The Indian Whisky That Just Won Three Double Golds

There was a time not long ago when “Indian whisky” in a sentence with “world-class” would raise a few eyebrows. Mostly polite, mostly sceptical. Scotch was gospel. Japanese whisky was cool. And Indian whisky was still fighting for a seat at the table. Then came Amrut — and now it has kicked the door off its hinges.

At the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition — the Oscars of booze, minus the slaps and speeches — Amrut just pulled a clean flex: three Double Golds and one Gold. No big-budget marketing. Just unapologetically Indian single malts, winning in the same rooms as the best from Islay and Osaka.

First up was Amrut Fusion – the one that started the fire. This is the brand’s now-iconic single malt that’s become a sort of whisky-world litmus test. If you know, you know. “Fusion” blends 75 percent Indian barley with 25 percent Scottish peated malt, and then age them separately in American oak and bourbon barrels, after which they meet like long lost friends.

The Fusion is fiery, layered, full of attitude. Cinnamon and oak upfront, orange peel somewhere in the middle, a smoky-chocolate finish that lingers longer than it should. It’s been racking up awards since before “Indian single malt” was even a phrase you’d say out loud in a tasting room. The Double Gold this year is probably just another feather in a very crowded cap.

Beyond Fusion

The thing is, Amrut isn’t a one-trick pony. Amrut Indian Single Malt — the more restrained, classic expression — also bagged Double Gold. It’s the brand’s foundation bottle, smooth and structured, the kind of dram you reach for when you’re not trying to prove a point.

Then there’s Kurinji — a relative newcomer with something to say. It doesn’t care about the rules, and that’s exactly the point. It’s floral, it’s weird (in a good way), and it somehow walked into SFWSC 2025 and took home a Double Gold like it’s been doing this for years. It’s pricey but also fully worth it.

And to round things out: Amrut Peated Indian Single Malt, smokier and saltier, the rebel child of the lineup. It grabbed a Gold and added some grit to the glitter.

The Verdict

Here’s the takeaway: Amrut isn’t trying to play Scotch cosplay or mimic Japanese precision. It’s doing its own thing — with Indian grains, Indian climate, Indian identity — and the world’s finally raising a glass in agreement.

So the next time someone tells you Indian whisky can’t hang? Pour them a dram of Fusion. And then see.