Spiritz Magazine’s Post

6 Things You Didn’t Know About Godawan Indian Whisky Fans of single malt whisky may not realize that scotch isn’t the biggest selling whisky in the world. Neither does the title belong to an American whiskey. Instead the three top selling whiskies are all Indian whisky blends—Diageo’s Johnnie Walker, the world’s biggest selling scotch, comes in fourth with Jack Daniel’s in fifth. By contrast Indian single malt is something of a newcomer to the whisky scene and only appeared on the international market in 2004. Over the last 20 years it’s been making quite the positive impression on whisky lovers. In 2022 Godawan single malt Indian whisky joined the burgeoning sector and it has quickly become the most awarded Indian single malt whisky. Earlier in 2024 they launched officially in the USA with existing availability in Dubai, Malaysia, Australia. So if you are keen to expand your drinking horizons, here are six things you didn’t know about Godawan Indian single malt whisky. They Distill And Mature Whisky In The Desert The climate across India varies significantly throughout the massive country; from tropical to arid and through to the foothills of the world’s tallest mountain range. Godawan is distilled in Alwar, a city in the northern state of Rajasthan that is largely hot and dry. The arid environment has led to it receiving the moniker “The Spirit Of The Desert.” Their location means fast maturation and a high loss to “the angel’s share,” which in turn creates a distinctive profile that is uniquely Godawan Indian whisky. The amount of alcohol we lose during the maturation process is an order of magnitude, or two, higher compared to what is seen in Scotland,” Vikram Damodaran, Chief Innovation Officer for Diageo India, explained to me over an email. “Additionally, the rate of maturation is also three times more in India. This makes our whisky maturation process much more differentiated, pronounced, and accelerated, and therefore, the matured spirit a lot more precious.” It’s not just the climate that is non-traditional with Godawan, as Damodaran clarifies, “Godawan leverages Rajasthan’s elevated temperatures, heritage techniques, and unique botanicals to bring to life a range of Indian single malts that will cater to every palate.” Godawan Uses Cherry Wood Casks The variety of whisky, and whiskey, as created throughout the world is part of what makes the drink so enjoyable. Just like bourbon is distinct to scotch in its profile and the rules of classification, Indian whisky has its own rules and character. This allows Indian whisky producers to create flavor notes that are distinctly Indian. For Godawan their own guidelines are that the spirit must be at least 12 months maturing in a cask. It’s important to remember that their local climate means maturation happens much faster—Godawan’s climate is more akin to Texas and the southwest USA than cool and wet Scotland (where the minimum cask maturation period is three years).

𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗱 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲 (𝘆𝗲𝘀, 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆) 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 Honestly, there’s no dramatic reason for this post—just the holiday mood making me talk about Indian single-malt whisky. And since we’re embracing the holiday spirit, let’s raise a toast to how India’s homegrown malts are quietly taking over the world. 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝘁, 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗦𝗮𝘆? Single malt whisky is made at one single distillery using only malted barley. No blends, no hidden grains—just pure, unadulterated flavour. Think of it like a solo artist on stage, belting out high notes without any backup dancers. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘀 𝗜𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿? 1. 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗲 & 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 Single malt is the star of its own show. No mixing with other grain whiskies, so you get a distinct taste that reflects the distillery’s signature style. 2. 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁 India’s hot climate helps whisky mature faster. (We lose around 10% of the whisky to evaporation every year) It sounds tragic, but what’s left behind packs a punch of smooth, bold flavours. 3. 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘆 We use six-row Indian barley, which some say adds a richer, spicier character. 4. 𝗣𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁-𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆  Because of faster maturation, Indian single malts don’t need to wait decades to taste amazing. That usually translates to a friendlier price tag for you and me. 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝘁 A couple of decades ago, Indian whisky had a reputation for being cheap and harsh. Then Amrut Distilleries changed the script by sending their single malt to the UK. Critics were sceptical—some even joked it must be made from Ganga's water. But once they tasted it? "Game over". Amrut Fusion got named the third-best whisky in the world by Jim Murray in 2010, and suddenly everyone was talking about Indian single malts. Today, John Distilleries, Rampur, and Indri have all joined the party, racking up global awards like there’s no tomorrow. Even Pernod Ricard is going all in, investing a whopping ₹1,800 crores to build its largest Asian distillery in Nagpur. Why? Because Indian single malts sold 53% of the 6.8 lakh single malt cases in the country this year—overtaking the mighty Scotch for the first time ever. 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗨𝗽, 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮! We’re the biggest whisky market on the planet. So, if you haven’t tried an Indian single malt yet, this holiday is the perfect time: 1. 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗯 𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 (Rampur, Amrut, Indri—take your pick!)   2. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆 on your favourite show (Squid Game, anyone?)   3. 𝗞𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 and let the holiday vibes take over. So that’s it, folks. 𝗨𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻… 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱, 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁. #IndianSingleMalt #HolidaySeason #IndianWhisky #TrendingNow

