What Does India Know About Whisky Anyway?

When you think of the top whisky producing nations across the globe, India is likely not the first one to pop into your mind, but maybe it should be. This beautiful country in Southeast Asia has become one of the worlds’ largest whisky producers and is the sixth largest importer of Scotch. With a total of 48% of all the whiskies in the world consumed in India, it’s not surprising that this country is also a major producer of the spirit and its top expressions consistently rank among the world’s best. 

So, how is whisky production and consumption so massive in India? A lot of this is due to innovative and world-class distilleries like Amrut and we wanted to dive deeper to learn where the love of whisky started and what its momentum is moving forward.

The history of whisky in India 

According to Flaviar, whisky has been in India since it was colonized by the British. The first Scottish whisky brought to India dates all the way back to the mid-19th century and they have been importing Scotch ever since. Early on it wasn’t uncommon for the British to set up distilleries there in order to continue producing their favorite spirits. As these distilleries began opening, the difference in whisky production from India to Scotland was quickly discovered. The climate and ingredients were different than what these distillers were used to but presented a unique opportunity to craft exceptional spirits.

In the past, most whisky produced in India was made using a blend of molasses with grain alcohol or Foreign Malt. Nowadays, there is a movement, led by Amrut, to produce Single Malt Whiskies in adherence to the regulations in Scotland and the whiskies produced in India are standing out as incredible world class whiskies.

Amrut set the stage for Indian whisky

Located in sunny Bengaluru, Amrut is one of the best-known Indian distilleries producing whisky world-wide. Established in 1948, Amrut was one of the first producers of whisky in India and they continue to be trailblazers in the industry with an awards list that rivals major brands across the globe. Over the years, Amrut Distilleries have won over 50 international awards for both the distillery and their Single Malt Whiskies and Rums. Amrut began specifically producing whisky in 1982 and they have exploded on the international stage recently as Indian whiskies have skyrocketed in popularity. 

The climate in India is drastically different than that of Scotland, making the angel’s share much higher with 3-4 times the evaporation rates. Because of this, distillers in India were tasked with finding a way to produce whiskies that rival those produced in Scotland without the luxury of a slow, steady maturation phase. Amrut masterfully embraced this and created their Greedy Angels limited-edition spirit which captures 30 years of maturity after only 10 years of aging. It is one of the most exclusive spirits on the market and is sought after by whisky connoisseurs around the world.

In addition to their collector’s edition spirits, Amrut’s Indian Single Malt is consistently ranking at the top of the list in competitions across the globe. Most recently, it won a Double Gold at the Pr%f Awards in 2020 with an impressive score of 98 points and was also awarded gold at the San Francisco Spirits Competition.

Indian whisky on the world stage

Distilleries like Amrut really set the stage for Indian whiskies to perform incredibly well on the world stage. Using local grown ingredients and meticulous methods, the  exceptional spirits of top distilleries in India have not gone unnoticed across the globe. Once whisky lovers were first introduced to the unique flavor profiles and high-class spirits coming out of India, it was only a matter of time for the rest of the world to take notice. In fact, seven out of the top 10 whisky brands sold in the world are from India with many of those distilleries producing single malts that are now exported to the rest of the world. 

At Glass Revolution we import an extensive portfolio of Amrut spirits to the United States. If you’d like to stay in the know about incredible new releases and exclusive tastings, make sure to sign up for our newsletter. To become an inspired spirit, sign up for our newsletter today!