Whisky, once the guarded secret of Scottish glens, now finds itself in a global masquerade, and Indian single malt has firmly established itself as a force of innovation, craft, and luxury. At the forefront of this development lies Indri. India’s rapidly growing single malt brand from Piccadily Agro Industries Limited, who have just launched their fourth annual festive release: the Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2026 Ruby Port Cask. This is not just a Diwali whisky; it is Diwali in a bottle—an ode to the Festival of Lights, distilled. Here, India’s native grains and the restless soul of the north meet the old-world romance of European port casks, conjuring a collector’s piece that is as much a celebration as it is a spirit.
Terroir of the North: Crafting Himalayan Single Malt
Born in the village of Indri in Haryana, right up in the foothills of the Himalayas, the spirit is made from indigenous six row barley and is distilled in traditional copper pot stills. What sets Indri apart from the distilleries in the tropical south of India is its very extreme subtropical climate. The north of India experiences a huge temperature swing as summer shifts to winter and this massively impacts the maturation process, causing the spirit to mature rapidly and to interact with the wood in a much more profound way, coaxing out layers of richness and complexity in a relatively short period of time. For the 2026 Collector’s Edition, Master Blender Surrinder Kumar has hand selected Ruby Port casks from Portugal, which are renowned for their character and sweet wine profile.
Liquid Velvet: Profile, Proof, and Palate
Unfiltered and bottled at a formidable 58.5% ABV, this whisky is not for the faint of palate. The Ruby Port casks have woven a tapestry of dark fruit character to the underlying malt: black cherries, wild berries, blackberries, and plums parade across the nose, followed by a procession of raisin and dried fig, all draped in toffee and vanilla. It is a creamy, lush fruit and honey first impression which develops into a more pronounced note of dried fruit, roasted almonds and hazelnuts. There is a touch of cinnamon, sweet spice, liquorice and oak lactones which come through very subtly. The finish is full, very smooth, and well structured with a long, smooth, and elegant fruity sweetness.
Packaging Inspired by Royal Heritage
But the theatre does not end with the spirit. The 2026 release arrives dressed for the occasion, a visual feast that pays homage to India’s artistic soul. Designer Krsnaa Mehta has drawn on the imagery of the royal past and the tradition of miniature painting to create a very evocative visual story. The design is a rich tapestry of gem tones, delicate florals and strong colour contrasts to convey the exuberance of Diwali. At the very centre of the design is the Marwari horse and its foal in a noble, regal, and balanced pose, an apt symbol of the horse’s own character as well as the character of the whisky as a whole.
A Collector’s Edition with a Growing Legacy
The Diwali Collector’s Edition is no stranger to applause. Since its debut in 2023, it has amassed a glittering constellation of 29 awards. Previous incarnations have swept the stage: the 2023 Peated PX Sherry Cask claimed Best in Show Double Gold at Whiskies of the World, while the 2025 Marsala Cask dazzled with Best World Whisky in Las Vegas and a near-perfect 99.1 points. The 2026 Ruby Port Cask is no exception, having already picked up six awards prior to release, including Gold at both the World Whisky Masters and the New York World Spirits Competition.
Securing the Rare UK Bottling
For collectors and whisky fans who want to get their hands on a bottle of this special release, speed is of the essence given the extreme rarity of the edition. It’s a very limited run with only 180 individually numbered bottles being made in total for the UK market. It’s available through a number of specialist retailers (Master of Malt, The Whisky Shop and The Whisky Exchange to name but three) at a recommended retail price of £200.
A Triumph of Indian Distillation
Call it liquid art or a jubilant ode to India’s relentless pursuit of distillation perfection, this bottling stands as a triumph of modern whisky making. The 2026 Ruby Port Cask gathers heritage, intensity, and design into a single, definitive masterpiece that deserves not only a place on any collector’s top shelf, but a moment of reverence before the first pour.
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All images courtesy of Indri.