Understand different Whisk(e)y Different styles of whisky and how they are made. Scotch Whisky Scotch whisky is whisky that has been made in Scotland. Generally, Scotch is great for sipping straight or mixed with soda water. Generally the flavour of Scotch tends to be on the peaty/smoky side. Generally, Scotch is broken up into 6 regions of Scotland: Highlands, Lowland, Speyside, Islands, Campbeltown and Islay. Each region has slightly different flavours given by the fact location has such a big impact on the aging process. The difference between blended and single malt whisky: Blended scotch whisky: Blended Scotch Whisky is a blend of grain and malt whisky that comes from multiple scotch whisky distilleries. My top recommendation for blended Scotch whisky is Chivas Regal Mizunara. Single malt whisky: Single Malt Scotch Whisky is still technically a blend, but it is a blend of malt whisky produced in just one distillery Irish Whiskey Irish whiskey shares somewhat similarities to Scotch. The history of Irish whisky is a very interesting one indeed, which in fact, contrary to popular belief pre-dates Scotch whisky. Bourbon Bourbon is a type of American whiskey, a barrel-aged distilled whiskey made primarily from corn. On 4 May 1964, the United States Congress recognized Bourbon Whiskey as a “distinctive product of the United States.” following which are a set of rules and regulations that must be followed to earn the name bourbon.Bourbon which meets the above requirements and has been aged for a minimum of two years, may (but is not required to) be called Straight Bourbon.Bourbon aged for a period less than four years must be labelled with the duration of its aging. Japanese Whisky Japanese whisky has easily become the largest growing whisky category in the world. 5 years ago words like Hibiki, Suntory, Yamazaki and Nikka were just gobbledygook. Now, every man and his dog has an opinion on Japanese whisky. The father of Japanese whisky is a man called Masataka Taketsuru. Taketsuru moved to Scotland to study whisky in order to start Japan's very first quality whisky. In 1924 he developed that dream and became the master distiller of Yamazaki before eventually setting up his own distillery Nikka. The whole story of Japanese whisky is like a romcom/drama, Filled with Scottish love and business partner riffs. The history of Japanese whisky is in fact one of my favourite spirits in history. Other world Whisky It's worth noting that other countries also make bloody good whisky. America, Scotland and Japan may be the big fish, but they are certainly not the only ones. Here's a few recommendations for other Whisky that are worth checking out. Penderyn Welsh Malt Whisky Amrut Indian Whisky

Best Single Malt for Beginners 🥃 If you’re just starting in the world of Whisky, it can be pretty overwhelming to know what is the best whisky for beginners or even what the terms mean. Let me help you with a few things to remember quickly: 1️⃣ Adding a few drops of water can help tone down the strong alcohol sensation and open up the flavors, making the whisky more approachable. 2️⃣ A tulip-shaped glass will help you fully capture the aromas, so avoid wide glasses that dissipate the delicate notes. 3️⃣ Not all single malts are heavy or intense. For beginners, it’s best to start with something smooth and balanced. PaulJohnWhisky Nirvana is the perfect whisky to start your single malt journey. With its soft honeycomb sweetness on the nose and a smooth finish of honey and vanilla, it’s incredibly inviting and easy to enjoy, even for new drinkers. Plus, it’s a gold winner at the India Wines and Spirits Award, so you know you’re in for a treat. Have you tried Paul John Nirvana? Let me know in the comments below! If not, give it a try either neat or in a highball and share your thoughts. Cheers! #sonalholland #masterofwine #pauljohnwhiskey #nirvana #whiskey #indianwhiskey #singlemalt #beginners #whisky

"𝘕𝘰𝘯-𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴..." The bottle pictured is my flagship spirit, Classic Old Tom Gin, first launched in 2018. Produced in two stages of distillation and compounding, this secondary focus helps preserve the delicate nature of Egyptian chamomile flowers and our signature Moroccan saffron threads. Bottled at 47% as a nod to the historic British standard of 47.3% (𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩𝘴), the gin retails at £33.00 which for the quality and strength is absolutely bonkers. At this ABV the gin incurs duties of £10.41 in the UK, with the £33.00 retail price also including £5.50 in VAT. Taking a total of around four days to produce, it's manufactured with 100% natural botanicals including Italian juniper berries, Spanish citrus peel and coriander seed, and the saffron which costs us £55.00 for 10 grams. The spirit is produced in our bonded warehouse located in the centre of Aberdeen, which also houses a licensed shop and tasting room for on & off sales. Taking all of the above into account, which only really covers some of my costs, can someone in the world of non-alc please try and explain how your product has the same overheads?!?

