Crazy Cock voted best Indian Single Malt Whisky in the world at IWSC UK 2026

Established in 1969, the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), often regarded as the "Oscars of the wine and spirits industry," witnessed a landmark performance for Indian whisky at its 2026 competition in the UK. South Seas Distilleries, with a century old distilling legacy saw its brand Crazy Cock Indian Single Malt Madhuca III emerge as the only Indian malt to be awarded a coveted Gold Medal, making it the highest-awarded Indian whisky in its category this year.
Further underscoring the distillery's dominance, the Crazy Cock portfolio secured the top three positions among Indian single malts at the IWSC 2026. In total, the brand won five of the ten medals awarded to Indian single malts, accounting for half of all Indian honours in the category and reaffirming South Seas Distilleries' growing reputation for quality and consistency.
The competition's judging panels comprised some of the world's most respected spirits authorities, including Dawn Davies MW, Richard Paterson OBE, Ian Burrell, Joel Harrison, Olivier Ward, David T. Smith, Deano Moncrieffe and Marie Cheong-Thon. Their collective expertise spans whisky production, blending, spirits education, criticism and international judging, making recognition at the IWSC particularly significant.
The 2026 IWSC results reflect the remarkable rise of Indian whiskies on the global stage. No longer viewed as emerging challengers, Indian distilleries are increasingly setting new benchmarks for craftsmanship, innovation and quality, earning the respect of international judges and whisky enthusiasts alike. South Seas Distilleries' performance this year is another indication that India has firmly established itself among the world's leading whisky-producing nations.