Neelu Chandni
Guest writer
An old Irish proverb says, “What whisky will not
cure, there is no cure for.” And true that! When it
comes to whiskies, there are no bad ones. It’s just
that some are better than the others.
The Indian Single Malt Whiskey industry has
undergone weighty transformation. Indian liquor
companies are rising to the challenge to meet
and even exceed global expectations when it
comes to premium single malts. Sales of Indian
single malts have shot up in recent times and
even outsell their Scottish counterparts in the
country.
Today we bring to you a new (but not so new)
premium single malt from India – GianChand.
Handcrafted in a distillery situated in the lap of
the Himalayas, GianChand has a rich golden
colour, a distinctive sweetish and spicy taste and
peaty fruity notes.
Manufactured by Devans Modern Breweries Ltd.
in Jammu, DeVANS and was established in 1961 and has been manufacturing and selling matured
malt spirit inception.
DeVANS which turned 65
recently, was set up by Dewan Gian Chand, a
former journalist, at Bohri, Jammu and started life
as a small liquor bottling unit to which a small
brewery was added in 1967. Today, the company
has two distilleries in Jammu, including the one at
the original site in Jammu where the single malts
are distilled. The company also operates two
breweries- one in Kotputli, Rajasthan, and the
other at Samba near Jammu. Its portfolio of beers
includes the legendary Godfather and Six Fields.
The name of the single malt is an ode to the
company’s founder Dewan Gian Chand who set
up the manufacturing unit at Jammu at a time
when the industry was still nascent in the region.
His wholesale liquor depot which was started in
1942 in the city still operates from the same
premises even today.
Jammu is ideal for distillation and maturation of
malt spirits with its unique weather, warmer
during the day and cooler at night which makes
the spirit mellower and imparts it with a unique
bouquet during maturation leading to a
well-rounded whisky. Made from six-row barley
grown in India, the single malts from DeVANS are
unlike any other malts produced in the country
and are being lapped up by connoisseurs across
the world.
The GianChand Indian single malts launched in
2022 is smooth, light and easy to drink, with a
delicate nose of brandy snaps, apricots and
honeycomb toffee. There are mild notes of peat
and dry oak from the wooden casks the malts are
aged in. Expect a mix of spicy and fruity flavours,
with a hint of peat and smokiness – a whisky that
would go perfectly with Indian grills and tandoor
dishes.
DeVANS has recently launched its new
expressions – GianChand Manshaa and
GianChand Adambarraa. While GianChand
Adambarraa is an unpeated whisky, GianChand
Manshaa is the first peated whisky from the
DeVANS stable. GianChand Manshaa walked
away with the INTERNATIONAL WHISKY OF
THE YEAR award from among 450 brands at the
prestigious Meininger’s International Spirits
Award (ISW 2025) in Germany surpassing entries
from top whisky producing nations. The whisky
impressed the ISW jury with its “long medicinal
peat smoke balanced by citrus and spicy flavors”
and has been praised for its “charming smokiness
with peat in sparkling form” by renowned
international critic Jim Murray.
GianChand Manshaa truly shone this year,
showcasing the quality and sophistication of
Indian spirits on the global stage. A peated
expression that captivated global judges!
DeVANS other new expression – GianChand
Adambarra also shown on the global stage and
recently won the BEST INDIAN MALT WHISKY as
also the BEST INDIAN WHISKY awards at the
International Whisky Competition (IWC 2025) in
Las Vegas, USA. The expression has already
captured the attention of international
connoisseurs and whisky gurus – including Jim
Murray, who upon tasting it, exclaimed: “Can this
really be an Indian whisky?” The whisky’s
signature notes made a lasting impression on the
IWC 2025 judges as well. Known for its blind
tasting format, the IWC is regarded as the world’s
most followed whisky only competition.
An excerpt from Jim’s review of Adambaraa,
slated to be published in the Whisky Bible 2025,
states, “I am as shocked as I am spellbound. This
is by far the closest to a high-class Scottish malt I
have found anywhere in the world, let alone in
India. The intensity and purity of the barley is
never for a moment compromised. A malt lover’s
dream of a whisky.” This echoes the ethos of
Adambaraa and rightly so as it engulfs you and
steadily leads you to happiness and pleasure.
Matured in handpicked American bourbon casks,
Adambaraa presents a rich amber colour with
notes of dried apricots, honey, and toasted spice.
As one tastes it, a gentle sweetness envelops the
palate, with caramel and toffee notes unfolding
with finesse.
Commenting on the whisky’s global performance,
Prem Dewan, Chairman and Managing Director
of DeVANS, said, “This prestigious Grand Gold
and International Whisky of the Year award at ISW
Meininger, Germany 2025 is a great recognition
of our passion, craft and commitment to quality
and embodies DeVANS pursuit for excellence.
These awards are not only for DeVANS but a
recognition for the future of Indian single malts
and India’s expanding role in the global
perspective.”
“GianChand Manshaa and GianChand
Adambaraa represent two facets of our legacy:
one bold and peated, the latter refined and
elegant – both crafted to suit today’s evolving tastes.
Their success is a tribute to our team’s
hard work and reinforces India’s rightful place
among the world’s top producers of single
malts,” added Dewan. With this win, GianChand
Manshaa puts Indian single malts firmly on the
world map – proving that India can produce
world-class whiskies that rival the best.
These wins reaffirm DeVANS’ position at the
forefront of India’s rapidly evolving single malt
landscape and highlight the increasing quality
and global competitiveness of Indian artisanal
single malts. It celebrates DeVANS’ commitment
to innovation and tradition in spirit-making,
reflecting a proud moment for the Indian spirits
industry.
