DeVANS GianChand Indian Single Malt Whisky has become the sole Indian single malt to earn a Double Gold medal at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC). The brand also secured additional medals at both the SFWSC and the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) in the same year, marking a significant milestone for the Jammu-based distiller.
The Double Gold distinction at SFWSC is awarded only when every judge on the panel independently gives a spirit a Gold rating. The honor is considered one of the rarest accolades in the global spirits industry.
GianChand Manshaa, the peated expression in the portfolio, earned a Silver medal at the same competition.
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Both expressions also received Silver medals at the 2026 International Spirits Challenge, which evaluates entries through a panel of industry professionals.
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"We are immensely proud to see GianChand recognised at both the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the International Spirits Challenge in the same year," said Prem Dewan, chairman and managing director of DeVANS Modern Breweries Ltd.
"Winning a Double Gold Medal at SFWSC for GianChand Indian Single Malt Whisky is an extraordinary achievement, given the rigorous judging standards and the rarity of this distinction," Dewan added.
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READ THE STORY"This is not just a medal for GianChand; it is validation that Indian single malts are world class and can compete with the very best the world has to offer," he said. "We have always known what our land, our water, and our craft could produce. The world now knows it too."
The GianChand portfolio is crafted at DeVANS’ distillery in Jammu. According to official notes from the brand, GianChand Indian Single Malt Whisky offers a smooth profile with sweet, spicy, and peaty fruity notes. GianChand Manshaa presents a smoky profile balanced by sweet maltiness and a hint of caramel.
The 2026 awards add to a growing list of international recognitions for the brand. Previous accolades include a Gold medal at Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2025, a Platinum medal at the Las Vegas Global Spirits Awards 2025, and International Whisky of the Year honors at ISW 2025 in Germany.
GianChand also earned Best Indian Whisky and Best Single Malt Indian Whisky titles at the International Whisky Competition 2025.
Founded in 1961, DeVANS Modern Breweries Ltd. operates across more than 20 Indian states and 14 countries. Its portfolio includes Godfather beer, Six Fields, and the GianChand Indian Single Malt range.
