India had at a proud moment at a global whisky platform as a homegrown whisky brand bagged the top spots at the prestigious International Whisky Competition (IWC) 2025. A popular whisky from India was awarded the title of Best Indian Whisky 2025 held in Las Vegas.
DeVANS Modern Breweries, a legacy brand in Indian alcohol manufacturing, got awarded double honours at the event. Its latest single malt, GianChand Adambaraa, emerged as the Best Indian Single Malt Whisky 2025 and also took home the Best Indian Whisky 2025 award.
The International Whisky Competition, held annually across major U.S. cities such as Chicago, Las Vegas, and Louisville, is renowned for its strict judging protocols. All entries are assessed through blind tastings by a panel of industry experts and then they are scored on a 100-point scale based on several criteria. These whiskies are judged on – aroma, taste, balance, and finish. Each category awards only three medals – gold, silver, and bronze, which sets the bar exceptionally high for a whisky to receive these honours.
Prem Dewan, Chairman and Managing Director of DeVANS, expressed his pride in the brand’s recent accomplishment. “This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to craftsmanship, tradition, and innovation,” he said. “GianChand Adambaraa represents decades of commitment reinterpreted for today’s global palate.”
GianChand Adambaraa, named in honour of the company’s founder Dewan Gian Chand, is the latest addition to the GianChand range. Produced in Jammu amidst the Himalayan foothills, Adambaraa is DeVANS’ first unpeated single malt, which is created for connoisseurs who seek both complexity and character in their dram. This latest whisky from the brand is matured in carefully selected American bourbon barrels. This gives the Adambaraa a deep amber hue and layered tasting notes of honey, dried apricots, caramel, and toasted spice.
Global whisky critic, the legendary Jim Murray, known for his definitive Whisky Bible, was also quite impressed with the whisky. Upon tasting Adambaraa, he exclaimed, “Can this really be an Indian whisky?”
“I am as shocked as I am spellbound. This is by far the closest to a high-class Scottish malt I have found anywhere in the world, let alone in India. The intensity and purity of the barley is never for a moment compromised. A malt lover’s dream of a whisky,” he wrote for his upcoming review for the 2025 edition of the Whisky Bible.
Adambaraa’s awards and accolades, and also the way it was received at the global competition is a big moment for Indian single malts on the international platform.
