For decades, the whisky establishment viewed India as a producer of mass-market blends – the kind consumed in staggering volumes but rarely taken seriously in connoisseur circles. That perception began shifting with the rise of Indian single malts, and now, with the launch of Expedition, Amrut has delivered its most decisive statement yet. This 15-year-old whisky – the oldest Indian single malt ever bottled – isn’t just an exercise in ageing. It is a lesson in craftsmanship, ambition, and the evolving legacy of Indian whisky on the global stage.
With only 75 bottles in existence, priced at ₹10.50 lakh each, Expedition is more than just a luxury release – it’s a symbol of India’s whisky coming-of-age, a rare expression that acknowledges the weight of history while boldly rewriting it. Just 9 bottles will be available at select Duty Free shops in India, further cementing its status as a collector’s item rather than a whisky one simply drinks.
The Long Road to Rarity
Ageing whisky in India has always been a tightrope walk. The country’s tropical climate speeds up maturation, meaning that what takes a Scotch two decades to develop might reach a similar depth of flavour in half the time. But for Expedition, Amrut played the long game. It spent eight years in a European Sherry cask, allowing deep, wine-soaked notes to form, before moving into an ex-Bourbon cask from the US for another seven years, refining its complexity.
The result is a whisky that carries the weight of its years without being overpowered by oak. At 62.8 per cent ABV, it demands attention, offering waves of sherried truffle, vanilla pod, cracked black pepper, bitter cocoa and sandalwood, followed by a finish that lingers like an old memory. If early Indian single malts were designed to prove they could match their global counterparts, Expedition is the first to confidently say: that this is something else entirely.
Whisky as an Object
In a market where presentation is often an afterthought, Expedition treats packaging with the same reverence as the liquid inside. The bottle itself took two years to design, featuring handcrafted typography and diamond-cut glasswork with intricate gold engravings, ensuring that no two bottles are exactly alike.
The bespoke box, made from copper, aluminium, wood and leather, took six months and five prototypes to perfect and is as much a collector’s item as the whisky itself. But beyond its craftsmanship, the box is also a tech-powered vault, featuring NFC functionality for authenticity verification, AR integration to bring the whisky’s story to life, a QR code linked to a dedicated app, and inside, a scroll and a miniature bottle.
A Defining Moment for Indian Whisky
This isn’t Amrut’s first moment in the spotlight. The distillery has long been a leader in India’s single malt revolution, with earlier releases earning international acclaim. But Expedition feels different. It is India’s most expensive single malt to date, and with only 9 bottles available for retail in the country, its scarcity places it firmly in the realm of collectable whisky rather than mere connoisseur indulgence.
But beyond the price tag and exclusivity, Expedition represents something larger – a shift in how Indian whisky is positioned and perceived. If earlier releases were about proving legitimacy, this one signals arrival. At a time when whisky is increasingly treated as an investment, Expedition is a reminder that India is no longer an upstart in the global conversation – it is a key player.
For Amrut, the timing is significant. As the distillery marks 75 years since its founding, Expedition serves as both a tribute and a declaration of intent. Whisky has always been a game of patience, but with this release, Amrut has shown that waiting – be it for maturation, recognition, or the right moment – pays off.
