Rampur Asava is the bottle that put Indian cask experimentation on the map: the world’s first single malt finished in Indian Cabernet Sauvignon casks. Made by Rampur, India’s oldest distillery, it takes the distillery’s tropical, fruit-forward spirit and adds a layer of dry red-wine character you will not find anywhere else. It drinks like a sherried Scotch with real depth, then leaves the dry tannins of the wine cask behind on the finish. At 45% ABV, non-chill-filtered, and sensibly priced, it is one of the most rewarding ways into Indian single malt, and a bottle we keep coming back to. This is our review.
What is Rampur Asava?
Asava is made by Rampur, the single malt arm of Radico Khaitan, at India’s oldest distillery in the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttar Pradesh. It is matured first in American ex-bourbon barrels, then finished in casks that previously held Indian Cabernet Sauvignon from Maharashtra, India’s premier wine region. When it launched in October 2020, it was the first single malt anywhere to use Indian wine casks, and the name Asava itself refers to an ancient fermented drink, a nod to the wine influence.
It was not just a novelty. Asava went on to win Best World Whisky at the John Barleycorn Awards in 2023 and scored 92 points at Tastings.com, and it remains the bottle most associated with Rampur’s reputation as the most cask-experimental of the Indian distilleries. It carries no age statement, is bottled at 45% ABV, and is non-chill-filtered.
Rampur Asava tasting note
The interesting thing about Asava is how it bridges two worlds: it has the deep, sherried richness a Scotch drinker will recognise, with the dry, tannic grip of the wine cask layered underneath.
Nose: Rampur’s signature tropical fruit, with apricot, blackberry and plum, a faint hint of tobacco and warm spice, lychee and orange zest
Palate: velvety and deep, manuka honey sweetness, spicy oak and vanilla, red fruit, then the dry pull of Indian red wine
Finish: medium, with dry red-wine tannins, tobacco and lingering spice
ABV: 45% | Cask: ex-bourbon, finished in Indian Cabernet Sauvignon | Age: NAS | Non-chill-filtered
What we make of Rampur Asava
We have come back to this bottle many times, which is the best recommendation we can give any whisky. We first tasted it at Whisky Live Paris in 2024, then again at The Whisky Show in London, and we have enjoyed it plenty at home since. A whisky you keep reaching for tells you more than a single impressive pour ever could.
What stands out is the way it reads to a Scotch palate. Approach it blind and the deep, aromatic richness feels close to a sherried Scotch, all dark fruit and warmth. Then the Cabernet cask does its work: where a sherry cask would leave sweetness, the wine cask leaves dry tannins in the mouth afterward, the same grip you get from a glass of red. That contrast, familiar richness up front and a dry, vinous finish behind it, is what makes Asava genuinely different rather than just unusual.
It is also sensibly priced for what it is, which matters. If someone asked us for one bottle to try Indian single malt for the first time, Asava would be near the top of the list, precisely because it speaks to both camps. If you love sherried Scotch, the familiarity pulls you in. If you already love Indian whisky, the wine-cask twist gives you something new. It is the rare experiment that works as an everyday pour.
It is also one of the few single malts we happily reach for in a cocktail. We have made an Old Fashioned with Asava a few times and genuinely enjoyed it: the wine-cask fruit and dry tannins give the drink a vinous depth a standard bourbon does not, and at this price it is a bottle you can mix without feeling guilty. Keep it simple, with sugar, bitters and a twist of orange, and let the Cabernet character do the rest.
Price and where to buy
Rampur Asava typically costs around £60 to £75 for a 70cl bottle, or roughly $80 to $90 in the US, which is fair for a non-chill-filtered, award-winning single malt with a genuinely unique finish. Prices vary between markets because of local taxes and duty.
In the UK, The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt and House of Malt all stock Asava. It is widely available across Europe and in the US, and most specialist retailers ship internationally.
Is Rampur Asava worth it?
Yes. Asava earns its place not on the novelty of being first, but because the wine cask genuinely adds something: a dry, tannic counterpoint to Rampur’s tropical sweetness that no sherry cask could replicate. It is approachable enough for a newcomer, interesting enough for an enthusiast, and priced to be a bottle you actually finish rather than save.
For a Scotch drinker curious about India, this is one of the best first steps. For an Indian whisky fan, it is one of the most distinctive bottles in the category. Either way, it is a bottle worth owning, and one we are happy to keep on the shelf.
Frequently asked questions
What is Rampur Asava? Rampur Asava is an Indian single malt whisky from Rampur distillery, the world’s first single malt finished in Indian Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks. Matured in ex-bourbon barrels then finished in Indian red wine casks, it is bottled at 45% ABV, non-chill-filtered, and won Best World Whisky at the John Barleycorn Awards in 2023.
What does Rampur Asava taste like? Rampur Asava has a deep, sherried richness with tropical fruit, apricot, plum, manuka honey and spice, then a dry, tannic finish from the Cabernet Sauvignon cask. It reads like a sherried Scotch up front, but the wine cask leaves dry red-wine tannins in the mouth afterward, which is what makes it distinctive.
What cask is Rampur Asava finished in? Rampur Asava is matured in American ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in casks that previously held Indian Cabernet Sauvignon wine from Maharashtra. It was the first single malt anywhere to use Indian wine casks, which gives it its dry, vinous character alongside Rampur’s tropical fruit.
How much does Rampur Asava cost? Rampur Asava typically costs around £60 to £75 for a 70cl bottle, or roughly $80 to $90 in the US. It is fairly priced for a non-chill-filtered, award-winning single malt with a unique wine-cask finish. Prices vary between markets because of local taxes and duty.
Is Rampur Asava good for beginners? Yes. Asava is one of the best Indian single malts for a newcomer, especially a Scotch drinker, because its deep, sherried richness feels familiar while the dry wine-cask finish gives it something genuinely new. At a sensible price and 45% ABV, it is approachable and easy to enjoy neat.
Can you use Rampur Asava in a cocktail? Yes. While it is excellent neat, Asava’s fruit-forward, wine-cask character also works well in an Old Fashioned. We have made one with it a few times and enjoyed it, the Cabernet cask giving the drink a vinous depth a standard bourbon does not. At its sensible price, it is a single malt you can mix without feeling guilty.
Related guides: Rampur distillery profile | Indian single malt whisky guide | The best Indian single malts of 2026 | Rampur Jugalbandi series | Indian single malt vs Scotch
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