Godawan Single Malt Whisky
Description: Diageo launches Godawan, its artisanal single malty whisky, set to redefine the world of sustainable, modern & conscious Indian luxury. Godawan is crafted in, its provenance inspired by, and dedicated wholeheartedly to this Rajasthani ethos – of beauty in scarcity, and sustainability. We proudly call ourselves “The Spirit of the Desert” – the spirit of Rajasthan with its culture, people, and ecology which permeates in the character and flavor of our liquid.
Color: Golden Pale-Yellow color
Distillation: 2-stage Copper pot distillation, aged in ex–bourbon, matured in a specific cask, and finished in an Ex-Bourbon botanical conditioned cask. This aging adds to lots of complexity as the Godawan cask loses around 25% of the whisky because of temperatures, which are relatively very high as compared to other whisky aging areas. Also slow trickle distillation & a very special aging technique, where Godawan is also finished in special Indian ayurvedically botanicals conditioned casks, which has never been done earlier in the single malt industry.
Aroma & Tasting Notes: The aridity means the “Angel’s share” is higher than average in Godawan – leaving behind a whisky with stunning taste profiles. The heat of over 100°F combined with six-row barley, which requires less water, helps create a whisky with an incredible depth of flavor, and a rich and complex character.
Godawan 01 Rich & Rounded, is a sherry finish, complex and robust. On the nose, there’s honeysuckle, deep intense caramel, dried candied citrus, and baklava butteriness. On a sip, Amber woodiness is on the side of our palate, along with caramel and butteriness, which shines well with a couple of Ice cubes.
Alcohol by volume: 46%
Spirit of the desert!! Exquisitely crafted single malt whisky from Rajasthan, India. A deep golden brown liquid pale yellow with pronounced full-bodied flavor, rich and rounded, and finished in PX Sherry casks curated with exotic Indian botanicals.
The Indian whisky category continues to expand in the U.S. with excellent new releases hitting the market regularly. One of the most interesting is this new single malt from Diageo India called Godawan, which has one expression that, in a unique twist, spends time in barrels seasoned with local botanicals.
There are two new single malt whiskies from Godawan 01 “Rich and Rounded” and 02 “Fruit and Spice.” Both are made at the Alwar distillery in Rajasthan, which is owned by Diageo India (part of the greater Diageo company). The whisky is made from a mash bill of six-row malted barley that is grown in the region and matures in an environment that couldn’t be further from Scotland’s with temperatures often hovering around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This results in a very high angel’s share, or evaporation rate, and also means that the whisky matures much more rapidly than it would in a more temperate climate.
The unique whisky-making process involves:
- Slow-trickle distillation from locally sourced six-row barley
- Uniquely matured at temperatures reaching 100°F
- Finished in special casks selectively curated with Indian botanicals
Distillery
Diageo India is the country’s leading beverage alcohol company with an outstanding collection of premium brands – a business built on the foundation and principles laid down by the giants of the industry.
Diageo is India’s leading beverage alcohol company with an outstanding portfolio of premium brands. They are a high-performing business that is sensitive to consumer, community, and societal needs. They are proud of being a responsible producer and marketer of beverage alcohol, and they champion responsible consumption as part of a balanced lifestyle.
Godawan (godawansinglemalt.com)