Limited-edition single malt whisky finished in craft beer barrels, celebrating Bangalore’s craft beverage spirit
Bangalore, long celebrated as India’s hub for craft beverages, has seen another innovative collaboration with the launch of the Master Distiller’s Reserve by Amrut Distilleries—Stout Cask Finish, created in partnership with Geist Brewing Co.. This limited-edition release, comprising just 224 bottles, brings together two of the city’s most respected names: Amrut, India’s pioneering single malt distiller, and Geist, a trailblazer in craft brewing.
The whisky is a single-cask, unfiltered single malt bottled at 46 per cent ABV, finished in barrels that previously held Geist’s Imperial Stout. The result is a complex spirit that marries India’s devotion to single malts with Bangalore’s love for craft beer. Flavour notes include chocolate, caramel, and cocoa layered with honey, dried dates, and gulkand (rose petal preserve), creating a taste profile that Amrut’s Head Distiller, Ashok Chokalingam, describes as “unlike anything we have produced before.” The whisky will be available exclusively at select retail stores in Bangalore for INR 7,500.
The packaging pays homage to Karnataka’s cultural heritage with a modern touch. Inspired by Mysore silk, the label and box reflect smooth textures and refined craftsmanship, while gold zari borders feature symbols of local pride: Kempegowda’s tower for vision, the Mysore Dasara elephant for strength, and the Kodava Peeche Kathi dagger for mastery. Together, these elements celebrate the provenance and precision of the two homegrown brands.
The collaboration itself is a careful exchange of craft. Amrut’s freshly emptied whisky barrels were sent to Geist Brewing Co., where the Imperial Stout aged, absorbing the whisky’s character. Once returned to Amrut, the whisky finished in these stout barrels, taking on chocolatey, roasted notes from the beer while imparting oak and whisky nuances to the stout during the process. Vidya Kubher, Brewmaster at Geist, described it as a slow, natural evolution, with the beer’s roast softening over time to reveal vanilla, dried fruit, and spice.
For Amrut, bottling the whisky unfiltered preserves oils and fatty acids, enhancing texture, richness, and aromatic intensity. Chokalingam explains, “It’s as close as you can get to sipping straight from the cask,” with a mouthfeel that’s luxurious and a finish that’s long, warming, and vibrant.