Two Indian whiskies crowned at world’s top whisky awards

DeVANS Modern Breweries newly launched Adambaraa and Manshaa recently won top honours at two of the world’s most prestigious whisky competitions this year.Manshaa bagged the coveted titles of International Whisky of the Year 2025 and a Grand Gold at Meininger’s International Spirits Award (ISW) in Germany. Earlier, Adambaraa clinched both- the Best Single Malt Indian Whisky and Best Indian Whisky awards at the International Whisky Competition (IWC) 2025 in Las Vegas, USA. These wins continue the stellar performance of Indian spirits on the world stage, signaling the country’s growing might in the premium global whisky arena.For the unversed, the former is crafted in the lap of the Himalayas at Jammu, and is known for its bold smoky character perfectly framed by citrus, green notes and spicy flavours. As per reports, acclaimed whisky critic Jim Murray hailed it for its “charming smokiness, with peat in sparkling form”. And the latter is a non-peated single malt matured in American ex-bourbon casks and has a deep amber glow and notes of dried apricots, honey, and caramel. Murray called it “a malt lover’s dream” and “the closest to a high-class Scottish malt found anywhere in the world.”The International Whisky Competition (IWC) 2025, held in Las Vegas, USA, continues to be a premier global event showcasing the finest whiskies from around the world. Known for its rigorous double-blind judging format, the 2025 edition brought together top distilleries competing for prestigious honors including Whisky of the Year and Distillery of the Year. Among the standout winners was Kavalan Distillery from Taiwan, which received the Whisky of the Year award for its Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt, marking a significant milestone outside the traditional Scotch whisky dominance. The competition, regarded as one of the most respected in the spirits industry, evaluates entries on 15 specific criteria by expert panels consisting of masters of whisky blending, distilling, and tasting. With these remarkable wins, homegrown Indian whisky brands are making history. The success of these distinctive single malts proves that India’s unique climate, diverse local ingredients, and skilled master distillers can deliver expressions that confidently rival the best from Scotland or Japan. As per leading experts, GianChand Adambaraa and Manshaa are proudly raising a toast to a bold new chapter for Indian whisky on the global stage.Earlier this month, there was another big international win for India, as Bandarful, the artisanal cold-brew coffee liqueur from Himmaleh Spirits, was proudly awarded a prestigious Gold Medal and officially declared the World’s Best Liqueur at the 2025 USA Spirits Ratings. This prestigious global competition, judged annually in San Francisco by leading U.S. industry experts, seasoned leaders, and trade buyers, is well known for carefully evaluating spirits based on quality, value, and packaging, with gold medals only being reserved for outstanding entries scoring between 90 and 95 points.Whiskey, like other forms of alcohol, can seriously harm your overall health if consumed regularly, carelessly, or in excess. It may gradually damage the liver, significantly increase the risk of heart disease, and dangerously raise blood pressure over time. Drinking whiskey can also negatively affect mental health, potentially leading to anxiety, depression, mood swings, or poor sleep. Over time, it may weaken overall immunity and reduce the body’s natural ability to absorb essential daily nutrients. Completely avoiding whiskey helps protect long-term overall health, maintain clarity of mind, and prevent serious long-term addiction or harmful dependency. Also, whiskey is high in empty, useless calories, which can easily contribute to unhealthy weight gain without offering any real nutrition.It is said that whiskey is calorie-dense and may worsen blood sugar control. That’s why it’s always wise to completely stay away from alcohol in all its forms for a healthier tomorrow.What's your take on this?All Images Courtesy: istock