It is the third Saturday of the month of May. Raise a toast to whisky; or whiskey, depending on whether you favor a Scotch (whisky), or an Irish or American whiskey. Beyond the ‘e’, it is the same ole’ golden brew, that is celebrating the 13th year of this namesake day – World Whisky Day. Since June 2011, when a young whisky enthusiast Blair Bowman picked the third Saturday of May as the official day for his favorite drink, it has gone on to be acknowledged worldwide. The day is meant to be an ode to the people working in the global whisky industry. The day was recognized by Members of the Scottish Parliament in a motion in May 2014.. In 2015, World Whisky Day events were registered on all seven continents
This year, the Scotch loving Indian tippler is high on the good news announced just a week ago, that Government of India is cutting down the import duty on Scotch Whisky to half, at 75%. As a trickle effect, even local brews and others too, will now become more affordable. There are the favorite Scotch Single Malts straight from Scotland, but 79% of the whisky is reportedly, bulk purchased, for blending or bottling in India.
Glenfiddich to launch GRAND CHÂTEAU
Glenfiddich 31 Year Old Grand Château
Glenfiddich, the popular Single Malt Scotch Whisky, has collaborated with French graffiti artist André Saraiva to launch Grand Château, a 31-Year-Old whisky and the first release by the distillery to use Bordeaux red wine casks. It is the newest limited edition in the Grand Series. Saravia has worked with Glenfiddich to visualize the Grand Château world. From the 250 limited-edition packaging to campaign visuals, he has taken inspiration from the exquisite liquid and collision of two cultures. Glenfiddich Grand Château has been matured in American oak before being finished for an extended nine years in Bordeaux red wine casks from the French wine-growing region.
Brian Kinsman, Glenfiddich Malt Master said, “Bordeaux red wine casks are incredibly versatile sources of flavour and recognised widely for their outstanding quality, providing the perfect opportunity for experimentation to develop a profound spirit. Nine years spent cocooned in Bordeaux red wine casks results in an exceptionally vibrant liquid which intensifies Glenfiddich’s classic fruity character balanced somewhat unusually with notes of deep oak and warming vanilla. Although wine is becoming an increasingly popular choice for maturation within the single malt category, it remains relatively rare to see whiskies finished in a Bordeaux red wine cask, making this an incredibly intriguing and collectable bottling.”
The Grand series includes Grand Yozakura, a limited edition 29 Year Old whisky and the first Single Malt Scotch Whisky to be finished in rare ex-Awamori casks; Grande Couronne, a 26 Year Old Scotch Whisky matured in American and European oak casks finished for up to two years in meticulously sourced French Cognac casks; Glenfiddich Grand Cru, aged for 23 years in American and European oak casks and then finessed in French Cuvée oak casks; and Glenfiddich Gran Reserva, patiently mellowed for 21 years in European and American Oak casks before a final flourish in Caribbean Rum casks.
Price – ₹2,52,000 in Kolkata, West Bengal
Availability – in select stores across Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru & Gurugram soon.
Piccadily Unveils Award-Winning INDRI FOUNDER’S RESERVE
Piccadily Agro Industries Limited, the company behind India’s single malt brand – Indri, revealed the launch of its award-winning Indri Founder’s Reserve 11-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky. A landmark release in the Indian single malt whisky landscape, it is a tribute to Pt. Kidar Nath Sharma, the founder of the Piccadily Group.
Indri Founder’s Reserve 11-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky
Aged for 11 years in Ex-Bordeaux Red Wine Casks, this limited-edition release exemplifies the art of whisky-making in the distinctive sub-tropical terroir of northern India. The extreme climate conditions at the Indri distillery, from scorching summers of 50°C to freezing winters of 0°C, accelerates the whisky’s maturation, creating an opulent, full-bodied expression that exudes complexity and depth unique to the region’s terroir. Indri Founder’s Reserve 11-Year-Old is bottled at 50% ABV for India and 58.5% ABV for international markets. With a limited release of only 1,100 bottles available worldwide—split evenly between India and select international markets—this rare release is both a collector’s treasure and a connoisseur’s delight.
