THEDAILYWHISKY

The Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2026 is a cask strength Indian single malt from the Indri distillery in Haryana, northern India, matured in hand-selected Ruby Port casks from Portugal. It is bottled at 58.5% ABV (117 proof), made from six-row Indian barley in copper pot stills, and is the fourth annual Diwali release from Indri. In the UK it is limited to 180 individually numbered bottles at an RRP of £200, available from Master of Malt, The Whisky Shop and The Whisky Exchange. We tasted it at The Whisky Show in London: dark red berries, firm dry tannins and a long, fruity finish.

We stood at the Indri stand at The Whisky Show in London, box in one hand and glass in the other, and the first thing that struck us was the colour. Before we had even nosed it, the Ruby Port cask had already told us what kind of whisky this was going to be.

The Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2026 is the fourth release in an annual series that has quietly become one of the most collected bottlings in Indian single malt. This year the cask is Ruby Port, and it shows.

What is the Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2026?

The Diwali Collector’s Edition is Indri’s once-a-year limited release, timed for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights celebrated across India and by communities worldwide each autumn. Each edition uses a different cask, and each comes in packaging designed to be kept long after the bottle is empty.

The first edition arrived in 2023 as a Peated PX Sherry Cask release. The 2025 edition was matured in Marsala casks. For 2026, Indri master blender Surrinder Kumar has turned to Portugal and Ruby Port, the youngest and most fruit-forward style of Port wine.

Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2026: the key facts

• Distillery: Indri (Piccadily Agro Industries), Indri village, Haryana, India
• Style: Single malt Indian whisky, no age statement
• Cask: Hand-selected Ruby Port casks from Portugal
• ABV: 58.5% (117 proof), cask strength
• Barley: Indigenous six-row Indian barley
• Distillation: Copper pot stills
• UK allocation: 180 individually numbered bottles
• UK RRP: £200
• Where to buy (UK): Master of Malt, The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange

What the Ruby Port cask does to Indri

Ruby Port is aged for a short time in large vats, which keeps it bright, deep red and full of fresh dark fruit. A cask that has held it passes on exactly that: colour, red and black fruit, and a grip of tannin from the wine and the oak.

In the glass, the whisky has a genuinely striking reddish hue. It is the first thing you notice and it sets up everything that follows.

On the palate, the Ruby Port gives a layer of deep red berries that builds into what we can only describe as a symphony of berries: cherries, blackberries and plums, then raisins and figs underneath. What stops it from becoming jammy is the dry tannin that arrives afterwards and stays in the mouth, giving the fruit a frame. Behind that comes vanilla and honey, almonds and hazelnuts, a warm thread of cinnamon, a touch of liquorice and the oak holding it all together.

Our tasting notes from The Whisky Show

Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2026 Ruby Port Cask: tasting notes

Colour: Deep amber with a clear reddish glow from the Ruby Port

Nose (distillery): Black cherries, blackberries and ripe plums, then raisins, figs and dried fruit, finished with toffee and vanilla

Palate (TDW): Deep red berries up front, cherries, blackberries, plums, raisins and figs, with vanilla, honey, almonds, hazelnuts, cinnamon and liquorice

Finish (TDW): Long and fruity, with firm dry tannins and oak lingering after the berries fade

ABV: 58.5% | Cask: Ruby Port | Price: £200 (UK RRP)

The nose note is attributed to Indri. Palate and finish are our own from the Indri stand at The Whisky Show.

Does 58.5% ABV work here?

It does, and it is a big part of why the whisky works. At full cask strength, the alcohol gives the fruit real power and carries the flavour nuances further than a reduced bottling would. Each layer of berry, nut and spice arrives with its own weight.

That strength is not shy, so take your time. Try it neat first, then add a few drops of water and watch the dried fruit and nuttiness open up.

Why Indri’s climate matters for this release

Indri is distilled in the village of Indri, in Haryana, near the foothills of the Himalayas. The climate is subtropical, with hot summers and cool winters, and those swings push spirit in and out of the wood far faster than in Scotland.

That is why Indri’s age statements, or lack of them, are not directly comparable to a Scotch of the same years. The wood does its work quickly, and with an active cask like Ruby Port the result is concentrated rather than shy.

