Indian single malts could turn the table on scotch
Indri Diwali Collectors Edition 2023, was named best in show at the Whiskies of the World Awards, beating out competition from better known brands of scotch — as well as American bourbon and single malts from several other countries.
And it’s not a one-off, either. In little over a decade, several brands from India have made their way onto the shelves of liquor stores all over the world, sharing counter space with whiskies of long renown that, only half a generation ago, were beyond the reach of most Indians.
During my childhood, strict import restrictions meant that Indian scotch drinkers like my father had to depend on smugglers.
Demand far outstripped supply, which created a huge market for counterfeiters: Most of the “scotch” sold in India was fake.
There were plenty of Indian-made whiskies, of course, but these were known to be inferior to even the cheapest and most obscure brands from Scotland.
(By the way, Indians spell whisky as they do in Scotland and most other countries, without the 'e'. US and Ireland add the extra vowel.)When I attained drinking age, I took the safe course of avoiding whisky altogether, even the smuggled kind.
Since the early 1990s, when the restrictions were gradually lifted, Indians have taken enthusiastically to the real thing — what’s more, growing affluence and exposure to high quality whisky have encouraged many to explore more and more expensive brands.
Last year, their country overtook France to become, by volume, Britain’s largest export market for scotch. Throw in the domestic production and India is also the world’s largest market for whisky.
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