Amrut launches its ?10 lakh marquee Indian single malt whisky

Amrut's expedition in Indian single malt whisky space is riding high on India's growing wealth and premiumisation drive as the distiller has launched the country's oldest & rarest single malt while the company celebrates its 75th anniversary, priced at more than Rs 10 lakh.

Amrut, renowned for its single malt whisky and even considered a pioneer in this space to take desi single malt whisky to more Indians and the world, has launched Expedition, which is the oldest single malt ever produced in the country.

This expression has undergone an unprecedented 15-year maturation period, a milestone never before seen in Indian whisky-making. It first spent eight years in a specially sourced sherry cask from Europe, developing rich, opulent flavours, before transitioning to an ex-bourbon cask from the United States for a further seven years, enhancing its complexity and depth.

Amrut's Expedition will retail at around Rs 10,50,000 in India or about $12,000.

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Calling it something 'very rare, very unique,' Rakshit N. Jagdale, Managing Director at Amrut Distillers, said Expedition is matured for 15 years in Bengaluru, the Garden City of India in a tropical climatic conditions and its launch marks a milestone not only for Amrut but also for the entire Indian single malt whiskey category.

Amrut Expedition single malt whisky has an alcohol strength of 62.8% ABV (alcohol by volume).

The Indian single malt whisky market is witnessing remarkable growth, with domestic brands such as Amrut, Indri, and Rampur rising in popularity and even outselling established Scotch single malts, as consumers increasingly embrace "Made in India" choices along with other factors at play such as growing affluent class, youth population and of course the drive to go for what is bespoke.

Each box of Amrut's Expedition is handcrafted and painted, containing individually engraved and numbered bottles. The bottle has a diamond-cut design with gold engravings forming a custom pattern. Each unit also includes a silver peg measure, crafted by a Bangalore silversmith. Integrating metal and wood design for Expedition's box was a complex process that took six months and five prototypes to refine.

The gross weight of Amrut Expedition, with the packaging, weighs more than 14 kgs.

About the pricing of the premium single malt, which is the costliest Indian single-malt whisky ever sold across the world, Ashok Chokalingam, head distiller and head of international sales, said the 15 years maturiy of the expression in India is similar to maturing it in in temperate climate conditions of Scotland. Moreover, he said there is a price that must be paid for what is premium.

"If you want a Rolls Royce you can't have it at the price of a Maruti 800," Chokalingam added.

The price point may be not an issue as Amrut said they have already got pre-bookings for 60% of the limited ediion 75 bottles, with most of Amrut's Expedition being picked in foreign companies.

If a single malt comes from the Garden City, or Bengaluru, then tech can't be far behind. Each bottle includes an NFC tag and a custom authentication card, providing details about its origin and release.

"Expedition is not just India’s oldest single malt—it is also the most exquisitely packaged whisky the country has ever seen," the company said.

Amrut has launched its Expedition whisky across key markets, including India, the USA, the UK, Europe, Dubai, Singapore, and Australia. With only 75 bottles produced, the company believes the limited release has attracted interest from collectors and whisky enthusiasts worldwide.

"This launch is also a tribute to my father, Late Mr. Neelkanth Rao Jagdale, whose vision and pioneering spirit put India on the global whisky map. Seeing Amrut reach this milestone is an emotional and proud moment for us. Expedition is not just a whisky—it is history in a bottle," Jagdale said