Hi LinkedIn community! It has been 5 years since I started my journey in the liquor industry and along the way, I have accumulated a wealth of knowledge, learnings and insights that I am eager to share. So, here goes my first post where I’ll be sharing some truths with you all that I learned about the liquor production in the last 5 years: 🥃 Whisky Reality Check: True definition of whisky often gets overlooked in India. Despite common practice, mixing grain neutral spirits doesn't make it whisky 🥃 Colour Illusion: Actual color of whisky is not what we see. Artificial coloring is frequently employed, even by reputed brands, altering our perception of its true appearance 🥃 Multiple barrels for Sweetness: Contrary to popular belief, multiple barrels are never required to make the product sweet. Proper fermentation techniques can enhance flavor profiles without excessive barrel aging 🥃 Age is just a number: The notion that the higher price and longer aging equate to better quality in liquor is absolutely wrong. Just like overcooked food, an over-matured malt spirit will never give a subtle taste. In India, due to extreme heat liquor matures 3x faster than usual. So normally, ages are not mentioned on single malt bottles 🥃 Material Matters: It is a big misconception that only copper stills are required for first and second distillation. Stainless steel works equally good 🥃 Oak Barrels: Maturing the whisky in a virgin oak barrel will give better results than a used bourbon barrel. Whisky matured in oak barrel will have thrice the flavours and vanillins Do you agree? What are some misconceptions/myth you have come across about this industry? #vkmliquor #dotwhisky #CheersToSuccess #LiquorIndustryInsights #whiskycommunity #whiskyculture #whiskyknowledge #whiskyjourney #whisky

Indian Whisky: From Underdog to Top Shelf Pernod Ricard is on a mission to put Indian whisky on the map, right next to Scotch, Irish, and Japanese whiskies. Indian single malts were once seen as the cheap, harsh stuff you’d drink when you were broke, but now they’re winning fancy awards. For instance, Indri’s Diwali Collector’s Edition and Amrut Triparva have won big awards. Amrut’s journey is a bit of a drama. They used to make malt for blended whiskies, but when the trend shifted to lighter, cheaper blends, they were left with a ton of aging malt. So, they took a leap of faith and started making single malts. People joked about whether it was any good, but once they tasted it, they were hooked. India’s scorching weather has a secret advantage: whisky ages way faster. What takes 40 years in Scotland is done in just 10 years in India. This gives the whisky a unique, smooth flavor that people can’t get enough of. In 2022, sales of Indian single malts jumped by 240%, while Scotland’s grew just 35%. With over 20 distilleries sending their drinks to 60 countries, things are looking good. But with big players like Pernod Ricard throwing money around, the real question is: Can India keep the crown, or will it end up as the underdog again?

ABD launches ICONiQ Winter Whisky Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited, India’s third-largest spirits company, has launched a game-changing innovation to the spirits category—aptly named ICONiQ Winter International Grain Whisky. Designed to keep the winter chill at bay, this unique blend promises to deliver warmth, flavour, and pure indulgence like never before. Given the shift from whisky to rum in cold weather- especially in North, parts of East and Central India, it has for the first time introduced a ‘Whisky, Made for Winter’. The blend is curated with select Scotch Malts and Indian Grain Spirits along with spices known for adding body warmth namely Cinnamon, Ginger, Clove, Nutmeg, Pepper and Cardamom. This new offering aims to satisfy consumer desire for real warmth in winter with a drink of their choice. Bikram Basu, chief innovation and strategy officer at Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited, said, “In the quickly evolving Spirits landscape internationally and in India, we're witnessing an interesting shift in consumer behaviour. They are bold and experimentative in purchase choices and are happy with variety. What excites us about ICONiQ Winter Whisky is the insight on why a largely whisky drinking nation will shift to rum in winters based on simple perception. By incorporating chai-warmers inspired spices into our carefully crafted blend, we're not just creating another whisky – we're crafting an experience that could well be a breakthrough product”. Arun Barik, executive director at Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited, said, "This product brief was unique. At the ABD Innovation Centre, we're redefining the winter experience with ICONiQ Winter Whisky, crafted to keep whisky aficionados loyal to their preferred spirit even as the season invites a shift to rum. Our unique balanced fusion of spices not only adds flavour but also inherent benefits. This remarkable blend positions ICONiQ as a compelling winter choice that we believe will attract a segment of consumers eager to explore a bold, innovative twist on whisky."