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Indri Single
Malt Indian Whisky makes UK premium
retail debut with Harrods listing for
Founder's Reserve.
India's most-awarded single malt whisky
has secured a place at one of the
world's most prestigious retail
destinations, Harrods, where it makes
its debut through the UK launch of Indri
Founder's Reserve 11 Year Old. The
limited-edition release claims to offer
a maturation profile comparable to a
30–35-year-old Scotch whisky, thanks to
the unique influence of India's tropical
climate, I haven't tasted it so I cannot
confirm this claim but I can say it is
not uncommon for whiskies matured in
these climates to offer a maturation
profile way beyond their years.
Limited to just 1,100 bottles worldwide
and carrying an RRP of £350, the
expression sold out at the luxury
Knightsbridge retailer within weeks of
launch. It is now available through
selected specialist whisky retailers,
including Moonshine, Fuggles and Whisky
Brokers Associates.
Produced in Indri, Haryana, near the
foothills of the Himalayas, Founder's
Reserve is shaped by the distinctive
terroir of northern India. Extreme
seasonal temperatures, with summer highs
reaching 50°C and winters falling to
freezing, create maturation conditions
unlike those found in traditional
whisky-producing regions. As a result,
casks experience annual evaporation
rates of around 10–12%, significantly
higher than the approximately 2%
typically seen in Scotland. What remains
after more than a decade of ageing is a
remarkably concentrated and rare spirit.
Created by Master Blender Surrinder
Kumar, widely regarded as one of the
pioneers of India’s premium spirits
sector, Founder’s Reserve is matured for
11 years in ex-Bordeaux red wine casks.
Bottled at a natural cask strength of
58.5% ABV, the whisky delivers a rich
and complex profile that reflects both
Kumar’s expertise and the distinctive
ageing environment of northern India.
Surrinder Kumar, Master Blender for
Indri, said: "India's terroir doesn't
lend itself to prolonged ageing, as
around 10% of the spirit laid down in
cask evaporates each year. Left for a
decade or more, and the remaining whisky
is extremely precious and complex.
Indri's tropical ageing means that
spirit matured for a year in India is
equivalent to three to four years of
ageing in Scotland’s cool climate,
placing our Founder’s Reserve 11 Year
Old in the same category as a Scotch
whisky between 30 and 35-years-old."
On the nose, Founder's Reserve is said
to present layers of dark fruits and
warming spices, followed by notes of
cherries, red plums, vanilla, oak and
gentle wood spice. The palate is rich
and fruit-forward, with nutmeg, ginger,
citrus and vanilla complemented by hints
of toffee and milk chocolate. A long,
luxurious finish reveals stewed orange
notes, jam-like sweetness and a
lingering dry conclusion.
Madhu Kanna, Head – International
Business for Indri, added: "Indri's
Founder's Reserve 11 Year Old is a
symbol of India’s ascension in the world
of fine single malt whisky. Aged to
perfection and crafted with care, this
expression embodies Indri's ethos of
creating a world-class Indian single
malt whisky with soul, structure and
enduring quality.
"Indri Founder's Reserve sits at the
pinnacle of our portfolio and makes a
clear statement about the Indian single
malt category. With only 1,100 bottles
available worldwide, this rare release
is both a collector’s treasure and a
whisky connoisseur’s delight."
Founder's Reserve has already received
significant international recognition.
The expression scored 95.09 points at
the 2024 International Whisky
Competition, ranking eighth globally and
earning a place among the competition’s
Top 15 Whiskies of the Year. It
subsequently received a Gold Award at
the 2025 World Whisky Awards and a Gold
Medal at the New York World Wine &
Spirits Competition.
The UK launch marks the latest milestone
in Indri's rapid international growth.
Since its debut in 2022, the brand has
amassed more than 100 international
awards and become India's number one
malt whisky by volume (IWSR 2024). As
one of the fastest-growing single malt
whisky brands in the world, Indri
continues to challenge perceptions of
Indian premium spirits and strengthen
its position on the global whisky stage.
Indri Founder's Reserve 11 Year Old is
available now through selected
specialist whisky retailers across the
UK.
You will also find the current Indri whisky range available from specialist online whisky
shops such as
The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of Malt
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