Indian whisky continues to build momentum on the global stage, and the London Spirits Competition results for 2026 showcased a few of these now global whiskies. Judged on quality, value, and presentation, the competition tends to reward whiskies that work as complete packages, making the results more pertinent for consumers.Â
In 2026, single malts, blends, established producers, and newer brands all appeared in the mix. Each of the four whiskies below represents a slightly different approach, shaped by raw materials, climate, and the ambitions of the people behind them.
Here are four of the standout Indian whiskies recognised in 2026.
Indri Agneya Single Malt Indian Whisky
Special Awards: Indian Single Malt Whisky Of The Year
Score: 95
Medal: Gold
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Tasting Notes: “Aromas of slate, marine, and light green peat lead to a fruity, spicy palate with a dry, full-bodied texture and a long, oily finish featuring spiced honey and subtle peat.” – LSC Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: $66
Made by Piccadilly Agro Industries in Indri, this is a whisky shaped as much by climate as by cask. Haryana sits in northern India, where summers are long, dry, and intense, with temperatures regularly pushing well beyond what most Scotch warehouses ever experience. That heat drives faster extraction from the wood, meaning casks have a stronger influence earlier in the whisky’s life.
The spirit itself is built on six-row Indian barley, lightly peated and double distilled in copper pot stills. It is matured in ex-bourbon and PX sherry casks, then bottled at 46% ABV without chill filtration.
Agneya sits within Indri’s core range and introduces peat in a measured way, with the cask influence and climate doing much of the work.
It is a great step up from the distillery’s flagship Indri Trini, and the tropical notes work very well with the gentle peat smoke.Â
Amrut Indian Blended Whisky Only For Geeks
Score: 93
Medal: Gold
Tasting Notes: “Aromatic with dried fruit, subtle peat smoke, and honeyed oak; palate reveals spiced vanilla, caramel, leather, and smoky, funky notes, finishing with balanced complexity.” – LSC JudgesÂ
Find Your Next Bottle: Limited
Amrut Distilleries built its reputation on single malt, so a blended whisky appearing in this lineup immediately raises questions.Â
“Only For Geeks” is bottled at 46% ABV and listed as a blended whisky, though details around the mash bill, cask types, or maturation remain undisclosed. I cannot find any confirmed details other than what is available on the LSC website. There is no clear place for it within Amrut’s core range, and retail visibility is limited in both the UK and US.
It feels like a quieter release, one that sits slightly outside the brand’s usual spotlight while still reflecting its underlying character. Perhaps a competition only release? The Whiskey Wash has contacted the LSC for comment.Â
Produced in Bengaluru, Amrut’s home climate plays a defining role. High temperatures and rapid evaporation accelerate maturation, often creating depth and intensity earlier in a whisky’s life. That house style tends to carry through regardless of category.
Woodburns Contemporary Indian Whisky
Score: 91
Medal: Gold
Tasting Notes: “Rich, smoky aroma with tobacco, peat, vanilla, and toffee; balanced palate with sweetness, complexity, and a dry, long peaty finish.” – LSC JudgesÂ
Find Your Next Bottle: $31
Woodburns is a blended Indian malt whisky from Fullarton Distilleries in Goa. It combines several Indian malt whiskies, including peated and unpeated spirit, matured in charred oak and bottled at 42.8% ABV.
Goa’s coastal climate has a steady influence on the whisky. Warm temperatures increase interaction between spirit and cask, while humidity affects how the oak develops during ageing. Maturation moves quickly, though not in a harsh or aggressive way.
The whisky was released in 2019 and later became part of Allied Blenders and Distillers, which has widened its reach. It appears more frequently in US retail than in the UK.
Blending shapes the structure, bringing peat into the whisky without dominating the profile.
Seagram’s Longitude 77 Indian Single Malt Whisky
Score: 90
Medal: Gold
Tasting Notes: “A medium-bodied spirit exhibits rich caramel and toffee aromas, with a balanced palate of oak, orchard fruit, and subtle spice, leading to a long, oily finish with toasted nut and subtle licorice notes.” – LSC JudgesÂ
Find Your Next Bottle: India & Travel RetailÂ
Seagram’s Longitude 77 comes from Pernod Ricard India and is produced in Nashik, a region often described as India’s wine capital. It is named after longitude 77 east, which runs directly through the heart of India, from north to south.Â
The distillery sits at high elevation, with a drier climate than many Indian whisky regions, again putting maturation at the forefront. Water evaporates more readily than alcohol, which can increase the strength in cask over time and concentrate flavours differently
The whisky is made from locally sourced ingredients and aged in a combination of American oak ex-Bourbon barrels and wine casks. It is bottled at 42.8% ABV with no age statement.
Launched in 2023, it marked Pernod Ricard India’s first premium Indian single malt. Initial releases focused on travel retail before expanding into domestic and nearby export markets.Â
Availability in the UK and US remains limited, with most bottles found in India and the UAE.
A Category Expanding in Every Direction
An interesting set of results, to be sure. Single malts sit alongside blends, established producers appear next to newer names, and not every bottle follows the same playbook. A few of these whiskies feel familiar in approach, while others come from producers or styles you might not expect to see on an international awards list.
Availability can be uneven. Some of these bottles are easy to find, while others remain tied to India, travel retail, or smaller distribution networks. That said, the wider category is far more accessible than it once was, with a growing number of Indian whiskies now reaching both the UK and US.
If this has sparked your interest, explore more of our Indian whisky coverage here.
