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Indri Agneya Whisky Review: Peated Indian Single Malt

Piccadilly Distilleries launched Indri Agneya recently – a lightly peated expression of its famous Indri Trini Indian Single Malt. That was launched back in 2022 and we reviewed that as well. Indri Agneya is an expression that is slightly different from the original, the Agneya is a dual-cask expression with a peated profile whereas Trini is aged in triple casks.

Price & Availability

Coming back to Indri Agneya – it is produced at Piccadilly’s Indri distillery in Haryana and is priced at ₹3,800 for a 750 ml bottle, with an ABV of 46%. It is currently available in Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Daman, and Goa, with more states and select international markets joining soon.

The price ranges from Rs. 3,800 – Rs. 8,000 with the most expensive being in Maharashtra.

How It’s Made

The name “Agneya” comes from Sanskrit, meaning “belonging to fire,” a nod to its smoky character. This expression uses indigenous six-row barley and is matured in Sherry and Bourbon casks.

According to Master Blender Surrinder Kumar, this is one of the most refined single malts they’ve made to date. The barley is gently kilned over peat smoke, allowing smoke to enhance rather than dominate the spirit. This ensures the whisky stays balanced and doesn’t lean too heavily on smoky intensity — a common challenge with peated malts.

Packaging

Agneya comes in a bold black bottle that stands out from the Trini’s design. The label highlights that it’s non-chill filtered and has no added colour. It even mentions that the whisky might appear slightly cloudy in cooler climates, completely natural.

The whisky itself has a deep, dark brown hue and the bottle design, with its striking black cap, gives it a premium, confident look.

Nosing

Light smoke
Delicate chocolate & vanilla sweetness
Warm spice
Fruity flavour – possibly apple and apricot
Earthy peat dust

Tasting

Sweet profile, toffee nutty flavour with gentle spice
Warm wave of peat smoke
Long finish with bite of spice

Conclusion

How is Indri Agneya? At Rs. 3,800 it is Picadilly’s bold expression.

Peated whiskies are usually an acquired taste, but this one feels refined and inviting. If you’re a fan of Indri or curious about exploring peated malts without going full Islay-style, this is definitely worth trying. It’s a confident step forward in India’s single malt journey and one that whisky lovers will appreciate.

Glasgow Distillery’s Limited Release of 1770 10-Year-Old Single Malt

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Glasgow Distillery has announced the release of its second limited 10-Year-Old single malt, to mark a decade of whisky production. This special edition has been bottled in collaboration with one of Scotland’s leading whisky retailers, Royal Mile Whiskies. The limited release (340 bottles) to be released at Whisky Fringe in Edinburgh, will be available on royalmilewhiskies.com from August 11.

Glasgow 1770 10-Year-Old Sauternes Cask Matured is a single cask, unpeated single malt fully matured in a re-fill French Sauternes sweet wine barrique. The result is a fruity, delicate whisky with notes of poached pear, salted caramel, honey and tropical fruit, with a hint of cinnamon spice.

The bottling follows the inaugural 10-Year-Old release, which sold out in under twenty minutes in March and July’s trio of Small Batch Series expressions also matured in wine casks.

“It’s a big year for us at The Glasgow Distillery, as we celebrate 10 years since our first casks were filled. This is a truly special 10-Year-Old release, an American white oak cask that previously held Sauternes wine. Being a refill barrique, the Sauternes influence is present but not overpowering, adding depth and flavour, resulting in a perfectly balanced single malt while still showcasing our decade-old spirit. The caramel and malty characters of the American oak are complemented by the rich poached pears and tropical fruit imparted by the Sauternes wine, creating a harmonious balance of whisky and wood,” said Mike Hayward, Founder

“We’re delighted to have collaborated with The Glasgow Distillery on this exciting release. We’ve long supported the new wave of Scottish distilleries, and The Glasgow Distillery has firmly established itself as one of the most innovative and inspiring producers right now. Their diverse core range, along with an impressive Small Batch Series, showcases great flavour quality and accessibility. It’s no wonder they’ve built such a passionate community around their whiskies.”

“This single cask marks their first 10 years of whisky making and is one of the most interesting examples of Sauternes cask matured whiskies I’ve tried recently, showcasing a balance of fresh apricots, salted butterscotch and honey. We’re proud to be launching it exclusively at the 23rd edition of Whisky Fringe this year at Mansfield Transquair, where The Glasgow Distillery will be joining fellow established distillers in the main hall for the first time,” added Sam Brabbs, Head Spirits Buyer at Royal Mile Whiskies

Tasting Notes:
Nose: Notes of runny honey and rich vanilla with hints of floral orange blossom leading to baked apple pie, stewed pears and dried apricot.
Palate: Honeyed sweetness and notes of vanilla pods meet Seville orange marmalade, ripe mango, rich toffee and baked fruits, all underpinned by a welcome lasting minerality.
Finish: Rich, with a nutty oiliness alongside sweet butterscotch, baked banana, earthy nutmeg and a warming ginger and cinnamon spice.

Oaksmith Introduces Nagomi: A New Benchmark in Indian Whisky Craftsmanship

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Oaksmith has unveiled its most premium expression yet – Oaksmith Nagomi. With this launch, the brand blends Japanese craftsmanship and global whisky making expertise, setting a new benchmark for modern Indian whisky.

