Not that there are countless Indian whisky brands, but Indri would be my favourite. Make of that what you will. Something brand new of theirs just landed on my desk, the Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2024. This limited edition is released annually to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.
To commemorate one of India’s most widely celebrated holidays, Indri selects four single casks annually, one of which now made its way to the Netherlands. Not a single cask of course, but a more manageable sample. Each of the four single casks are for a different region. My sample was of the edition destined for Travel Retail, but here’s a full overview:
- Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2024 Cask #87 (PX) – Exclusively for India
- Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2024 Cask #88 (Oloroso) – For the US and Canada
- Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2024 Cask #89 (Oloroso) – For Europe and the Rest of the World
- Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2024 Cask #90 (Oloroso) – Duty-Free worldwide
The Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2024 is currently being shipped to all markets, so should be available soon.
Interestingly, the Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2024 is a peated single malt. The other expressions I’ve tried both highlighted fruity, slightly spicy flavour characteristics – a profile that suits me quite well. The Diwali Collector’s Edition will showcase an entirely new side of Indri I’m not yet familiar with.
What I find intriguing is the use of Indian six-row barley. As Paul John’s master distillery Michael D’Souza once explained to me: “The higher protein and enzyme content along with the higher tannins in the barley add extra spice to the flavour, giving the whisky more body and character. Starches in the barley turn into fermentable sugars faster due to the presence of higher protein levels in the barley, resulting in a more complex whisky.”
Other Indian brands use six-row barley as well, so it’s not unique to Indri. But I certainly haven’t tasted a peated whisky made from six-row barley before. How exactly that will affect the organoleptic experience, I couldn’t tell you. Hopefully in new and exciting ways.
Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2024 (58.5%, OB, C#90)
Nose: A sliver of bonfire smoke, but also tinges of rubber (good rubber) before moving on to less coastal elements. There’s a fair bit of vanilla custard in the background, along with a hint of macadamia nuts, embers and peanut shells. Also notes of raisins, accompanied by grilled pineapples and peaches. At times slightly earthy too.
Taste: The peat is more present than I expected. I personally like a more subtle influence. Now hints of cinnamon and dates, but also brown sugar, smoked plums and black cherries. There’s a slight saline touch, as well as crème caramel, toffee, some prosciutto di parma and damp, charred oak.
Finish: Medium length. Gentle wood smoke with a jammy, fruity sweetness.
Sample provided by Piccadily Distillery
