15+ Best Single Malt Whisky Brands In India
Looking for the best single malt whisky brands in India to enjoy after a long day at work? If you answered yes, you have come to the right place.
Prepare to be astounded by the variety of flavours in these 15 Indian Single-Malt Whisky Brands—from regional specialities to gold-winning blends. Whether you prefer your whisky fruity, rich, or spicy, this list of single-malt whiskies is sure to tantalise your taste buds and cater to your budget.
Distilleries in India are persistently introducing single malt whiskies that are sourced and produced domestically, as the nation's pride in its manufactured goods is motivating Indian consumers to favour domestic brands over foreign ones.
Furthermore, you can read our article to learn about the top daru brand names in India.
Table of Contents
[ Show ]
List of Single Malt Whisky Brands in India
Below, I will describe the Single Malt Whisky Brands available in India, along with their alcohol by volume. I will also provide detailed information about each of these whiskies below the table. So, if you want to know entirely about them, scroll down to the table and read the article through to the end.
Single Malt Whisky Brands In India | Alcohol By Volume |
Amrut | 50 % |
Indri | 46.0% |
Ballantine | 40% |
The Glenlivet | 43% |
Black Dog Reserve | 42.8% |
Three Monkeys | 40% |
Solan Gold | 42.8% |
Paul John | 46% |
Godawan | 46% |
Kamet | 46% |
Longitude 77 | 42.8% |
Woodburn | 42.8% |
Gianchand | 42.8% |
Talisker | 45.8% |
Crazy Cock | 42.8% |
Rampur | 43% |
Note: While whiskey is consumed for fun at special events or get-togethers, it has health benefits too. Keeping all the benefits in mind, you must still not forget that these benefits come only with moderate consumption levels of whiskey. Excess alcohol can be harmful.
Overview of the Best Single Malt Whisky Brands in India
The nation that has long enjoyed scotch has advanced to embrace rich, caramel-coloured single malts that are aged to perfection and produced using barley from the area. A variety of complex, rich, and full-bodied whisky collections are currently garnering recognition from around the world by winning awards at international whisky competitions. Check out the top Indian options in the single malt category below if you're looking to try a single malt whisky.
1. Amrut
Even though Amrut Distillery was founded in 1948, single malt whisky was not produced there until 2004. The first Amrut single malt, based in Bangalore, was introduced in Scotland. With over 20 countries now carrying the brand, this best single malt whisky brand in India has received widespread recognition and numerous accolades over the years.
The malt ages considerably faster because of the heat and humidity. Since they taste similar to much older whiskies from colder nations like Scotland or Ireland, the majority of Amrut single malts are released at around 4 years old. The spirit has a medium finish thanks to the fruity aftertaste that briefly lingers on the palate. Amrut is proud to offer an exciting selection of single-cask maturations, a range of wood finishes, and peated and unpeated malts.
2. Indri
The newly released Indri Diwali Collector's Edition 2023 won Double Gold, Best in Show, at the esteemed Whiskies of the World Awards. One of the best single malt whisky brands in India is distilled in traditional copper pot stills made in India using six-row barley and peat. Matured for a very long time in PX Sherry Casks in the subtropical climate of north India, this special expression opens up to you with a hint of smoke and reveals a plethora of flavours.
Proclaimed the 'fastest growing single malt whisky in the world ever,' Indri-Trini has achieved a first for both the brand and the country. In just two years since its launch, no other single malt whisky—from Scotland, Japan, Taiwan, etc.—has been able to surpass the 100,000 cases milestone.
3. Ballantine
Ballantine's is a brand of blended Scotch whisky made in Dumbarton, Scotland, by Pernod Ricard's Chivas Brothers subsidiary. The flavour of the Ballantine is derived from a blend of 50 single malts and four single grains with fingerprint malts from Miltonduff and Glenburgie. For its products, the company has received numerous honours and awards.
