‘Shady operators are a big threat to Indian single malt’

Reams have been written about the success of Indian single malts . For an industry that barely registered a decade ago, the pace of growth has been remarkable. But rapid expansion also brings its own challenges: loose definitions, opportunistic bottlers, and what insiders describe as “fly-by-night” operators looking to cash in on the category’s new prestige. That is where the Indian Malt Whisky Association (IMWA) hopes to make a difference. Officially launched in March this year, with Major General (Dr) Rajesh Chopra, AVSM (Retd), as Director General of Malt Whisky Association, the body has set down strict, non-negotiable standards: from requiring 100% malted barley distilled in copper pot stills, to a minimum three-year maturation in oak casks of no more than 700 litres. Beyond safeguar