Indri Launches Diwali Collector's Edition 2026 Ruby Port Cask
What happens when Indian single malt meets Portuguese ruby port casks? Indri's answer is the Diwali Collector's Edition 2026, a 540-bottle release that has already picked up six awards before reaching US shelves. It is the fourth edition of the brand's annual festive series, and it goes on sale in the US on October 15, 2026, at $250.
Did You Know?
The 2025 edition of the Diwali release won "Best Special Edition Design" at the World Whiskies Awards 2026, the first time an Indian brand took that title.
The Diwali series has collected 29 awards globally since the first edition launched in 2023.
The 2026 packaging centers on a Marwari horse and its foal, chosen as symbols of nobility, legacy and continuity.
The Release
The 2026 Diwali Collector's Edition is called the Ruby Port Cask. Ruby port is a sweet, fruity fortified wine from Portugal, and Indri matured this whisky in hand-selected ruby port casks sourced from there. The whisky is made in the village of Indri, Haryana, in the foothills of the Himalayas.
Master blender Surrinder Kumar crafted it in small batches from indigenous six-row Indian barley. It was distilled in traditional copper pot stills and aged in northern India's subtropical climate. The combination of Portuguese wine casks and Indian maturation is what Indri says gives this edition "a new dimension."
It is bottled at cask strength, 58.5% ABV. Cask strength means the whisky goes into the bottle without being diluted with water, so the flavor stays concentrated. Each of the 540 bottles is individually numbered.
According to the brand, the nose offers black cherries, blackberries, ripe plums, raisins, figs, toffee and vanilla. The palate brings fruit, honey, almonds, hazelnuts, cinnamon, oak lactones, figs and liquorice, leading to a long, smooth and velvety finish.
The packaging artwork comes from Indian designer Krsnaa Mehta, founder of India Circus. He drew on India's royal heritage and traditional miniature painting for the design.
The Story of Indri
Indri is an Indian single malt produced by Piccadily Agro Industries Limited. The brand was introduced in 2021 and officially launched in 2022, which makes it a young name with a fast-growing awards record. It takes its name from the village of Indri in Haryana, where the distillery sits.
The Diwali Collector's Edition series started in 2023, and that first release won "Best in Show, Double Gold" at the Whiskies of the World Awards, beating hundreds of established brands. Indri has since entered export markets including the US, UK and Australia.
Why It Stands Out
Indian single malt has been gaining attention among collectors, and Indri's Diwali series shows how the category is moving into limited, design-led releases. A ruby port finish is a familiar idea in Scotch, but pairing it with Indian barley and a subtropical climate gives this one a different starting point. The tiny 540-bottle run and the award record also make it a likely target for collectors.
The Details
Style: Indian single malt whisky
ABV/Proof: 58.5% ABV (cask strength)
Cask/Finish: Hand-selected Portuguese ruby port casks
Release Size: 540 individually numbered bottles
Price (SRP): $250
Availability: United States
Release Date: October 15, 2026
Tonights Poison Take
At $250 and 540 bottles, this is a collector's release, but the awards and the design pedigree give it more substance than a typical limited edition. The ruby port casks and the cask-strength bottling suggest a bold, fruit-forward dram. If you have not tried Indian single malt yet, the earlier Diwali editions and the wider Indri range are a place to start.
Bar Talk: Indri's Diwali series is only four years old, but it has already won 29 awards, and one edition made history as the first Indian brand to win Best Special Edition Design.
Send this to the single malt fan who thinks they have tried every style of whisky.
Please enjoy responsibly.
Comments