum, and a nutty dried-fruit character. There’s also apple, pear, and a touch of tropical fruit, and the finish is lighter and drier than most bourbons, with cinnamon and a little cocoa.
Finding Your Indian Single Malt
Indian single malt has plenty to offer whatever kind of whisk(e)y you usually drink, and bourbon drinkers are no exception. The shared use of American oak gives you a familiar starting point, so the best approach is to pick the bottle closest to the bourbon you already enjoy, test the waters, and see where your taste takes you from there.
Have you tried any of these, or found another Indian single malt that works for you as a bourbon drinker? Let us know in the comments.
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