Restaurant India News: Crazy Cock Introduces World’s First Mahura Cask-Finished Single Malt

Crazy Cock Indian Single Malt Whisky has announced the launch of Madhuca: The Heritage Editions, marking the introduction of the world’s first single malt whisky finished in Mahura casks. The release represents a significant development for Indian spirits and draws on the century-old distilling legacy of South Seas Distilleries, one of India’s earliest producers of single malt whisky.

The launch comes as Indian single malts continue to gain traction in the premium spirits segment. According to IWSR, the category has recorded growth at a CAGR of approximately 15 to 20 percent in recent years, positioning India among the fastest-growing premium whisky markets globally. Factors such as rising consumer aspirations, interest in origin-led products, and the growth of cocktail-led consumption have supported this trend.

“Crazy Cock The Indian Single Malt Whisky represents the passion, patience and perseverance of fearless souls who dare to dream differently just like our founder,” said Hamavand Chinoy, Director, South Seas Distilleries. “Behind every drop lies our century-long commitment to shaping the future of Indian single malt. This world-first Mahura cask finish is an extension of our relentless pursuit of innovation – perfecting the art of Indian single malt and affirming India’s potential to redefine global whisky craftsmanship.”

South Seas Distilleries traces its history back more than a century and operates India’s largest copper pot stills along with the country’s oldest private cask collection, created well before Indian single malt was formally recognised as a category. The distillery has spent over four decades working with Indian single malt whisky and was the first commercial distiller globally to mature Mahua spirit, an indigenous distillate with deep cultural significance across central India.

This long-term experimentation has led to the development of the Madhuca Heritage Editions. The Mahura cask, created in-house by South Seas Distilleries, is seasoned using Mahua spirit and used to finish the single malt, resulting in a process not previously applied in global single malt production. The finish is intended to deliver a smooth and aromatic profile designed to align with India’s evolving cocktail and contemporary drinking culture. The Mahua tree, referenced in the Vedas and traditionally associated with abundance, has historically influenced the founding family, who are among the oldest commercial distillers of Mahua flower spirit.

To mark this legacy, South Seas previously released a limited allocation of 102 bottles of matured Mahua spirit, priced at Rs 102000, establishing the foundation of the Madhuca narrative. The Madhuca Heritage Editions expand this concept into three single malt expressions, each matured in selected oak casks and finished in Mahura casks, offering profiles positioned for both sipping and mixology use.

The packaging references the colours of the Indian flag—saffron, blue and green—and follows a contemporary design language while acknowledging India’s indigenous distilling heritage. The Madhuca Heritage Editions join Crazy Cock Dhua and Crazy Cock Rare, expressions that have received recognition in international tasting circles and have been compared with global single malt names such as Yamazaki, Macallan and Bruichladdich.

The new range will be available through select five-star hotels, premium clubs, duty-free outlets and leading retailers across Mumbai, Gurgaon, Bengaluru and Goa.