The USA Spirits Ratings is a little different from many spirits competitions. Rather than having critics taste the whiskies, the judges at the USA Spirits Ratings are trade buyers, the people who decide which bottles end up on store shelves and restaurant back bars. Alongside quality (50%), they also score every entry on value for money (25%) and how it looks on the shelf (25%). So, it is worth sitting up and paying attention to what they have to say.
Indian single malt did very well with this crowd in 2026. Indri’s Diwali release topped the Indian entries with 96 points and two special awards, a Goan single malt called Kadamba was named Single Malt Whiskey of the Year, and Amrut, which was nowhere to be seen in the Indian results at the International Whisky Competition 2026, placed twice in the top five.
Here are the five highest-scoring Indian whiskies, and let us know in the comments if you think the judges got it right.
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READ THE STORYIndri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2026 – Ruby Port Cask
Award: Double Gold, Indian Single Malt Whiskey Of The Year, Spirit Of The Year – India
Score: 96 points
Tasting Notes: “Aromas of sea air, peat, and burned sugar lead to a full-bodied palate with layered spices and a long, well-balanced finish.” – USA Spirits Ratings Judges
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Find Your Next Bottle: £179.95 / $225 / ₹25,500
Indri’s Diwali releases have had a very good year, with the 2025 Marsala cask edition taking first place among the Indian whiskies at the IWC and the new 2026 bottling now finishing top here. Piccadily Distilleries has released one each year since 2023, starting with peated PX sherry casks and moving to Ruby Port for this fourth edition.
The limited editions are crafted to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of light.
It is made at Indri in Haryana, under master blended Surrinder Kumar, from Indian six-row barley distilled in copper pot stills, then matured in Ruby Port casks from Portugal. Krsnaa Mehta of India Circus designed the bottle, which has a white Marwari horse and foal printed onto the glass.
In the UK, 180 numbered bottles were released at 58.5% ABV with no age statement. The Indian market variant is 50% ABV and can be found in some duty-free airports.
This whisky also took Indian Single Malt Whisky of the Year and Spirit of the Year India.
Amrut Indian Single Malt Whisky Cask Strength
Award: Gold
Score: 95 points
Tasting Notes: “A soft, grain-forward profile features sandalwood, toasted coconut, and cinnamon, with a subtle peat note, balanced spice, and a smooth, lingering finish.” – USA Spirits Ratings Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: £70 / $86 / ₹9,190
India’s first single malt came from Amrut, and the company launched it in Glasgow in 2004 rather than at home. J.N. Radhakrishna Rao Jagdale founded the business in Bengaluru in 1948, and it made brandy and rum for years before its Kambipura distillery was completed in 1987.
The Cask Strength is made from unpeated six-row barley from Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, double distilled in copper pot stills, and matured in new American oak and ex-bourbon barrels. It is a permanent part of the range, bottled at 61.8% ABV with no age statement.
It packs a powerful punch with the high ABV, but is fairly easy-drinking and a great way to step-up from entry-level Amruts.
Kadamba Indian Single Malt Whisky World Cask
Award: Gold, Single Malt Whiskey Of The Year
Score: 94 points
Tasting Notes: “A light gold spirit offers earthy grain and caramel notes complemented by subtle tropical and baking spice nuances, with a balanced, warm finish and a refined smoky peat aroma.” – USA Spirits Rating Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: ₹2700+
Kadamba finished two points behind Indri but still took the competition’s overall Single Malt Whiskey of the Year award.
It comes from Imperial Distillers & Vintners in Goa, part of the Cheers Group founded by Dr. Mohan Krishna, and takes its name from the Kadamba dynasty, which ruled Goa for around three centuries.
The World Cask edition launched in November 2024. It is distilled in copper pot stills and matured in various casks near the town of Kadamba in North Goa, with no age statement. The judges’ notes mention a “refined smoky peat aroma.”
This one is very difficult to find outside of India. But if you see it, grab it and give it a try.
Godawan 01 Single Malt Rich & Rounded Artisan Whisky
Award: Gold
Score: 94 points
Tasting Notes: “This spirit offers a refined balance of toasted oak and burnt sugar on the nose, with a rich, mellow palate featuring malty biscuit, tobacco, and subtle vanilla, culminating in a smooth, well-integrated finish.” – USA Spirits Ratings
Find Your Next Bottle: £61 / $76 / ₹5,400
Godawan takes its name from the Great Indian Bustard, an endangered bird found in Rajasthan, and Diageo India launched the brand in 2022 with a commitment to its conservation. It is made at the Alwar distillery from six-row barley grown in the region, and matures in temperatures often around 100°F.
This expression is matured in PX sherry casks, then moved into bourbon barrels treated with two Indian botanicals, Rasna and Jatamansi. A brand representative told Robb Report the botanicals are “used for sensorial purposes, more so than for taste.”
It is bottled at 46% ABV with no age statement.
Godawan has certainly made an impression since it launched, with over 125 global awards to its name to date.
Amrut Pravas Single Malt Whisky
Award: Gold
Score: 93 points
Tasting Notes: “A medium amber spirit reveals gentle pear and turbinado sugar on the nose, with a sweet malty palate, toasted cereal notes, and a smooth, lightly smoky finish.” – USA Spirits Ratings Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: GTR Exclusive
Pravas is the newest whisky on this list, and you won’t find it on regular store shelves. Amrut launched it at TFWA Singapore in May 2026 as an exclusive for duty-free and travel retail.
It comes from the same Kambipura distillery as the Cask Strength, crafted by master distiller Ashok Chokalingam, and was matured in ex-bourbon, Madeira, and Port wine casks.
The first run is 3,000 one-liter bottles at 46% ABV, non-chill filtered and with no added color.
At the time of launch, Rakshit N. Jagdale, MD of Amrut Distilleries, said: “We are immensely proud to present Amrut Pravas on the global stage at TFWA Singapore. This expression is a celebration of India in every sense — diverse, vibrant, layered, and constantly evolving. Through Pravas, we wanted to create a whisky that reflects the spirit of travel and discovery while remaining deeply rooted in Indian craftsmanship and identity.”
What Do You Think?
Four producers account for the five highest-scoring Indian whiskies at this year’s USA Spirits Ratings. Indri’s Diwali release finished on top with 96 points and two special awards, and Kadamba took Single Malt Whiskey of the Year. Amrut, which was missing from the Indian results at the IWC, placed twice with a long-running cask strength bottling and a brand-new travel exclusive.
Have you tried any of these five? Are there any you would like to get your hands on, and what do you make of the awards? Let us know in the comments.