A Ballentine’s blend is formed by the Glenburgie Single Malt, which delivers concentrated fruitness and honeyed sweetness. This 15-year-old scotch whisky is perfectly balanced, with scents reminiscent of ripe red apples and pears. Its full, velvety texture and long, round finish are further appealing.
4. The Glenlivet
Single malt Scotch whisky is made at the Glenlivet Distillery in Moray, Scotland, which is located close to Ballindalloch. It is Scotland's oldest operating distillery. Since its founding in 1824, it has essentially always been in operation. The distillery didn't close during the Great Depression; instead, it only did so during World War II. In the years following World War II, the Glenlivet distillery expanded to rank among the largest for single malt whiskies.
As the most popular single malt whisky in the US and the second most popular worldwide, Glenlivet is a household name. Currently, the French alcohol company Pernod Ricard's Chivas Brothers subsidiary owns the distillery and is in charge of managing its annual production of 5,900,000 proof litres. 6 million bottles of this are sold as The Glenlivet single malt, with the remaining portion going towards Pernod Ricard's blended whisky brands.
You can also read our article on: Best Whisky in India Below 1500.
5. Black Dog Reserve
Black Dog Black Reserve is a distinctive blend of malt and grain scotches from different parts of Scotland, and it has won over seven international awards. It is a rare, aged scotch whisky with a wealth of warming, opulent flavours. Scotland is the home of the renowned and honoured Scotch Whiskey brand Black Dog, which is aged, blended, and distilled there. The brand, which has a 130-year history, is available in two variations: Black Dog Triple Gold Reserve and Black Dog Black Reserve. Giving people the chance to take a break from their busy lives and unwind and relax is Black Dog's brand purpose.
6. Three Monkeys
The Cheers Group owns the best single malt whisky brand in India Three Monkeys. The Imperial Distillers and Vintners Pvt. Ltd. distillery of the Goan company is the manufacturing facility for all of its beverages, including the Three Monkeys Single Malt Whisky. Made with six-row barley from the Himalayan foothills, Three Monkeys Single Malt is distilled and matured in Goa, giving it a round, fruity mouthfeel and a complex, fruity spirit reminiscent of vintage Scotch! Goan single malts have a far better flavour than whiskies of a similar age made somewhere else in the world. The whiskies develop their distinct flavour more quickly, thanks to the warm weather.
7. Solan Gold
The experience of drinking Solan Gold Single Malt Whisky is incredibly smooth. This whisky pays homage to those who appreciate the finer things in life. Produced at one of India's oldest distilleries, which is located in Kasauli, at an elevation of approximately 6000 feet in the Himalayas, this product has a rich 150-year history.
Solan uses the finest malted barley, Himalayan spring water, copper pot stills, and virgin American oak wood casks to craft its distinctive single malt, which is then matured. With every sip, Solan promises the rich, full mellowness of a single malt. It builds to a long, smooth finish by subtly tantalising your taste buds. You can now relish this exceptional experience.
8. Paul John
Paul John Indian Single Malts are made from carefully chosen native ingredients like barley, water, and yeast, which together create an entirely distinctive shine. The malts are crafted from the hot and humid Goan coast. Goa's tropical climate creates the ideal environment and temperature for the whisky to mature to perfection.
A laborious, closely monitored process comprising grain mashing, fermentation, distillation, maturation, vatting, and bottling produces the Paul John Indian Single Malts. It is a beautiful combination of science and art. Paul John Indian Single Malt is filtered without refrigeration and contains no additives.
If you are interested to know about more beer brands, check out our dedicated article on the best beer brends in India.
9. Godawan
The alcoholic name Godawan whisky was created at the beginning of 2023 as part of corporate conservation efforts for the GIB. Crafted in the Rajasthani town of Alwar, this best single malt whisky brand in India honours the region's aridity by using water-saving methods and barley grown nearby. Furthermore, an infusion of Indian botanicals is meant to impart notes of caramel, fig, raisin, and apricot flavourings, much like gin. Like red wine, the subtle notes of spice and smoke in this whisky go nicely with red meat because of its smooth texture.
