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Indri Single Malt Indian Whisky won the "Best Special Edition Design" category at the World Whiskies Awards 2026 for its Diwali Collector’s Edition . The limited release was designed by Krsnaa Mehta and inspired by India's royal era gardens. The edition is available in the U.S. for $250-$300 and was announced on April 15, 2026.
The latest buzz in the spirits world isn’t a new mash bill or an aggressive price cut—it’s design, and it comes from India. Indri Single Malt Indian Whisky won the “Best Special Edition Design” award at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards, marking the first time an Indian brand has claimed this honor.
Indri was launched in 2021 and has already amassed more than forty international accolades, including a perfect 99.1 score for its Marsala‑cask finish at the Las Vegas Global Spirits Awards in October 2025—one of the highest marks ever awarded to an Indian single malt. The Diwali Collector’s Edition is priced between $250 and $300 in the U.S., placing it firmly in the ultra‑premium, limited‑run niche.
For trade readers, this win does two things. First, it proves that Indian brands can now compete on design as well as taste against long‑established Scotch or American counterparts. Second, it gives distributors a fresh narrative hook: “Indian craftsmanship meets global recognition.” In an era where brand stories often drive shelf placement and bar menu choices, the new angle can spark higher depletions for a product that might otherwise be overlooked.
The design itself—crafted by Krsnaa Mehta of India Circus—draws on royal‑era gardens with elephant motifs and archways. That visual language reinforces the Diwali theme and creates a tangible hook for bars to weave into cocktail stories or for retailers to feature in premium displays. The fact that Indri’s single malt uses six‑row Indian barley sourced from Rajasthan adds another layer of provenance that can be highlighted alongside the award’s design focus.
Given its limited‑run nature, the Diwali Collector’s Edition will likely be distributed through selective channels, allowing distributors to create demand via tasting events or curated menus. Distributors who already carry Indri can use the award to justify a higher price point and position the edition as a “halo” item that drives traffic to other premium lines in their portfolio.
For bar managers, if you serve clientele that values design and high‑spending experiences, consider adding the Diwali edition to a rotating menu. Pair it with an espresso martini or a smoky Old Fashioned, letting the packaging become part of the sensory journey. Distributors should treat this release as a marketing catalyst rather than a volume play; its limited‑run nature means depletions will be modest but highly profitable when positioned correctly.
Original Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDRI SINGLE MALT INDIAN WHISKY BECOMES FIRST INDIAN BRAND TO WIN “BEST SPECIAL EDITION DESIGN” AT WORLD WHISKIES AWARDS 2026
Diwali Collector’s Edition 2025 evokes pride, nostalgia, and a sense of cultural belonging
New Delhi – April 15, 2026 – Indri Single Malt Indian Whisky is proud to secure a historic win at the World Whiskies Awards 2026 for its Diwali Collector’s Edition 2025. The limited release was honored with “Best Special Edition Design” in the World’s Best Design Category, marking the first time an Indian brand has claimed this title. Conceived by designer and founder of India Circus, Krsnaa Mehta, the Diwali Collector’s Edition 2025 stands as a compelling tribute to the country’s rich cultural heritage. It is available in the U.S. for SRP $250-$300.
Drawing inspiration from the lush gardens of India’s royal era—where majestic elephants wander and birds glide freely—the design beautifully captures a sense of serenity, grandeur, and timeless elegance. These tranquil gardens, paired with magnificent arches that echo architectural finesse, create a rich visual canvas that elevates the expression into a true collector’s piece. The result is a design that evokes pride, nostalgia, and a deep sense of cultural belonging.
“I truly enjoyed crafting this packaging; it was a beautifully immersive process,” says designer Krsnaa Mehta. “The walking royal elephants and the royal courtyard bring in the Indianness I set out to capture, adding a sense of heritage and quiet grandeur to the design. I am utterly delighted to see it receive the recognition it so richly deserves.”
The design is not just visual—it is immersive storytelling. It captures the essence of India during Diwali: vibrant, expressive, celebratory, and deeply rooted in tradition. The use of rich, evocative hues, heritage-inspired textures, and narrative-led artwork transforms each bottle into a collectible piece of art—one that resonates far beyond the whisky itself.
Over the years, Indri Diwali Collector’s Editions have carved a unique space in the industry, becoming one of the most anticipated Indian single malts to launch every festive season. Each edition brings with it a fresh design language, a new story, and a renewed celebration of India. The 2025 edition elevates this legacy even further, setting a new global benchmark for design excellence.
“With every Diwali edition, we set out to create something that celebrates India in its truest form,” says Shalini Sharma, Head of Marketing, Piccadily Agro Industries Limited. “The 2025 design is a tribute to our heritage—our art, our symbols, our stories. To see it being recognized as the best in the world is incredibly special. It reinforces that Indian design, rooted in culture yet expressed with modernity, can stand tall on any global platform.”
Stock Ticker:
BSE (PICCADIL | 530305 | INE546C01010)
NSE Piccadily Agro Industries Limited (INE546C01010)
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Source: BevNET