Price– On request
The MACALLAN TIME:SPACE Mastery & The MACALLAN DOUBLE CASK 18 Years Old
To mark its 200th anniversary, The Macallan presents a limited-edition TIME:SPACE Mastery in India. This unique single malt is crafted from 14 exceptional cask types to create remarkable depth and complexity in aroma, texture, and flavor. Featuring whisky drawn from The Macallan’s rare and exceptional inventory—including European Oak sherry-seasoned casks, American Oak sherry-seasoned casks, American Oak Bourbon casks, and select refill casks. Only 120 bottles of TIME:SPACE Mastery are released in India.
The Macallan TIME SPACE Mastery
The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old
The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old is a masterfully balanced single malt matured in both American and European sherry-seasoned oak casks. With its warm amber honey hue, this delivers rich notes of dried fruits, ginger, and toffee, balanced beautifully by oak spice and zesty orange.
Whisky Maker’s Notes – Double Cask 18 Years Old
ABV: 43%; Colour: Amber honey; Aroma: Dried fruits, ginger, and toffee with rich orange, clove, and nutmeg; Palate: Rich raisin and sultana, layered with caramel, vanilla, and ginger, balanced by wood spice and citrus zest; Finish: Long and warming, with oak spice and a sweet orange finish
Price– On request
Whisky Cocktail Recipes
DEWAR’s Espresso Martini
DEWAR’S ESPRESSO MARTINI
Mood: Bold, buzzy, and perfectly spiced-up drama
● 45 ml DEWAR’s 12-Year-Old Whisky
● 30 ml fresh espresso (chilled) or cold brew
● 25 ml masala syrup
Method: Shake hard with ice and strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass.
Garnish: Coffee beans or a piece of dark chocolate
Glassware: Martini or coupe glass
Note: For the masala syrup place 30 black peppercorns, 1 knob of ginger, 1 cinnamon sticks, 10 elaichi and 10 cloves in a large tin, crush them up well with a muddler. Add 500ml boiling hot water, let sit for 1 hr. Strain out spices, then add 200 gms sugar and a half teaspoon of salt, stir till dissolved. Keep in the refrigerator.
Recipe supplied by Myles Carroll, DEWAR’s Brand Ambassador
WELLER SPECIAL RESERVE: #PAPERPLANECOCKTAIL
Weller Special Reserve Paper Plane Cocktail
Mood: Sleek, citrusy, and high-flying
Weller Special Reserve’s vibrant burnt orange hue hints at its rich flavor profile, with notes of honey, butterscotch, and a soft touch of oak. This bourbon delivers luxury without being overly complex, making it ideal for bourbon newcomers and connoisseurs alike.
● 30ml Weller Special Reserve Bourbon
● 30ml Aperol
● 30ml Amaro Nonino
● 30ml fresh lemon juice
● Ice cubes
Method: Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well until well-chilled.
Glassware – Strain into a coupe glass.
DEWAR’S RUBY HIGHBALL
DEWAR’s 15 Ruby Highball
Mood: Fruity, fizzy, and fresh
- 60ml DEWAR’s 15-Year-Old
- 15ml Lemon juice
- 15ml Sugar syrup
- 30ml Fresh pomegranate juice
Method – Add all ingredients to a highball glass. Fill it with ice. Stir to chill and add more ice. Top with soda. Garnish with pomegranate seeds
Glassware: Highball glass
Note: If you want sweeter drinks, add less lemon juice; if you want less sweet drinks, add less sugar syrup. Alternatively, you can use honey syrup, which can be made at home following a 5:4 ratio of honey to water. Mix honey with room temperature water, stir to combine, and keep in the refrigerator.
Recipe supplied by Myles Carroll, DEWAR’s Brand Ambassador
THE WHISKY HIGHBALL REINVENTED — #DEWAR’SGOLDENFIZZ
Gloden Fizz Cocktail
Mood: Zesty, fizzy, and full of sunshine.
● 50ml DEWAR’s 12-Year-Old
● 25ml fresh lemon juice
● 15ml honey syrup
● 100ml soda water
● 2 dashes Angostura bitters
● Ice cubes
Method – Fill a highball glass with ice and pour in DEWAR’s 12-Year-Old. Add lemon juice, honey syrup, and bitters. Top with soda water and gently stir. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a sprig of mint. Garnish with Lemon wheel and mint sprig.
Glassware: Highball
Recipe supplied by Bacardi India