10. Kamet
Legendary master blender Nancy Fraley skillfully combined the two products of double distillation using copper pot stills to create Kamet single malt, influenced by wine. Kamet whisky is a fruity, spicy Indian single malt named after Mount Kamet, the country's third-highest peak. It is matured in a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-wine, and ex-sherry casks.
Six Row barley is grown indigenously in India in the foothills of the Himalayas. The palate is complemented by notes of raisins, golden sultanas, dried apricots, peppery oak, vanilla, caramel, and milk chocolate that linger in the finish. The nose is filled with aromas of dried fruit, citrus peel, oaky spice, vanilla, and caramel.
11. Longitude 77
Longitude 77 is a tribute to India's cultural diversity and remarkable fusion of natural resources and craftsmanship. It is named after the meridian that runs through the country's centre. Every bottle of Longitude 77 is painstakingly made to capture the spirit of India's rich history while providing an unmatched drinking experience.
Crafted in American bourbon barrels and wine casks, Dindori, Nashik, located in the Sahyadri range, offers a cool, arid climate for extra-ageing single malt. The one of the best single malt whisky brands in India is made in tiny amounts and is a deep mahogany colour. Although whisky ages for three to four years, in India, it ages more quickly. The taste of this single malt whisky is rich, woody, velvety, soft, mellow, with balanced sweetness, finally layered with caramel and vanilla and a faint peat smoke.
12. Woodburn
Woodburns is a robust single malt whisky with a well-rounded peated malt finish that counterbalances its strong, smoky front. Woodburns is a labour of love, conceived in 2013 and produced in 2019. This is the first product for the Indian market from Fullarton Distilleries, produced at a gorgeous 11-acre state-of-the-art facility.
In short, Woodburns is an excellent Indian whisky that does not adhere to the limitations of perfection or the definition of greatness. There is not a hint of scotch or foreign malt in this product, which is made entirely of Indian ingredients. Woodburns is an award-winning whisky that has medals from three continents.
Go through our article on Best Tequila Brands In India.
13. Gianchand
GianChand is a high-end single malt whiskey with a distinct personality due to its origins in Jammu. It is a handcrafted whiskey with a rich golden colour, a distinct sweetish and spicy taste, and peaty fruity notes. It is made in a distillery in the foothills of the Himalayas. GianChand is a single malt that is easy to drink, light, and smooth.
The flagship distillery is situated in Jammu, in the foothills of the Himalayas, which offers ideal geographic and climatic conditions for the production and maturation of malt spirits. The spirit is distilled using specially made, in-house long swan neck copper pot stills. The maturation process, which began with five barrels, has now reached 7000 barrels and is continuing to advance quickly.
14. Talisker
Adventure in a bottle can be found on the Isle of Skye, where untamed coastlines meet the furious sea. With each sip, Talisker single malt scotch whisky transports you back to the raw wildness and pure beauty of its birthplace, bringing you a taste of Skye. Twenty-one subterranean springs that emerge from Hawk Hill, next to the distillery, provide Talisker's soft, peaty process water.
This best single malt whisky brand in India is aged in American oak barrels for at least 10 years after being double distilled to produce a rich, deep character that captures the maritime qualities of a coastal whisky. One of the most honoured single malt Scotch whiskies globally, it won two gold medals at the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the 2017 World Whiskies Awards for Ideal Islands Single Malt.
15. Crazy Cock
North India's flawless plains are the source of Crazy Cock, an amazing single malt whisky made from 6-row Indian barley. The barley is distilled in copper pots using an age-old, traditional method that produces a rich blend of delicate notes and a medley of subtle aromas. Ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry barrels are used to mature the whisky, giving it a complex and full-bodied flavour profile.
For a slightly peaty taste, batches of it are smoked and reserved for Crazy Cock Dhua. The Master Blender has carefully chosen these eclectic single malts, each one chosen for its own satisfying aroma and palate, and then each Crazy Cock Single Malt Whisky is expertly crafted in small batches.
