An Indian single malt whisky has been adjudged the world’s best, trumping stalwarts from Scotland, Ireland, USA and Japan. Indri’s Diwali Edition 2023 took home the top honor at Whiskies of the World Awards.
Indri, made in India by Piccadily Distilleries, was named “Best in Show, Double Gold” after a rigorous blind tasting process involving over 100 experts. This is the first time an Indian whisky has won this prestigious global competition.
What is Indri Whisky?
Indri is a triple-cask single malt whisky from India’s Piccadily Distilleries. It uses premium six-row barley and traditional copper pot stills for distillation.
Piccadily pioneered triple-cask maturation in India with Indri. This involves aging the whisky in three different cask types to lend depth and complexity.
The multi-award-winning Indri range includes the flagship Trini single malt launched in 2021 and special editions like the Diwali 2023 Collector’s Edition.
Indian Indri Whisky Awarded “The Best Whisky in the World”
The 2023 Diwali Edition by Indri was selected as the “Best in Show Whisky” at Whiskies of the World Awards after several blind tasting rounds.
Over 100 renowned judges from the alcoholic beverage trade sampled entries from India, Scotland, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia and more before awarding the top prize to Indri.
Indri Whisky Price List in India 2023 (All States Prices)
This makes the Piccadily Distilleries product the first Indian whisky to ever win this prestigious global competition.
Why is Indri Whisky the Best Among all Whiskies in the World?
Indri’s meticulous triple-cask maturation process sets it apart in the highly competitive global whisky market.
The Diwali Edition is first matured in American oak barrels imported from the US. This imparts rich vanilla and caramel notes.
It is then finished in Spanish oak sherry casks from Jerez, Spain. The sherry casks lend dried fruit flavours.
Finally, maturation happens in heavily charred STR wine casks from France. This adds a distinct smoky aroma.
The cumulative effect of this specialized three-stage aging along with the North Indian climate makes Indri an incredibly refined and complex single malt.
Its balanced, smooth and aromatic taste profile secured the Best in World title amidst formidable competition.
Innovative Production, Local Ingredients
Indri also focuses on localization and innovation during production.
The six-row barley used is sourced from the Indian state of Rajasthan which enables a distinctive malty character.
Traditional Indian pot stills crafted from copper are utilized for distillation. This results in a robust and full-bodied spirit packed with flavour.
Previous Global Victories
Even before the 2023 Best in World award, Indri had notched up several international honours starting with Trini in 2021.
Trini won “World’s Best Indian Single Malt” at the World Whiskies Awards 2022. It also received accolades from renowned competitions like San Francisco & Las Vegas.
This consistent international success underlines Indri’s credentials as a world-class product that can compete head-to-head with iconic Scotch, Irish and Japanese whiskies.
Indian Whiskies Going Global
Indri’s historic victory signals the coming-of-age of Indian whisky on the global stage.
It shows that with innovation, quality and skill, India can produce a product that is the envy of established whisky stalwarts.
As Indian single malts like Indri gain fame worldwide, exports are rising too. In 2022, Indian whisky exports witnessed a 45% jump over 2021 levels crossing 4 million cases.
The future looks bright for Indian whiskies as they ride the twin trends of premiumisation and globalisation in the dynamic spirits market. Iconic wins like Indri’s will only accelerate this ascent.
