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Forbes
09-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
India's Whisky Revolution: Rising Stars Of Single Malt
Two Whiskey Glasses with Ice Cubes Floating in the Air getty India is the world's largest producer and consumer of whisky. Only in recent decades, however, has it become a serious contender in the global premium whisky scene. Once dominated by mass-market blends and molasses-based spirits sold as 'whisky,' India now produces some of the world's finest single malts, earning critical acclaim and international awards. Below is a brief overview of India's leading single malt producers and their whiskies. Whisky arrived in India during British colonial rule. British expatriates introduced their preference for Scotch whisky to the region, and the spirit quickly gained popularity there. Historically, Indian distillation was mostly industrial, prioritizing low cost and high volume over quality. Until the late 20th century, 'Indian whisky' was often a spirit made from fermented molasses, a method not recognized as 'whisky' by international standards. It wasn't until the late 20th century that India began to develop a growing premium market for grain-based whisky, aligning with the country's economic liberalization and the rapid expansion of its middle class. In the early 2000s, the Amrut distillery introduced India's first single malt, transforming perceptions of what Indian whisky could be. Other Indian whisky producers soon followed. The Rise of Indian Single Malt Whisky The launch of Amrut Fusion in 2009 marked a significant milestone. Made from a blend of Indian and Scottish barley and aged in Bangalore's hot, dry climate, Fusion received praise from critics and was even featured in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible. It was the first Indian single malt to consistently earn medals at international spirit competitions. Since then, the category has experienced rapid growth, driven by rising demand for premium spirits among India's urban middle-class consumers and increasing international recognition. India's single malt whiskies now hold a niche but influential position in the global market, standing alongside well-known brands from Scotland and Japan. The primary challenge is the climate's impact on maturation. Whisky matures much faster in India's hot climate. Typical 'angel's share' losses of 12–15% annually are common, compared to Scotland's 2%. This shorter aging period makes it difficult to achieve balanced maturation. However, rapid aging also produces the bold, flavorful profiles that distinguish Indian malts. Below is a brief overview of India's leading single malt whisky producers, along with a short description of their aroma and taste profiles. Prices listed are for the entry-level expressions. BANGALORE, INDIA - FEBRUARY 19: Images of Amrut whisky products and single Malt Amrut whiskies (Photo by Hemant Mishra/Mint via Getty Images) Hindustan Times via Getty Images Amrut Distilleries, Bangalore, Karnataka $62 Flagship Malts: Amrut Fusion, Amrut Peated, Amrut Single Malt Founded in 1948, Amrut is recognized for launching India's first authentic single malt whisky. Located in the dry climate of Bangalore, at the heart of the high-altitude Mysore Plateau, Amrut whiskies age faster than their Scottish counterparts. Although this accelerated aging presents challenges, it also results in more extractive processes that develop intense flavors in less time. Amrut Fusion exemplifies the distillery's typical aroma and flavor profile. On the nose, it offers notes of rich cooked cereal or barley malt, tropical fruit, toffee, and a hint of smoke. The palate displays wood spices, seasoned oak, cocoa, citrus zest, and a balance of sweet and smoky flavors. The