THEDAILYWHISKY

Amrut has never been shy about the word revolution. For its 53rd release, the Bengaluru distillery put it right on the label. Kranthi, Hindi for revolution, was unveiled on 8 August 2026 at the Four Seasons in Bengaluru by chairperson Surekha Jagdale.

It is an unpeated, no-age-statement Indian single malt bottled at 40% ABV, and it arrives with a few production choices worth a closer look: an in-house yeast strain, four cask types, and a deliberate decision to leave the whisky cloudy.

Amrut Kranthi is the 53rd expression from Amrut Distilleries in Bengaluru, unveiled on 8 August 2026 at the Four Seasons. It is an unpeated, no-age-statement Indian single malt bottled at 40% ABV, made with two-row barley and a proprietary in-house yeast, then matured across four cask types: new oak, ex-bourbon, Madeira and oloroso sherry. Kranthi is deliberately left non-chill-filtered, so it can turn hazy when cold. It launched in Karnataka at ₹3,200 (around US$34) per 750ml bottle, with a phased national rollout to follow. Early results include a Bronze at the 2026 IWSC and a Silver at the London Spirits Competition.

The key facts

Name: Amrut Kranthi (Kranthi means revolution)
Distillery: Amrut Distilleries, Bengaluru, India
Type: Indian single malt, unpeated, no age statement
ABV: 40%
Grain: Two-row barley
Yeast: Proprietary strain developed in-house by Amrut
Casks: Four types, new oak, ex-bourbon, Madeira and oloroso sherry
Filtration: Non-chill-filtered
Awards: Bronze, IWSC 2026; Silver, London Spirits Competition 2026
Launch date: 8 August 2026
Launch price: ₹3,200 (about US$34) per 750ml in Karnataka
Size of run: Around 5,000 cases earmarked initially, first-year sales now expected at 10,000 to 15,000 cases

What makes Kranthi different: the cloudy call

The detail whisky drinkers will notice first is the haze. Most large-volume whiskies are chill-filtered, chilled and passed through a filter to strip out the fatty compounds that make a spirit go cloudy when it meets ice or a cold room. Amrut has chosen not to do that with Kranthi. Managing director Rakshit N. Jagdale framed the natural, unfiltered character as central to how the whisky is positioned.

Leaving a whisky non-chill-filtered at 40% ABV is a considered move. Many producers reserve it for higher-strength, enthusiast-facing bottlings, because below roughly 46% the cloudiness shows up more readily. Amrut is signalling that texture and mouthfeel matter more to this liquid than a permanently bright glass.

The other technical pillars are the yeast and the wood. The proprietary in-house yeast strain gives Amrut control over the fermentation character before the spirit ever meets a cask, and the four-cask marriage of new oak, ex-bourbon, Madeira and oloroso sherry is what builds the layering. Bengaluru’s warm climate does the rest: tropical maturation drives faster interaction with the wood, which is why a young Indian single malt can carry more cask influence than its age might suggest.

Why “revolution”: Amrut’s own story

The naming leans on Amrut’s place in Indian whisky history. The company frames Kranthi against India’s landmark revolutions, the Green Revolution in agriculture and the White Revolution in dairy, and adds its own: the Indian single malt revolution it helped start two decades ago. Amrut describes that category today as nearly seven lakh cases (close to 700,000) with an estimated value of around Rs 1,000 crore.

For readers outside India, that context is the real headline. Amrut was the fourth best-selling Indian single malt in its home market’s bars in 2025, and its core range already travels widely, so a new permanent expression from this distillery is worth tracking even before it reaches export shelves.

Amrut Kranthi tasting notes

These notes come from Amrut and from the IWSC judging panel. The Daily Whisky has not yet tasted Kranthi independently.

Style: Unpeated
Nose: Bright citrus peel, tropical fruit, coconut
Palate: Plum, black pepper, gentle floral notes, pomelo, warm spice
Finish: Gentle tannins and a creamy texture, no length stated by the panel
ABV: 40%
Casks: New oak, ex-bourbon, Madeira, oloroso sherry
Filtration: Non-chill-filtered

At the 2026 IWSC, Kranthi took a Bronze medal, judged by a panel including Dawn Davies MW and Colin Hampden-White. It also picked up a Silver at the 2026 London Spirits Competition. For a no-age-statement bottling at 40% ABV, two international results out of the gate is a solid start.

Price and availability

Kranthi launched in Karnataka at a maximum retail price of ₹3,200 (about US$34, roughly €31 ) per 750ml bottle. Indian pricing shifts state by state because of excise, so expect variation as the rollout widens.

The phased plan starts in Karnataka, then moves into Maharashtra and Mumbai, on to North India including Delhi and Haryana, and later into eastern markets. There is no international release announced yet. Readers outside India should watch Amrut’s export channels, as the distillery’s core bottles already reach the UK, Europe and beyond through specialist retailers. Not sure this bottle will reach outside India.

Who is Amrut, briefly

Amrut Distilleries was founded in Bengaluru in 1948 and moved into malt whisky in the 1980s, before releasing single malt under its own name in the mid-2000s and helping put Indian whisky on the global map. Bottles such as Fusion and Cask Strength built its reputation, and last year’s Expedition 15-year-old arrived as the oldest Indian single malt ever bottled. Kranthi is the 53rd expression in that catalogue.

Frequently asked questions

What is Amrut Kranthi?
Amrut Kranthi is an unpeated, non-age-statement Indian single malt whisky and the 53rd expression from Amrut Distilleries in Bengaluru. It launched on 8 August 2026, is bottled at 40% ABV, matured in four cask types, and left non-chill-filtered. The name Kranthi is Hindi for revolution.

What does Amrut Kranthi taste like?
Kranthi is an unpeated single malt. IWSC judges noted bright citrus peel on the nose, moving into plum, black pepper and gentle floral notes. Amrut adds tropical fruit, pomelo, coconut and warm spice over a creamy texture. It is bottled at 40% ABV from four cask types.

How much does Amrut Kranthi cost?
Kranthi launched in Karnataka at a maximum retail price of ₹3,200, roughly US$34, €31 or 230 DKK, for a 750ml bottle. Prices vary between Indian states because of differing excise duties, so the figure will shift as the whisky rolls out nationally.

Where can I buy Amrut Kranthi?
At launch, Kranthi is available in Karnataka. Amrut plans a phased rollout into Maharashtra and Mumbai, then North India including Delhi and Haryana, and later eastern India. No international release has been confirmed yet, so buyers abroad should watch Amrut’s export retailers.

Why is Amrut Kranthi cloudy?
Kranthi is not chill-filtered, so it can turn hazy when cold or diluted. Chill filtration removes the fatty compounds that cause cloudiness but can also strip texture. Amrut chose to keep them, positioning natural mouthfeel over a permanently clear appearance, which is unusual at 40% ABV.

Is Amrut Kranthi a single malt?
Yes. Kranthi is an unpeated Indian single malt, made at a single distillery from malted two-row barley. It carries no age statement and is bottled at 40% ABV. It sits within Amrut’s single malt range, the category the distillery helped establish internationally from the mid-2000s.