IMWA welcomes Alcobrew Distilleries as member

Alcobrew Distilleries India has become the newest member of the Indian Malt Whisky Association (IMWA), joining with the concurrent launch of Gamber Valley Indian Single Malt Whisky, the company’s first-ever single malt expressions namely Private Edition 1 and Vault Series, distilled, matured, and bottled entirely at its facility in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. The membership marks a significant milestone for both the association and India’s fast-growing premium whisky landscape.

Established as the unified voice of India’s malt whisky producers, IMWA has been at the forefront of building rigorous quality and process guidelines that ensure authenticity, transparency, and excellence in Indian single malt and pure/vatted malt whiskies. 

The standards emphasise production using 100% malted barley at a single distillery, copper pot still distillation, and a minimum three-year maturation in oak barrels of a capacity less than 700 litres within India. Alcobrew’s Gamber Valley Indian Single Malt Whisky has been produced in full conformity with these standards.

Maj Gen (Dr) Rajesh Chopra, AVSM (Retd), director general, IMWA, said, “We are delighted to welcome Alcobrew Distilleries as a member of the Indian Malt Whisky Association. Gamber Valley Indian Single Malt Whisky, rooted in the Himalayan heritage of Solan and produced in full adherence to IMWA’s standards, is a compelling addition to India’s growing premium malt whisky portfolio. Alcobrew’s commitment to authenticity, provenance, and craft is precisely what IMWA stands for. Together, we will continue to raise the bar for Indian single malts on the global stage.”

Alcobrew’s admission to IMWA adds to a membership roster that now includes Amrut Distilleries, John Distilleries, Radico Khaitan, Piccadily Agro Industries, and Diageo India — collectively representing the most credible names in the Indian single malt industry and accounting for more than 75% market share of Indian Single Malts. The association’s growing membership reflects a maturing category: in 2024, Indian single malts surpassed imported Scotch in volume terms for the first time, accounting for approximately 53% of total single malt case sales.

Romesh Pandita, chairman and managing director, Alcobrew Distilleries India Limited, said, “Becoming a member of IMWA is not just a formal affiliation — it is a declaration of intent. With Gamber Valley, we have built something that begins with the integrity of the Himalayan terroir and ends with a liquid that can stand scrutiny from the world’s most discerning whisky consumers. IMWA’s standards are the right framework for ensuring that Indian single malts are respected globally for what they truly are: authentic, craft-led, and world-class. We are proud to join this body and to contribute to the narrative that India is writing in the world of premium malt whisky.”

In keeping with IMWA’s core commitments, Alcobrew Distilleries reaffirms its dedication to responsible consumption, the prevention of underage drinking, and the elimination of illicit alcohol. The company joins fellow members in actively supporting consumer education on provenance, craftsmanship, and the responsible enjoyment of Indian malt whisky.

Incorporated in July 2024 and officially launched on 20 March 2025, the Indian Malt Whisky Association (IMWA) is the sole representative body for Indian single malt and pure/vatted malt whisky producers in India. Headquartered in Gurgaon and led by Maj Gen (Dr) Rajesh Chopra, AVSM (Retd) as Director General, IMWA is committed to protecting, preserving, , and promoting India’s malt whisky heritage while positioning India alongside global whisky associations such as the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), the Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) and Japanese Spirits and Liquors Makers Association (JSLMA).