finish is long and warming, with lingering spicy and fruity notes. Amrut's whiskies are bottled without chill filtration or artificial coloring. Their experimentation with peated barley and port cask finishes has further expanded their whisky's aroma and flavor profile. Paul John, Paul John Brilliance, Goa $33 Flagship Malts: Paul John Brilliance, Paul John Edited, Paul John Bold Paul John whisky was launched in 2012 by John Distillery. It quickly gained a reputation for elegance, balance, and a tropically influenced complexity. Goa's hot, humid climate accelerates aging while imparting the spirit's unique characteristics. The brand has earned multiple medals at international spirit competitions, cementing its position among the top Indian whiskies. Paul John Brilliance reflects the typical aroma and taste profile of Paul John's whiskies. On the nose, it offers notes of honey, cooked cereal or barley malt, vanilla, and light citrus aromas. The palate has a creamy texture, with hints of spice, cinnamon, and a subtle sweetness. The finish is long, smooth, and slightly peppery. Paul John Edited and Bold highlight different levels of peat, providing Indian interpretations of smoky and peaty malt styles. Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, Rampur Asava $74 Flagship Malts: Rampur Select, Rampur Double Cask, Rampur Asava Owned by Radico Khaitan, one of India's oldest liquor companies, Rampur Single Malt was launched in 2016 and has quickly gained popularity in international markets. Aged in the Himalayan foothills, Rampur's whisky reflects a unique, cooler microclimate. Rampur Select is floral and fruity, with notes of ripe apple, apricot, and honey, along with subtle floral undertones. It is spicy and flavorful on the palate, revealing hints of fruitcake, vanilla, and dried fruit. The finish is long and elegant, with lingering notes of seasoned oak and spices. Rampur Asava is especially notable for its finish in Indian Cabernet Sauvignon casks. This was the first case of an Indian malt whisky finished in a domestically produced wine cask. Kamet, Kurukshetra, Haryana $51 Flagship Malt: Kamet Single Malt Launched in 2020, Kamet is a joint venture between Piccadilly Distillery and Peak Spirits. Kamet is matured in ex-Bourbon, wine, and Sherry casks. The whisky reflects Indian terroir while appealing to global palates. The whisky shows a noticeable Sherry influence. It features notes of golden raisins, dried fruit, sweet spices, and vanilla. It's rich, flavorful, and complex on the palate, revealing hints of chocolate, dried fruit, and leather. The finish is long and fruity, with lingering notes of roasted nuts and subtle seasoned oak. The still room at the Indri whisky distillery Photo, courtesy Indri/Picadily Distillery Indri, Haryana, Indri-Trini, $58 Flagship Malt: Indri-Trini, DRU Single Malt, Indri 7 YO Red Wine Cask. One of the newest entrants in the Indian single malt scene, Indri-Trini is produced by Piccadilly Distilleries. It features a unique triple cask maturation process using ex-Bourbon, French wine, and PX Sherry casks. Launched in 2021, it has quickly gained recognition for quality and affordability. Indri whisky offers notes of vanilla, orange zest, sweet spices, and various fruits. It is smooth on the palate, with a distinctive viscosity and flavors of dried fruit, citrus, spices, and chocolate. The whisky is medium length and warming, with lingering notes of spice and seasoned oak. Looking Ahead India's tropical climate offers both opportunities and challenges. The rapid maturation allows distillers to create rich, flavorful whiskies. However, it also results in higher evaporation rates and increased risks of over-extraction and over-oaking. To handle the challenges of India's hot climate, Indian distillers have