Camikara, India’s first pure cane juice aged rum, has claimed top honors at two of the world’s most respected rum competitions, earning a Master Medal at the Global Rum & Cachaça Masters Awards in the UK and a Double Gold Medal from The Fifty Best in the United States. The dual wins position the brand as a leading force in India’s emerging premium rum category.
At the Global Rum & Cachaça Masters Awards 2026, Camikara 8-Year-Old received the competition’s highest distinction, the Master Medal. Camikara 3-Year-Old secured its second consecutive Gold Medal at the same event, making Camikara the only Indian rum to win both Master and Gold accolades in a single year.
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In the US, Camikara 8-Year-Old earned a Double Gold Medal in the Aged Rum category at The Fifty Best. The distinction is reserved for spirits that receive unanimous top scores from all judges. Camikara 3-Year-Old also took Gold in the International Blend category.
The achievements mark a rare feat for any rum brand and a significant milestone for Indian spirits on the global stage. India is one of the world’s largest sugarcane producers, yet the country has historically been absent from premium rum conversations dominated by Caribbean and Latin American distillers.
Shalini Sharma, head of marketing at Camikara Rum, said: “For a country with such a long and complex relationship with sugarcane, this moment carries deep historical resonance. References to fermented cane beverages appear in ancient Indian texts, yet for decades modern Indian rum was largely associated with industrial-scale production rather than artisanal craft.”
Sharma added: “What we are witnessing now is a shift in this perception. With global judging panels recognizing the quality and character of what we are producing, Camikara is helping reshape how Indian spirits are viewed internationally — not as volume products, but as expressions of terroir, tradition and technical excellence.”
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Camikara derives its name from Sanskrit, meaning “liquid gold.” Unlike many rums that rely on molasses or post-distillation additives, Camikara is crafted from fresh sugarcane juice harvested within 36 hours to preserve the natural character of the cane.
The spirit is aged in American oak barrels under North India’s subtropical climate, where wide temperature variations accelerate maturation. The brand’s success follows a broader trend of Indian spirits gaining international recognition, led by the global rise of Indian single malt whisky over the past decade.
