How India’s single malt whiskies are challenging the giants of Scotch and bourbon

Indian brands like Indri, Amrut and Paul John are winning best whisky prizes at international awards and surging in popularity beyond India

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The range of Indian single malt whiskies available at Bungalow in New York includes the brands Paul John, Indri, Kamet, Rampur and Amrut. Indian single malt is still considered new, one expert says, which is part of the appeal for American whisky lovers. Photo: Bungalow

Published: 11:26am, 4 Nov 2024

At Bungalow, celebrity chef Vikas Khanna’s Indian restaurant in New York’s East Village, a dozen Indian single malt whiskies are spotlit in their own section on the spirits list.

Just a few years ago that would not have been possible, says Sameer Bhatt, a partner in the restaurant. Although India is the world’s largest whisky market, its whiskies are typically blends, often made with a rum-like molasses distillate.

Until recently, Indian single malts were virtually unknown, if they were even available outside the subcontinent.

Now, with domestic whisky consumption rising hand in hand with the country’s growing affluence, distilleries are turning out high-quality single malts in quantities available to export – and they are not only gaining traction but also snapping up awards.

Amrut Distilleries is generally credited with pioneering India’s single malt industry. Photo: Amrut

Amrut Triparva was named in the best in class section of the US-based Whiskies of the World Awards 2024, while in 2023, Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2023 took home the top prize in the same competition.

This year, Indri Founder’s Reserve 11-year-old wine cask was named one of the top 15 whiskies at the International Whisky Competition, another US-based event.