The Best Indian Single Malt Whisky:
The 2024 SIP Awards
The Indian single malt whisky category has seen great expansion in recent years, with prominent brands expanding their ranges beyond Indian-made foreign liquor, IMFL. As with all globally accepted single malt whisky today, Indian single malt must be matured for a minimum of three years in oak casks, be the product of a single distillery, distilled from nothing other than water, yeast and malted barley. There is, however, no embargo on the type of casks used thereafter for finishing or on the use of botanicals to impart specific flavours.
Earlier this year, the SIP Awards announced the results of the 2024 competition. Held in California, the SIP Awards relies on consumer judges rather than industry experts, allowing drinkers to asses spirits from across the globe from an unbiased position. Amongst the many entries were Indian single malt whiskies.
The SIP Awards 2024
The SIP Awards are held annually in California, USA. In a unique approach to spirit competitions, the SIP Awards is the only such international spirits competition that invites consumers to be judges. On their website, the SIP Awards says: “The SIP Awards were created with a simple question in mind, “What about the consumer’s opinion?” The goal was to fill this void, bringing the people who regularly consume your product together to decide which brands deserve this prestigious award.” Founded in 2009 by Paul Hashemi, the SIP Awards strives to stir up momentum for award-winning brands, helping them bring their products to a wider audience, and put the power in the hands of whisky consumers.
Each spirit that is entered into the SIP Awards is sampled double-blind and in a controlled environment to ensure fairness for all competitors.
Godawan Single Malt Rich And Rounded Artisan Whisky
Medal: Platinum
Tasting Notes: Raisin, sultana, fig, apricot, mature wood, caramel, “butteriness like baklava”
Godawan Indian Whisky, owned by Diageo India, is making waves in the Indian whisky world. Launched in the US earlier this year, Godawan is expanding the Indian single malt category with two rich and complex single malts. Distilled and matured in the deserts of Rajasthan, the whisky matures quickly in the dry heat. As such, Godawan has a very distinctive profile.
The Platinum medal-winning expression from the distillery is Godawan – 01 “Rich and Rounded”. Distilled from locally-grown six-row malted barley, the Indian single malt is then initially matured in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. Then, it is filled into second-fill ex-bourbon barrels (already used to mature Godawan whisky) that have been treated with two Indian botanicals: Rasna and Jatamansi. The resulting whisky is something completely unique to Godawan and to the Indian single malt whisky category.
Paul John Nirvana Indian Single Malt Whisky
Tasting Notes: Fruit cake, honey, caramel, apricot, raisins, apple
Paul John made its name in India by making Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) distilled from molasses, like 98% of Indian whisky still is today. However, this Double Gold Medal-winning expression is an Indian single malt whisky.
No-age statement and bottled at 40% ABV, Paul John Nirvana was distilled from Indian barley and matured in charred American oak casks. Like Godawan whisky, Paul John is matured in a much hotter climate than even in the US – the distillery is located in the beautiful Indian state of Goa. This means a higher angel’s share, a quicker maturation, and a rich profile. Paul John is also widely known for its peated expressions such as Bold or Edited. However, Nirvana is made with unpeated barley, resulting in a sweet and sippable flavour.
Godawan – 02 Single Malt Fruit And Spice Artisan Whisky
Medal: Double Gold
Tasting Notes: Vanilla, sweet ginger, coconut, clove
Godawan was awarded another medal at the 2024 SIP Awards. This time, a Double Gold medal went to Godawan – 02 “Fruit And Spice”.
Distilled from the same mash bill as Godawan 01, “Fruit & Spice” was matured in cherry wood casks. Vikram Damodaran, Chief Innovation Officer for Diageo India explains the decision to use cherry wood casks for the second edition of Godawan Indian whisky: “Cherry wood casks release abundant vanilla and clove aromas into the liquid. This results in flavors of vanilla, sweet ginger, and coconut at the forefront.”
Godawan 02 is also finished in the botanical-treated casks. This is a very unusual practice by international standards and is associated more with the making of gin. However, the sheer number of awards won by Godawan demonstrates that this unique approach caters to many different palates.
Secret Island Indian Single Malt Whisky
Medal: Gold
Tasting Notes: Tropical fruit notes and subtly spicy flavour
Secret Island Indian Single Malt Whisky, is, like Paul John, produced in Goa. Producer Cheers Group began as a small IMFL producer. Like many other Indian whisky brands, it has recently branched out into Indian single malt whisky.
Inspired by Scottish maturation methods, Secret Island whisky is matured in cool, dark warehouses with earthen floors, much like the traditional Scottish dunnage warehouses. The whisky is matured in oak casks sourced from Scotland and other countries around the world.
Presented in a uniquely shaped decanter, the bottle is a talking piece just as much as the whisky is.
The Kadamba Indian Single Malt Whisky
Medal: Gold
Tasting Notes: Peat, sherry trifle, oaky vanilla, fruit, spice
Last, we have another expression matured in sunny Goa. The Kadamba Indian Single Malt Whisky is the flagship expression of the brand. It is double-distilled and matured in a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and virgin American oak casks.
The Kadamba is also owned and produced by The Cheers Group. And, sticking to a unique marketing strategy, the whisky is also presented in a striking 3D cut glass effect decanter.
Produced in extremely limited quantities, it seems as though this whisky is currently only available in Goa. But do keep an eye on retail sites to find yourself a bottle.
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