It is no secret that Indian whisky is storming the international stage.
At the 2025 International Whisky Competition, distillers from across the country took top spots in single malt and blended categories. The wins show how far Indian whisky has come, with whiskies shaped by local climates and bold ideas.
In this article, I highlight the award winners and what makes each of them stand out.
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READ THE STORYDeVANS Gianchand Indian Single Malt Whisky Adambaraa
Award: Best Indian Whisky 2025, Best Single Malt Indian Whisky (92.68 pts) – 1st Place
Tasting Notes: Honeyed malt, orchard fruits, vanilla, caramel, toffee, peaches, dried apricots, spice
The clear star of the 2025 International Whisky Competition was DeVANS GianChand Adambaraa, named Best Indian Whisky and Best Single Malt with a score of 92.68 points.
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Produced in Jammu by DeVANS Modern Breweries, it is distilled from Himalayan barley and matured in American bourbon casks. Bottled at 42.8 percent ABV, it reflects the sharp seasonal contrasts of the region, where hot summers and cold winters create a unique maturation cycle.
The whisky is named after founder Dewan Gian Chand and delivers notes of honeyed malt, orchard fruits, caramel, toffee, and gentle spice.
Currently sold in India, we hope to see wider release after its award-winning debut.
Godawan 01 Rich and Rounded
Award: Best Indian Whisky 2025, Best Single Malt Indian Whisky (88.22 pts) – 2nd Place
Tasting Notes: Rich and rounded, full-bodied, raisin, sultana, fig, apricot, mature wood, caramel, butter
Taking second place was Godawan Rich & Rounded, a single malt produced in Alwar, Rajasthan under Diageo.
It is distilled from six-row Indian barley and aged in ex-bourbon and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks before finishing in oak seasoned with local botanicals, including Rasna and Jatamansi.
The desert climate of Rajasthan, with its soaring heat and dry winds, accelerates maturation and gives the whisky a concentrated richness. The flavor lives up to its name, offering raisin, fig, apricot, caramel, and butter layered over mature oak.
Godawan is named after the endangered Great Indian Bustard, and a share of profits goes toward conservation. Widely available in India, it has also reached select UK retailers, with limited exports hinting at broader ambitions.
Godawan 02 Fruit and Spice
Award: Best Single Malt Indian Whisky (87.90 pts) – 3rd Place
Tasting Notes: Spice, creamy vanilla, fudge, plums, chocolate, citrus
The third-place single malt was Godawan Fruit & Spice.
Like its sibling Rich & Rounded, it is made from local six-row barley and distilled in traditional copper stills. The whisky begins its life in virgin oak before finishing in casks seasoned with Rasna and Jatamansi.
It also undergoes a rare final stage in cherry wood, an unusual choice that brings extra layers of fruit and gentle tannins. Bottled at 46 percent ABV, non-chill filtered, it reflects the intense desert maturation that shapes all Godawan whiskies.
Woodburns Contemporary Indian Whisky
Award: Best Indian Whisky – 3rd Place, Best Blended Indian Whisky – 1st Place – (88.09 pts)
Tasting Notes: Warm and aromatic, sesame oil, oak resin, touch of peat, sweetness
Woodburns Contemporary Indian Whisky claimed first place in the blended category and third overall for Best Indian Whisky with 88.09 points.
Produced by Fullarton Distilleries in Goa, it is unusual in being made entirely from Indian malt spirit rather than a mix of Scotch and neutral grain alcohol. Distilled in copper pot stills and aged in charred oak, it takes its name from the barrels that give the whisky a bold, smoky edge.
Bottled at 42.8 percent ABV, Woodburns delivers a warm and aromatic profile with notes of sesame oil, oak resin, gentle peat, and a balancing sweetness.
Fullarton is a family-owned distillery that has helped push India’s craft whisky scene forward, offering a style that feels both familiar and distinctly local. The whisky is currently sold only in India, mainly in Goa and major cities.
Seagram’s Blender’s Pride Four Elements Premium Whisky
Award: Best Indian Blended Whisky (85.33 pts) – 2nd Place
Tasting Notes: Mellow sweetness and fruit notes, oak
Blenders Pride Four Elements secured second place in the blended category with 85.33 points. Produced by Pernod Ricard India, it is a limited-edition expression that builds on the success of the long-running Blenders Pride brand.
The whisky blends imported Scotch malts with high-quality Indian grain spirit, using toasted and charred oak to add depth. Each of the four elements (air, fire, water, and earth) is represented through the blend and the cask influence.
Bottled at 42.8 percent ABV, the profile is smooth and approachable, with mellow sweetness, fruit, oak, and a touch of smoke.
Although not yet exported, its strong performance at the IWC has drawn attention from outside India.
Sterling Reserve B7
Award: Best Indian Blended Whisky (85.02 pts) – 3rd Place
Tasting Notes: Honey, caramel, oak, vanilla, warm spice, dried fruits, toasted nuts, subtle smoke
Sterling Reserve Blend 7 took third place in the blended whisky category with 85.02 points. Made by Allied Blenders & Distillers, the company behind Officer’s Choice, it combines imported Scotch malts aged in charred oak with Indian grain spirit. Bottled at 42.8 percent ABV, it is designed to offer a smooth and accessible premium blend at an affordable price.
The whisky shows notes of honey, caramel, vanilla, oak, dried fruits, toasted nuts, and a hint of smoke.
Since its launch in 2018, Blend 7 has become one of the fastest-growing whiskies in India’s premium segment. It is widely available across the country at ₹600 to ₹800 per bottle and has also appeared in some duty-free and Middle Eastern markets.