16. Rampur
Handcrafted and aged in the Himalayan foothills, Rampur is an Indian Single-Malt Whiskey. The Himalayan climate gives Rampur depth and dimension, which is the complete opposite of what It experiences during the famous Indian Summer. This exquisite expression from Radico Khaitan's house is aged in carefully chosen European oak sherry barrels and American Bourbon barrels.
The subtle notes of balsamic vanilla in the American white oak enhance the beverage's rich aroma. Spicy European oak tonality, rich caramel, and dried dark fruits highlight the depth, resulting in a mouthwateringly long, lingering, and generous finish. Rampur Double Cask can be found in more than 20 nations.
If you are interested to know more about the wine brands, I have created a dedicated article on the best wine brands in India.
Benefits of Drinking Single Malt Whisky From The Best Single Malt Whisky Brand In India
Would you like to learn something worthwhile that you won't regret each time you chug a whiskey glass? Then, you should be aware of the numerous incredible health advantages of whiskey, which most people are unsure of. The health advantages of single-malt Scotch whiskey are listed below.
-
Prevents Heart Disease: Whiskey consumption has been shown in numerous studies to lower the risk of heart disease and heart failure. A Harvard study demonstrated that moderate alcohol consumption increases your body's levels of good cholesterol. Its effectiveness as a natural defence against heart disease is unquestionable.
-
Helps In Losing Weight: Apart from taste, the best thing about single malt scotch whiskey is that it's fat-free and only has simple sugar. These two features make it fairly clear that single-malt scotch whiskey can aid in weight loss.
-
Works As A Stress Reliever: Stress can be increased by various factors, including work and daily issues. However, stress can be greatly reduced with a glass of whiskey. Whiskey's alcohol content eases anxiety and lowers stress. For frequent sufferers of anxiety and stress, whiskey can be extremely beneficial.
-
Immunity Booster: It's said that consuming a good amount of single-malt scotch whiskey can significantly increase immunity. Whiskey's ellagic acid, when paired with vitamins, helps your immune system fight and prevent a variety of illnesses.
-
Reduces Risk Of Diabetes: In addition to its other advantages, single malt scotch whiskey lowers your body's risk of developing diabetes. A healthy dose of whiskey can assist in regulating your body's insulin and glucose levels. Research has shown that drinking whiskey reduces the risk of diabetes by 40%.
-
Helps In Fighting Cancer: Surveys indicate that whiskey may help fight cancer. Ellagic acid, which is present in whiskey, enables your body to absorb damaged cells. This acid is even present in high concentrations in many fruits, wine, and whiskey.
Summing Up
I hope that after reading this article thoroughly, you have received all the important info regarding the Best Single Malt Whiskey Brands In India. As everyone knows, whiskey is known for being a drink that makes you feel good, especially after a long, exhausting day at work or on a Sunday night get-together with friends. With some whiskey stones adorning it, the sweet and savoury whiskey glass in your hand appears to be a soothing haven from the outside world, transporting you to a state of delirium. However, if you liked the article, remember to share it with your loved ones. Further, if you have any other questions regarding this subject, make sure to mention them in our comment section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Which Indian whisky is strong?
A. Amrut Fusion, cultivated in India, is one of the most potent whisky brands on the Indian market. It is one brand you have to pay attention to for a fiery weekend because of its alluring 50% ABV. The combination of barleys used to make this Indian whisky gives rise to the name Amrut Fusion.
Q. Which is No 1 whisky in the world?
A. The Whiskies of the World Awards have named the Indri Diwali Collector's Edition 2023 the world's finest whisky. This award signifies a turning point in the international acceptance of Indian whiskies, as the Indri Diwali Collector's Edition 2023 surpasses hundreds of well-known international brands.
Q. How do you drink Indri single malt?
A. For a softer drink, dilute whiskey with a small amount of water. Many choose to dilute their single malt whiskey by adding a small amount of water, though this is a topic of some debate. They can now taste the whiskey's more delicate flavors and the drink becomes less harsh as a result.
0 Comments
Login to Post Comment