Crazy Cock Indian Single Malt Whisky has been named the best Indian single malt whisky in the world at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) UK 2026. At the IWSC, widely regarded as the “Oscars of the wine and spirits industry,”Crazy Cock was the only Indian whisky to receive the coveted Gold Medal in its categoryCrafted by South Seas Distilleries, India’s oldest single malt whisky distillery, the Crazy Cock Madhuca range took all of the top three awards at this year’s competition. Together with Rare and Dhua, the brand’s two other expressions, the full range of five Crazy Cock variants won five of the 10 medals awarded to Indian single malt whiskies.The Madhuca expressions are the world’s first single malt whiskies finished in Mahura casks, seasoned through the distillery’s century-old tradition of Mahura maturation. It is a cask finish unlike any other in the world of whisky: a true gift from India to the world of single malt.
The century-old legacy of South Seas, India’s single malt pioneer
South Seas pioneered oak cask maturation in India. For more than a century, it has matured Mahura, India’s oldest spirit, alongside India’s first and finest single malt whiskies. South Seas holds the country’s largest single malt whisky liquid library. Every cask and every drop in it is its own. From this library, the distillery crafts its luxury single malt whiskies and exotic spirits. The library is so deep that it supports some of the largest alcobev conglomerates on the planet.
These achievements reinforce the standing of Indian single malt whisky, widely regarded as one of the most exciting categories in the world of spirits, which continues to earn recognition at leading international competitions.
The IWSC recognition also underlines South Seas Distilleries’ longstanding legacy and its place in India’s and the world’s premium spirits industry. The company continues to operate from its 104-year-old family-owned distillery in Dahanu, with a steadfast focus on heritage-led craftsmanship. It serves whisky enthusiasts across India and in international markets including the UK, New Zealand, Australia, the UAE and Bhutan, as well as duty-free and travel retail outlets around the world.
The Crazy Cock Indian Single Malt Whisky portfolio
Crazy Cock Indian Single Malt Whisky is the house single malt of South Seas Distilleries, the makers of India’s oldest single malt whiskies. It embodies the distillery’s legacy of whisky craftsmanship through the Rare and Dhua expressions, drawn from its oldest oak cask collection. The portfolio also includes the Crazy Cock Heritage Editions, Madhuca I, Madhuca II and Madhuca III, inspired by India’s indigenous mahua tree and the heritage of traditional spirit maturation.
“These three Crazy Cock Heritage Editions are the world’s first single malt whiskies finished in ex-Mahura oak casks: oak casks previously used to mature Mahura, also known as Mahua spirit,” says Rupi Chinoy, Director, South Seas Distilleries.
International recognitions
Crazy Cock is recognised as the best Indian single malt whisky, having won the only gold medal at the IWSC UK 2026. All five of its expressions also won gold medals at The World Whisky Masters 2026
Six Brothers Mahura: India’s oldest spirit
Beyond whisky, India’s oldest spirit, and with it South Seas Distilleries’ Mahura heritage, lives on through Six Brothers Mahura. With over 100 years of distilling legacy, South Seas Distilleries is India’s oldest commercial distiller of Mahura spirit, carrying forward a rich tradition of Indian spirit-making. Mahua spirit is distilled from the flowers of the mahua tree, which is native to India and grows across Western, Central and other parts of the country. Known as Mahua, Mahura and by other names in different regions, it is the spirit that six pioneering brothers began distilling in 1922. It remains at the heart of the Six Brothers collection today.
The collection includes Six Brothers Small Batch, a double-distilled, platinum-filtered spirit crafted in copper pot stills. Alongside it sits the Six Brothers 1922 Resurrection Expression, the world’s oldest matured Mahura (Mahua). Created as a tribute to the six brothers, this exceptional edition celebrates the dedication, perseverance and craftsmanship behind Indian spirit-making. Only 102 bottles have been released, each priced at ₹1,02,000. The expression honours more than a century of distilling legacy and pays homage to the distillery’s enduring Mahura tradition.
For South Seas Distilleries, the Crazy Cock Madhuca expressions and the Six Brothers Mahura portfolio both celebrate India’s distilling traditions through indigenous ingredients and production methods.
Award-winning Indian single malt whisky portfolio
Crazy Cock entered all five expressions in its portfolio into The World Whisky Masters 2026: Rare, Dhua and the Mahua cask-finished Heritage Editions, Madhuca I, Madhuca II and Madhuca III. All five were awarded Gold in blind tasting by a distinguished panel of whisky authorities with decades of collective expertise. The result underscores the strength and consistency of the portfolio, reaffirming Crazy Cock as the best Indian single malt whisky and the most awarded Indian single malt whisky portfolio at the awards. No other Indian single malt whisky has had its entire range awarded Gold, further cementing South Seas Distilleries’ legacy not only as the oldest name but also as a true titan of Indian single malt whisky.
A 1922 legacy, reimagined for the future
South Seas Distilleries’ legacy extends beyond whisky, with a portfolio that reflects a longstanding commitment to preserving India’s indigenous spirit-making traditions. The Six Brothers 1922 Resurrection Expression, the world’s oldest matured Mahua spirit, stands as a rare piece of spirits history. The award-winning Crazy Cock portfolio, meanwhile, shows the standing of Indian single malt whisky on the global stage, elevated further by its pioneering Mahura cask finishes. With a distiller’s sensibility and an artist’s eye, South Seas Distilleries, the makers of India’s oldest single malt whiskies, continues to craft some of India’s and the world’s most luxurious spirits, building on a distilling legacy that spans more than a century.
Availability: Available in India and international markets like UK, New Zealand, Australia, UAE, Bhutan and International duty free.
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