5 Winter Single Malt Whisky Picks To Keep You Warm This Season

As the winter chill sets in and the nights stretch longer, few things beat curling up with a rich, soul-warming Indian single malt. India’s whisky scene is booming worldwide, with homegrown expressions

taking top honors at international competitions through 2025. These are more than drinks, they’re craft, terroir, and bold ambition in a glass. Here are five outstanding Indian single malts to keep you warm and delighted this winter.

1. GianChand Single Malt Whisky (DeVANS)
It has been an unprecedented year of 2025 for DeVANS’ GianChand single malts in placing India firmly on the global whisky landscape. Located in the foothills of the Himalayas and produced by DeVANS Modern Breweries Ltd., GianChand expressions have received an intense global spotlight in recent months.

• GianChand Adambaraa (unpeated) swept the International Whisky Competition in Las Vegas, winning Best Indian Single Malt Whisky and Best Indian Whisky. Matured in ex-bourbon American oak at the foothills of the Himalayas, it pours a deep amber and delivers waves of dried apricot, honey, and caramel. Jim Murray called it “a malt lover’s dream” and “the closest to a high-class Scottish malt found anywhere in the world.”

• GianChand Manshaa, DeVANS’ first peated expression, was crowned International Whisky of the Year and took Grand Gold at Meininger’s International Spirits Award in Germany. Its long medicinal peat smoke is beautifully balanced with citrus and spice, earning praise for its “charming smokiness, with peat in sparkling form.”
Perfect winter companions that showcase Himalayan purity and Indian craftsmanship at its finest.

2. Paul John Single Malt Whisky
Hailing from sunny Goa but perfectly suited to winter nights, Paul John keeps commanding the global stage. In 2025 it scooped three Master medals and two golds at the World Whisky Masters. Tropical maturation gives its barley-forward whiskies an unmistakable richness. Look for the Oloroso, PX, and Peated Select Cask expressions; each one layered, sophisticated, and exported to over 49 countries with good reason.

3. Indri Single Malt Whisky
The fastest-growing single malt in the world (IWSR 2025) and India’s top-selling, Indri is unstoppable. Its flagship Trini and cask-strength Dru expressions regularly score above 90 points and have collected titles like “Best World Whisky” (Miami Global Spirit Awards) and “India Whisky of the Year” (New York International Spirits Competition). Grown on the warm plains of Haryana, Indri offers lush fruit and spice with an irresistibly velvety texture that feels like a hug on a cold evening.

4. Amrut Single Malt Whisky
The pioneer that put Indian whisky on the world map keeps raising the bar. In 2025 Amrut was named “World’s Best Whiskey” at the International Spirits Challenge and walked away with five gold medals. Its legendary tropical maturation shines in expressions like the 15-Year-Old Expedition and Peated Cask Strength, both now ranked among the “World’s Most Admired Whiskies.” Complex, bold, and deeply satisfying. Amrut is winter comfort in liquid form.

5. DŌAAB India Craft Single Malt Whisky
The exciting luxury newcomer turning heads worldwide. In its debut year, DŌAAB’s flagship 01 Six Blind Men and the Elephant took Gold at the Berlin International Spirits Competition and Silver at the International Spirits Challenge, plus honors at Ambrosia and the World Whiskies Awards 2025. Aged only in bourbon barrels and released in very small batches, it blends traditional Indian distilling with modern finesse, a refined, limited-edition treat for discerning palates.

Each of these single malts invites you to savor the season, mixing tradition, innovation, and the spirit of modern India. Enjoy them neat or with a splash of water, and let their character keep you warm all winter.