Tag Archives: Indri Founder’s Reserve

Eleven Years in the Barrel, One Landmark Release: Indri Founder’s Reserve

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At 689 by The Quorum in Gurugram, whisky enthusiasts gathered for an evening with Jim Murray, author of the Whisky Bible. On the table were two rare releases from Indri: the Founder’s Reserve 11-Year-Old Single Malt and Agneya, both already acclaimed despite limited numbers.

Jim Murray, author of the Whisky Bible

Murray immediately challenged habits. “How many of you add ice?” he asked. A few hands lifted. “Don’t,” he cautioned, explaining that ice dulls aromas and leaves bitterness. Even water, he argued, reduces whisky below strength.

He then guided the audience step by step: warm the glass in your hand, trap aromas until condensation appears, breathe gently from the rim, and never rush the first sip. “Only the second mouthful speaks,” he said, urging guests to chew the spirit, part their lips, and notice how flavours unfold. Balance, he stressed, was key—fruit against oak, sweetness against spice. “A whisky like this deserves an hour.”

The Blender’s Craft

Surrinder Kumar, Master Blender at Piccadily Agro Industries Ltd.

While Murray led the masterclass, the whisky itself reflected the work of Surrinder Kumar, Master Blender at Piccadily Agro Industries Ltd. In a private interaction with Ambrosia, Kumar spoke about creating the Founder’s Reserve 11-Year-Old.

“We worked with six-row barley for a robust spirit,” he said. “Ex-red wine casks from Bordeaux added dried fruits, berries, spice, and tannins.” With nearly 1,500 barrels to choose from, Kumar blended fruity, spicy, and chocolate-led profiles into one balanced expression. “I want first-time tasters to sense that harmony—red fruits, oak, chocolate, vanilla, spice—distinct yet tied together.”

Recognition and Release

The Founder’s Reserve 11-Year-Old is bottled at 50% ABV for India and 58.5% for export. Its profile moves from dark fruits and spice to vanilla, chocolate, and a wine-driven finish.

The release honours Pt. Kidar Nath Sharma, founder of the Piccadily Group, and has earned global recognition: Gold at San Francisco, Platinum in Las Vegas (98 points), eighth at the International Whisky Competition, and medals in New York, Whiskies of the World, and IWSC.

Only 1,100 bottles exist, split between India and select global markets—a rare expression of Indian terroir and craftsmanship.

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Piccadily launches Indri Founder’s Reserve single malt whisky, tribute to Kidar Nath Sharma

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Piccadily Agro Industries Ltd, the parent company of India’s fastest-growing single malt whisky brand, Indri, has unveiled its latest creation: Indri Founder’s Reserve 11-Year-Old Single Malt. This new offering is dedicated to the group’s founder, Pt. Kidar Nath Sharma, as a tribute to his legacy.

Aged for 11 years in Ex-Bordeaux Red Wine Casks, this offering is a limited-edition release with only 1,100 bottles available worldwide, of which 550 will be for the Indian market. The company said the release is both a collector’s treasure and a connoisseur’s delight. The limited-edition single malt is priced at ₹35,000 in Gurugram.

The oak barrels so used are the ones that were previously used to age red wine from the Bordeaux region of France and are now repurposed for aging whisky. The whisky will have a 50% alcohol by volume (ABV) for India and 58.5% ABV for international markets.

The whisky is kept at its distillery located in Haryana under extreme climate conditions throughout the year, accelerating 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 single malt is a symbol of India’s ascension in the world of fine single malt whisky. Aged to perfection and crafted with care, this expression embodies the essence of our founder’s dream: to create world-class Indian single malt whisky with soul, structure, and enduring quality,” said Shalini Sharma, Head of Marketing, Piccadily Agro Industries Limited, in a statement.

“The deep amber liquid offers an aromatic bouquet of dark fruits and warm spices that open into a palate of caramelised nuts, and velvety vanilla, concluding with an indulgent finish of oak and wine-influenced sweetness,” the group said in a statement.

The Founder’s Reserve 11-Year-Old single malt whisky has garnered several prestigious global accolades, including the Gold Award at the 2025 World Whisky Awards in the Single Malts 12 Years & Under category, a spot among the top 15 whiskies in the world at the International Whisky Competition, and a Gold Medal at the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, among other notable honours.