become skilled at shorter barrel aging, using various cask types for wine and sherry finishes, and closely managing warehouse environmental conditions. Water sources, indigenous barley varieties, a hot climate, and seasonal changes resulting from the monsoon cycle contribute to the unique regional signatures. Although there is currently no single malt whisky regulation in India comparable to Scotland's, many producers follow international best practices, avoiding additives and chill filtration. India's single malt market is small but growing quickly. Domestic demand is fueled by an urban middle class switching from blends to craft spirits. Meanwhile, export demand continues to rise as Indian malts appeal to global connoisseurs. New producers and experimental batches, including cask finishes in Indian wine barrels, sherry butts, and rum casks, show that innovation is just beginning. Indian single malts are no longer novelties. They're credible, collectible, and growing more sought after. With their bold character, unique terroir, and impressive complexity, Indian whiskies are beginning a new chapter in the global whisky story — one sip at a time. Their very attractive prices are a bonus. If you're not familiar with Indian single malts, now is a great time to start exploring. More from Forbes Forbes The Top Single Malt Scotch Whisky, According To The International Wine And Spirit Competition By Joseph V Micallef Forbes Best American Single Malt Whiskey From The 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition By Joseph V Micallef Forbes Top Irish Single Malt Whiskey, According To The San Francisco World Spirits Competition By Joseph V Micallef
Forbes
24-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
These Are The 25 Bestselling Whisky Brands In The World
It might have a Scottish-sounding name, but Indian brand McDowell's is the bestselling whisky in the ... More world, if you're flexible on your definition of 'whisky'. In 2018, I was trying to find a list of the bestselling whiskies in the world by volume and was struggling. While that information was easy to find for separate categories, such as Scotch or Bourbon, I quickly wrote up what (I think) was one of the first lists that actually collated the bestselling global brands. It's been a while since I wrote the last one though, so I thought it's high time to update the list given that The Spirits Business recently released its 2025 Brand Champions report covering sales of all kinds of drinks from around the world. I've simply pulled the figures from the report covering whisky and collated it here into an easy-reading list. Some notes. The figures below incorporate sales from 2024, covering millions of 9-liter cases sold. So for example, 1 million cases sold means a total of 9 million liters. If you don't follow whisky and drinks trends, you'll be surprised to see just how much Indian whisky is sold (almost all of it consumed domestically). For those who do follow these kinds of figures, you'll be surprised to see that Johnnie Walker has finally managed to break into the top 4 which for the last few years was dominated by Indian brands McDowell's, Royal Stag, Imperial Blue, and Officer's Choice. As you'll see from the figures below, the latter has taken a hit in sales compared to Johnnie Walker's smaller dip. At the bottom of the article is a quick little graph I drafted up with the figures in case it's useful. And finally, I'm not picky at all about what gets counted as 'whisky' here. If it's labelled as 'whisky' in the report, then it makes this list. This is an important distinction especially when it comes to many Indian whisky brands, which often incorporate molasses in their production (these are classified within the country as 'Indian-made foreign liquor, or IMFL). With