The spirit itself starts with indigenous six-row Indian barley, distilled in traditional copper pot stills. Indri launched as a brand in 2022 and was named the fastest growing single malt whisky brand in 2024. If you want the wider picture, our Indian single malt whisky guide covers Indri alongside the country’s other single malt distilleries.

The box and bottle: Krsnaa Mehta’s Marwari horses

Holding the box at the show, it is hard not to stop and look at it properly. The artwork is by Indian designer Krsnaa Mehta and draws on India’s royal heritage and the tradition of miniature painting, where big stories are told within small frames.

At the centre is a white Marwari horse, the breed historically tied to Rajasthan’s royal households, moving in step with its foal. Around them run jewel-toned florals, red blooms and gold detailing, and the same motif carries through onto the bottle itself, printed straight onto the glass.

This is packaging designed to sit on a shelf for years. The 2025 Marsala edition won Gold at The Design & Packaging Masters, and the 2026 design looks every bit as considered in person.

Awards for the Diwali series

Indri says the Diwali Collector’s Edition has collected 29 awards worldwide since 2023. The 2023 Peated PX Sherry Cask took Best in Show Double Gold at the Whiskies of the World Awards 2023, and the 2025 Marsala Cask was named Best World Whisky at the Las Vegas Global Spirits Awards 2025 with 99.1 points.

The 2026 Ruby Port Cask has already picked up six awards, including Gold at the World Whisky Masters and the New York World Spirits Competition.

Price and availability

In the UK, the Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2026 is limited to 180 individually numbered bottles at an RRP of £200. It is available through Master of Malt, The Whisky Shop and The Whisky Exchange.

Indri has only confirmed the UK allocation so far. For readers in the rest of Europe, the US and elsewhere, check your local Indri importer or indri.in, as Diwali editions have historically been released market by market. With 180 bottles for the whole UK, we would not wait long.

Is it worth £200?

For the collector following the Diwali series, yes. This is the fourth chapter, the cask changes every year, and with 180 numbered bottles in the UK it will not be around for long.

For the drinker, it is worth it if you love fruit-led, cask strength whisky with real structure. The Ruby Port gives a depth of red fruit and a tannic grip that makes this a whisky to sit with, not to rush. It rewards a slow evening, a few drops of water and a second look at that box.

Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2026: FAQ

What is the Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2026? It is the fourth annual Diwali release from Indri, a single malt Indian whisky distilled in Haryana, northern India. The 2026 edition is matured in hand-selected Ruby Port casks from Portugal and bottled at cask strength, 58.5% ABV. It comes in collector’s packaging with artwork by Indian designer Krsnaa Mehta.

What does the Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2026 taste like? We found deep red berries on the palate, building into cherries, blackberries, plums, raisins and figs, followed by firm dry tannins. Vanilla, honey, almonds, hazelnuts, cinnamon, liquorice and oak sit underneath. Indri describes a nose of black cherries, ripe plums and toffee, and the finish is long and fruity.

How much does the Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2026 cost? The UK RRP is £200. Only 180 individually numbered bottles are allocated to the UK, so prices on the secondary market may rise once retailer stock sells out. Prices in Denmark, the EU and the US have not been confirmed by Indri yet and will depend on local importers and taxes.

Where can I buy the Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2026? In the UK it is available from selected specialist retailers including Master of Malt, The Whisky Shop and The Whisky Exchange. Outside the UK, check with your local Indri importer or Indri’s official website, indri.in, as availability and release timing for Diwali editions can vary from market to market.

Is the Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2026 cask strength? Yes. It is bottled at cask strength, 58.5% ABV or 117 proof. The high strength carries the Ruby Port fruit and tannin with plenty of intensity. We recommend tasting it neat first, then adding a few drops of water to open up the dried fruit, nuts and spice.

What is a Ruby Port cask? A Ruby Port cask is an oak cask that previously held Ruby Port, the youngest and most fruit-driven style of Port wine from Portugal. It typically gives whisky a reddish colour, dark berry and plum notes and a gentle tannic grip. In this Indri release it produces deep red fruit framed by dry tannins.