When someone asks — “where does the world’s best whisky come from?” — the answers are always the same. Scotland. Japan. Kentucky. Ireland. Nobody says Haryana.
Because Indri Whisky — made in the small town of Indri, Karnal district, Haryana — won “Best in Show, Double Gold” at the Whiskies of the World Awards in 2023. Then in 2025, it won Best World Whisky at the Las Vegas Global Spirits Awards. Score: 99.1 out of 100.
It beat over 100 brands from across the world. For the second time.
Indri. Karnal. Haryana.
This is not just a brand name. The distillery is literally there.
A few kilometres from Karnal, near the Yamuna basin, in the foothills of the Himalayas — there is a small town called Indri. Inside it sits a distillery that produces 15,000 litres of whisky every single day. Up to 4 million litres a year.
The name goes deeper than geography. In Sanskrit, Indriya means the five senses — smell, taste, touch, sight, sound. The brand built its entire philosophy around this. Rooted in Haryana’s soil, competing on the world’s highest sensory standards. That is not a small idea.
How Did a Village Distillery Beat Scotland?
Piccadily Agro Industries started with sugar production. In 1994, they set up a plant in Indri. In 2008, they became the first Indian company to get permission to produce alcohol from sugarcane juice.
In 2011, they built a dedicated malt whisky distillery. In 2021, the brand officially launched. Within three years — world number one.
Here is why.
First — Haryana’s climate does the heavy lifting.
In Scotland, whisky matures slowly over many years. In Indri, the summers are extreme and the winters are sharp. The whisky inside the barrel breathes harder, expands and contracts more, and pulls more flavour from the wood faster. A 6 to 8-year-old Indri whisky can match the character of a 12-year-old Scotch. Nature gave them a head start.
Second — the barley is local but the quality is world-class.
The distillery uses 6-row Indian barley sourced from family farmers in Bundi, Rajasthan — farmers who have been growing barley for four generations. Higher protein content. More complex flavour. Farmers reuse barley seeds every year and leftover material goes back as cattle feed. Nothing wasted.
Third — the team knows exactly what they are doing.
Master Distiller Graeme Hamilton Bowie has 38 years of Scotch whisky experience. The distillery has six copper pot stills — designed in the Scottish style but built in India. The entire operation runs on renewable energy generated from barley and rice chaff. No fossil fuels.
Scottish technique. Haryana’s land. Indian craft.
Indri whisky Awards List
Over 40 global awards so far. The biggest ones:
- 2022 — Best Indian Single Malt, World Whiskies Awards
- 2022 — Asian Whisky of the Year
- 2023 — Best in Show, Double Gold, Whiskies of the World Awards
- 2024 — Whisky of the Year, USA Spirit Rating Awards (Golden Barrel Trophy)
- 2024 — Brand of the Year, The Spirits Business Awards
- 2025 — Best World Whisky, Las Vegas Global Spirits Awards (99.1/100)
- 2026 — Best Special Edition Design, World Whiskies Awards (first Indian brand ever to win this)
Every single one of these was a blind tasting. The judges did not know this whisky came from India. They tasted it, scored it, and gave it first place.
Why Does Haryana Not Know About Indri whisky?
That is the real question, Indri whisky sells in the United States for $250 to $300. It is available in Tokyo, London, and across Europe. International whisky magazines cover it regularly. BBC has reported on it.
And in Haryana? A large number of people still do not know that the world’s best whisky is made in their own district.
This is a pattern that keeps repeating. Haryanvi things become globally famous — and we find out from the outside world. Dhanda went global and then Haryana noticed. MC Square appeared on Hustle and then Haryana noticed. Indri beat Scotland twice and most people here still have not heard of it. That gap is worth thinking about.
Indri whisky Is Bigger Than a Bottle
Piccadily is still a family-run company. No global conglomerate behind it. No massive international investment. Just a family that started with a sugar mill in a small Haryana town and decided to make the world’s best whisky.
They used local grain. Local land. Local climate. And they built something that the entire world is now paying attention to.
Indri is proof that Haryana’s identity goes far beyond what most people associate with it. This land produces world-class things — when the vision and the craft are right.
The rest of the world has been taking notes for a while now. It is time we did too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Indri Whisky made?
In the town of Indri, Karnal district, Haryana. The Piccadily Distillery sits near the Yamuna basin, close to the Himalayan foothills.
What awards has Indri won?
Over 40 global awards including Best World Whisky at the Las Vegas Global Spirits Awards 2025 with a score of 99.1 out of 100. It has won this title twice — in 2023 and 2025.
How much does Indri Whisky cost?
The Diwali Collector’s Edition is priced at $250 to $300 in the United States. Indian pricing varies by expression.
Where does the name Indri come from?
From the town of Indri in Karnal, Haryana. It also references the Sanskrit word Indriya, meaning the five senses.
Is Indri the first Indian whisky to be named world’s best?
Not just once — twice. Indri won Best World Whisky in both 2023 and 2025, making it the only Indian whisky to achieve this twice.
Peddler Media covers the stories Haryana should know about itself — the artists, the achievers, and the places putting our region on the global map. Got a story worth telling? Submit a Tip
Follow Peddler Media | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Peddler Media does not promote or encourage the consumption of alcohol. Drink responsibly and in accordance with the laws applicable in your region.
