Amrut Distilleries has unveiled a whisky that redefines what’s possible in Indian maturation: the Amrut Expedition 15-Year-Old, released to mark the company’s diamond jubilee. With just 75 bottles worldwide and a price tag of US$12,500, it stands as the oldest Indian single malt whisky ever bottled, a rarity forged against the odds of the country’s unforgiving climate.
A Milestone in Indian Whisky
For Amrut, founded in 1948 by JN Radhakrishna Rao Jagdale, the Expedition release is both a celebration and a statement. “Amrut Expedition is more than just a whisky – it is a celebration of our 75-year journey, a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Rakshit N. Jagdale, managing director and grandson of the founder. “Seeing Amrut reach this milestone is an emotional and proud moment for us. Expedition is not just a whisky – it is history in a bottle.”
In the UK or Scotland, a 15-year age statement is standard fare. In India, with its soaring heat and extreme evaporation, reaching that milestone is almost alchemical. Angel’s share is not a slow whisper here but a roar, stripping away spirit at a rate that makes long aging nearly impossible. That Amrut held whisky for 15 years in Bengaluru is itself a defiance of nature.
The Whisky: Two Casks, One Journey
Amrut Expedition began life in six-row Indian barley, distilled and laid down in a Pedro Ximénez Sherry butt for eight years. From there, it matured for another seven in an ex-Bourbon barrel, culminating in a September 2024 bottling at a commanding 62.8% ABV.
The profile is layered and indulgent: Sherried truffle, cane molasses, sherbet, vanilla pod, and sandalwood on the nose, moving to a palate alive with chocolate-coated Sherry, cracked black pepper, bitter cola, cocoa, dried fruits, and vanilla. It is both Indian in character and globally resonant, a whisky with a palate as dense as the climate that shaped it.
Craftsmanship in Presentation
Amrut Expedition is not only rare in liquid but regal in design. The whisky comes housed in a travel-inspired case, built with wood and metal elements and crafted to resemble a royal heirloom. The case required six months and five prototypes to perfect. Each bottle is diamond-cut and gold-engraved, numbered and authenticated with an embedded NFC tag and custom story card.
Inside the case sits more than just whisky: a handmade silver peg measure by a Bangalore silversmith and two crystal tasting glasses complete the ensemble. It is packaging as narrative, each detail reinforcing the sense that this is not simply a drink but an artifact.
Availability and Legacy
Priced at over US$12,500, the Amrut Expedition will reach markets across India, the US, the UK, Europe, Dubai, Singapore, and Australia in limited distribution.
The release follows a lineage of rare aged bottlings from Amrut, including the Greedy Angels Chairman’s Reserve 10- and 12-year-olds, which pushed the boundaries of Indian single malt before this. Expedition, at 15 years, takes that ambition further.
For Amrut, it is both a tribute and a legacy piece—a whisky that bridges the pioneering vision of its founders with the future of Indian single malt on the global stage.
For more information, head over to the brand’s official website.
Last year, Amrut partnered with Bardstown Bourbon to create an addition to the Kentucky brand’s Collaborative Series.