that, the world's bestselling whiskies are: 1. McDowell's Whisky Owner: United SpiritsCountry: IndiaSales: 2020: 25.7m | 2021: 30.1m | 2022: 30.8m | 2023: 31.4m | 2024: 32.2mGrowth: +2.6% 2. Royal Stag Owner: Pernod RicardCountry: IndiaSales: 2020: 18.5m | 2021: 22.4m | 2022: 27.1m | 2023: 27.9m | 2024: 31.0mGrowth: +11.1% 3. Imperial Blue Owner: Pernod RicardCountry: IndiaSales: 2020: 21.3m | 2021: 24.1m | 2022: 24.0m | 2023: 22.8m | 2024: 22.9mGrowth: +0.5% 4. Johnnie Walker Owner: DiageoCountry: ScotlandSales: 2020: 14.1m | 2021: 19.1m | 2022: 22.7m | 2023: 22.1m | 2024: 21.6mGrowth: –2.0% 5. Officer's Choice Owner: Allied Blenders & DistillersCountry: IndiaSales: 2020: 20.8m | 2021: 23.2m | 2022: 24.9m | 2023: 23.4m | 2024: 21.3mGrowth: –9.0% 6. Jim Beam Owner: Suntory Global SpiritsCountry: USASales: 2020: 16.4m | 2021: 17.0m | 2022: 16.6m | 2023: 17.0m | 2024: 17.5mGrowth: +2.9% 7. Jack Daniel's Owner: Brown-FormanCountry: USASales: 2020: 12.3m | 2021: 13.5m | 2022: 14.6m | 2023: 14.3m | 2024: 14.1mGrowth: –1.5% 8. Jameson Owner: Pernod RicardCountry: IrelandSales: 2020: 7.7m | 2021: 9.6m | 2022: 11.1m | 2023: 10.2m | 2024: 10.8mGrowth: +6.3% 9. Blenders Pride Owner: Pernod RicardCountry: Whisky – IndianSales: 2020: 6.6m | 2021: 8.0m | 2022: 9.5m | 2023: 9.6m | 2024: 10.1mGrowth: +5.0% 10. 8PM Owner: Radico KhaitanCountry: Whisky – IndianSales: 2020: 9.4m | 2021: 11.4m | 2022: 11.9m | 2023: 12.2m | 2024: 9.6mGrowth: –20.8% 11. Ballantine's Owner: Pernod RicardCountry: Whisky – ScotchSales: 2020: 7.0m | 2021: 8.7m | 2022: 9.2m | 2023: 8.2m | 2024: 9.3mGrowth: +13.9% 12. Royal Challenge Owner: United SpiritsCountry: Whisky – IndianSales: 2020: 4.3m | 2021: 4.7m | 2022: 7.2m | 2023: 8.6m | 2024: 9.1mGrowth: +6.7% 13. Crown Royal Owner: DiageoCountry: Whisky – CanadianSales: 2020: 8.1m | 2021: 9.0m | 2022: 8.4m | 2023: 7.7m | 2024: 8.0mGrowth: +4.0% 14. Iconiq White Whisky Owner: Allied Blenders & DistillersCountry: Whisky – IndianSales: 2020: N/A | 2021: N/A | 2022: N/A | 2023: 1.6m | 2024: 4.5mGrowth: +181.3% 15. Chivas Regal Owner: Pernod RicardCountry: Whisky – ScotchSales: 2020: 3.2m | 2021: 4.1m | 2022: 5.2m | 2023: 4.6m | 2024: 4.8mGrowth: +4.8% 16. Kakubin Owner: Suntory Global SpiritsCountry: Whisky – JapaneseSales: 2020: 3.7m | 2021: 3.6m | 2022: 4.3m | 2023: 4.2m | 2024: 4.0mGrowth: –4.5% 17. Black Nikka Owner: Asahi BreweriesCountry: Whisky – JapaneseSales: 2020: 3.3m | 2021: 3.3m | 2022: 3.5m | 2023: 4.0m | 2024: 4.0mGrowth: 0.0% 18. Sterling Reserve Owner: Allied Blenders & DistillersCountry: Whisky – IndianSales: 2020: 2.8m | 2021: 3.6m | 2022: 5.0m | 2023: 5.1m | 2024: 3.9mGrowth: –23.5% 19. Director's Special Owner: United SpiritsCountry: Whisky – IndianSales: 2020: 3.1m | 2021: 2.9m | 2022: 3.0m | 2023: 3.3m | 2024: 3.6mGrowth: +9.4% 20. Canadian Club Owner: Suntory Global SpiritsCountry: Whisky – CanadianSales: 2020: 5.9m | 2021: 6.2m | 2022: 6.5m | 2023: 6.2m | 2024: 5.3mGrowth: –15.2% 21. Signature Owner: United SpiritsCountry: Whisky – IndianSales: 2020: 1.9m | 2021: 2.0m | 2022: 2.5m | 2023: 2.9m | 2024: 3.3mGrowth: +13.4% 22. Dewar's Owner: BacardiCountry: Whisky – ScotchSales: 2020: 2.5m | 2021: 2.8m | 2022: 3.5m | 2023: 3.3m | 2024: 3.3mGrowth: +1.8% 23. Evan Williams Owner: Heaven Hill BrandsCountry: Whiskey – AmericanSales: 2020: 3.0m | 2021: 3.1m | 2022: 3.1m | 2023: 3.1m | 2024: 3.1mGrowth: –1.3% 24. William Lawson's Owner: BacardiCountry: Whisky – ScotchSales: 2020: 3.3m | 2021: 3.4m | 2022: 3.5m | 2023: 3.4m | 2024: 3.2mGrowth: –4.4% 25. Black & White Owner: DiageoCountry: Whisky – ScotchSales: 2020: 2.9m | 2021: 3.1m | 2022: 3.6m | 2023: 3.2m | 2024: 3.0mGrowth: –5.4% And here is the data in chart form below: The world's bestselling whiskies, as reported by the Spirits Business 2025 Brand Champions report.
