In the sun-soaked, tropical warmth and humidity of India, Indian whisky tells a story of ambition, innovation, and national pride. Over the past decade, exports have grown by over 200%. Figures released by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) revealed that in 2022, India overtook France as the top export market by volume for Scotch whisky. But the narrative is shifting—India is no longer just a customer but an emerging producer, placing Indian whisky firmly on the global map. At the heart of this transformation is India itself, where the craft of whisky-making turns simple ingredients into a world-class single malt.
From British influence to Indian innovation: The journey of a spirit
The global rise of Indian whisky has roots in British colonial influence. The British shaped Indian preferences for whiskies. Scotch whisky, initially imported by and restricted to British officers, was later extended to Indian officers and the wider population. The British even set up distilleries in India, beginning with the Kasauli distillery in Himachal Pradesh in 1855.
When the British departed, India lacked an equivalent domestic product. The country responded by developing IMFL (Indian-made foreign liquor), or IML, (Indian-made liquor). Whisky quickly emerged as the strongest category, starting off India’s own whisky culture.
Early Indian whisky was not even considered as ‘whisky’ by global standards because it was primarily made from molasses rather than malt. That changed in 2004, when Amrut Distilleries launched India’s first single malt internationally. Paul John Distilleries soon followed. Brands like Rampur, Indri, and Kamet are other serious contenders in the global whisky market.
Indian whiskies are not trying to compete with Scotch; they’re carving out a distinct category: Indian single malts. ‘We are not here to compete with the whiskies of the world,’ asserts Heemanshu Ashar, Global Brand Ambassador at Paul John Distilleries, comparing Indian whisky to chai: unique, reflective of its terroir, and unapologetically itself.