This expression brings together the richness of aged Scotch malts, smoothness of American Bourbons, and the precision of Japanese blending techniques to craft a whisky that is rich, smooth, and harmoniously balanced. Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of ‘Nagomi,’ which represents harmony and balance–this whisky is a testament to the art of bringing diverse elements together in perfect sync. Oaksmith Nagomi has been crafted by Shinji Fukuyo, Chief Blender at Suntory, who was recently honoured as Master Blender of the Year at the International Spirits Challenge 2024.

“With Oaksmith Nagomi, we are not just introducing a new expression; we are reaffirming our commitment to elevate the Indian whisky segment,” said Rishi Walli, Senior Director – Marketing & IMFL Brands, Suntory Global Spirits. “Nagomi, inspired by the Japanese ethos of harmony and balance, is a whisky crafted for those who seek a fresh expression of aspiration. It also represents our dedication to blending global excellence, heritage, and authenticity, creating distinctive, high-quality whiskies that offer a premium experience with a truly international spirit. This launch marks the next chapter of Oaksmith’s journey where our Japanese legacy creates something more elevated for the evolving tastes of India,” he added.

Oaksmith Nagomi is a sensorial celebration crafted for the Indian palate. From its intense rich gold appearance to smoky, spicy, and fruity aromas, it offers a full-bodied experience with woody undertones from oak casks, finishing bright, smooth, and surprisingly long. Inspired by Japanese aesthetics, the bottle design reflects strength, simplicity, and timeless elegance, resonating with modern Indian consumers who value authenticity and character.

Currently launched in Goa and West Bengal, Oaksmith will soon expand to more cities. With Nagomi – its most premium expression yet, joining Oaksmith International and Gold, the brand continues to bring Japanese craftsmanship and modern whisky-making expertise to India.

Glenmorangie unveils first Calvados cask finish as 12-Year-Old small batch whisky in India

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Glenmorangie Highland single malt Scotch whisky is set to launch a uniquely fruity and floral whisky – its first ever finished in French Calvados casks. Glenmorangie Calvados Cask Finish is the fifth release in the Distillery’s Barrel Select Release series of small-batch single malts, which explores the flavours that arise from different cask finishes. Entwining scents of jasmine with baked apples and pears, this rare 12-year-old bottling offers new mellow depths to Glenmorangie’s signature fruity tones.

For 180 years, Glenmorangie’s whisky makers have been endlessly imaginative on their quest to create delicious single malt whiskies for more people to enjoy. Led by acclaimed Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, they craft their delicate, fruity spirit in stills as tall as a giraffe to allow more space for taste and aroma, then age it in the world’s finest casks. Some time ago, Dr Bill became fascinated by the soft, orchard notes of Calvados, which is distilled from apples (and sometimes pears) in France. And he began to wonder how these casks – never used before at Glenmorangie – might further enhance the whisky’s classic, fruity finesse.

Inspired to experiment, he took a whisky which had spent more than 10 years ageing in American white oak bourbon casks, for Glenmorangie’s elegant style. He transferred that whisky into casks which, for 20 years, had held Calvados du Pays d’Auge, from Normandy, in France. After a carefully judged finish, Dr Bill’s creation was ready to share. Soft and delectably rich, Glenmorangie Calvados Cask Finish unites mellow fruits of baked apples and pears with subtle notes of jasmine, narcissus and vanilla.

Dr Bill said, “At Glenmorangie, we are always experimenting with ways to create delicious whiskies. Since Calvados casks have never been used before at Glenmorangie, I was intrigued to see how their elegant, orchard notes would complement our whisky’s award-winning fruity style, with a judicious finish. Glenmorangie Calvados Finish is a wonderful addition to our Barrel Select Release series of small-batch single malts. Entwining scents of baked pears, vanilla and jasmine with tastes of toffee apples, lemon balsam and spice, this rare whisky takes all that is good about Glenmorangie, to richly delicious new heights.”

From Indian whisky connoisseurs to collectors, this limited-edition malt is sure to garner many eyeballs. Glenmorangie Calvados is currently available in Mumbai priced at ₹7,050.

ICONiQ Whisky reaches 2 million cases in first year of launch

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Allied Blenders and Distillers (ABD) ICONiQ White Whisky reached a sales figure of 2 million cases of 9 litres each in March 2024. The brand was able to achieve this despite current availability in 70% of the operational segment. ICONiQ White is available in pack size of i.e., 750 ml, 375 ml,180 ml, 90ml with further market launches will commence in April 2024.

ABD attributes the success of this milestone to its ability to understand its consumer preferences and its capacity to deliver efficiently and effectively. The company has further plans to expand to super-premium segments. ICONiQ White Whisky is a blend of imported Scotch malts aged in bourbon oak casks, blended with select matured malts and Indian grain spirits.

“Delighted to see our strategic focus on premiumisation translate to success with ICONiQ White Whisky against a strong line-up of entrenched multinational brands. It strengthens our resolve to transition to super-premium segments,” said Alok Gupta, Managing Director, ABD India. Bikram Basu, Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer, ABD said, “We are happy with the milestone of reaching 2 million cases in our first year. As we celebrate this success, we set our sights higher.”