India’s oldest single malt makers unveil the world’s first Mahura cask-finished single malts
India’s oldest single malt makers unveil the world’s first Mahura cask-finished, most cocktail-forward single malt ever created.
In a landmark moment for global whisky innovation, Crazy Cock Indian Single Malt has introduced a release that is poised to reshape conversations around maturation, provenance and identity in contemporary single malt whisky.
The Madhuca Heritage Editions, the world’s first single malts finished in Mahura casks represent a breakthrough made possible only at South Seas Distilleries, the pioneering Indian house whose legacy remains deeply intertwined with the story of India’s oldest single malts.
Crafted, distilled and matured entirely at South Seas Distilleries, Crazy Cock Indian Single Malt has steadily ascended in the global whisky landscape, earning multiple prestigious accolades.
This recognition is emblematic of the brand’s reputation as one of the most awarded and adventurous single malt producers in India today.
Yet with the unveiling of the Madhuca Heritage Editions, Crazy Cock enters new territory, pushing the frontier of what Indian single malt can express.
Over a century-old distilling legacy
South Seas Distilleries’ legacy can be traced back more than a century to 1922. The spirit of innovation that defines the distillery today traces back to its founder, whose bold, unconventional approach inspired the name ‘Crazy’, a reflection of his fearless spirit of challenging the norm. The ‘cock’ or ‘rooster’ symbol represents new beginnings and the dawn of a new era, marking South Seas’ bold move to launch its own consumer brand after decades of supporting the largest brands globally.
South Seas houses the country’s largest copper pot stills and the oldest, most extensive private cask collection curated long before Indian single malt became an established category. This cask library, now tended by the family’s fourth generation, continues to fuel the distillery’s innovation.
India’s oldest spirit
Mahua spirit, distilled from the fragrant flowers of the indigenous Mahua tree, revered as the ‘Wishing Tree’, is India’s oldest spirit, dating back millennia. Mahua is also known by other names such as Mahura, Mahuva and Moha, depending on the geographical region in India, and is found predominantly across the central belt of the country.
South Seas Distilleries has not only pioneered single malts but also stands as the oldest commercial distiller of Mahua spirit and the global forerunner in this category with its brand Six Brothers Mahura, double distilled in copper pot stills, the same ones that have given birth to India’s oldest single malts, further platinum-filtered giving India’s oldest spirit a sophistication, versatility and mixability like never before making its mark alongside other global spirits.
The known meets unknown
It was this same foresight that once led South Seas Distilleries to become the first in the world to mature Mahua spirit decades ago, establishing an expertise that would later give rise to the creation of Mahura casks. These casks, which once held India’s oldest spirit, Mahua, distilled and matured in-house, now unlock an entirely new dimension of flavour in single malt whisky.
The genesis of these world-first expressions
To honour this legacy, the distillery marked a historic milestone by releasing just 102 bottles, on allocation, of an expression titled ‘Six Brothers Mahura 1922 Resurrection’.
This release commemorated 102 years of distilling legacy and celebrated the world’s first matured Mahua spirit. Each bottle was priced at £1,000 at the time, forming the genesis of the Crazy Cock Indian Single Malt Madhuca Heritage Editions.
The whisky world has celebrated Sherry, wine and Bourbon cask finishes, each imprinting recognisable signatures on the spirit. But never before has a single malt been finished in casks that once held India’s oldest spirit Mahua, a spirit whose floral, fruity and softly spiced character is entirely unique to India. The result is a finish unlike anything else the global whisky world has ever experienced: expressive, layered and unmistakably Indian.
Madhuca I was first matured in ex-Bourbon and ex-brandy casks before receiving its Mahura finish. Madhuca II was shaped initially by ex-Bourbon and ex-wine casks, then elevated through Mahura finishing. Madhuca III was matured in ex-Bourbon casks and was brought to completion in Mahura casks.
The resulting whiskies are smooth, complex and remarkably versatile. In keeping with Crazy Cock’s progressive ethos, these are among the most cocktail-forward single malts ever produced, owing to the bright, lifted complexity delivered by Mahura cask finish. Yet they retain the structural sophistication expected of world-class single malts, offering depth and maturity derived from the diversity of oak casks used across their evolution.
Design rooted in heritage
Beyond the liquid, the Madhuca Heritage Editions also pay tribute to India’s cultural identity in their design. The packaging draws inspiration from the colours of the Indian flag, saffron, blue and green, interpreted through a restrained, contemporary lens that feels both modern and rooted.
“Crazy Cock Indian Single Malt embodies the passion and perseverance of those who dare to dream differently,” says Hamavand Chinoy, Director of South Seas Distilleries. Rooted in more than a century of distilling legacy, the family continues to perfect the art of Indian single malt through innovation in malt selection, fermentation, distillation, tropical maturation, and cask aging from India’s oldest private oak collection.
A new chapter for Indian single malt whisky
These Crazy Cock Madhuca Heritage Editions I, II and III are now joining celebrated inaugural releases like Crazy Cock Indian Single Malt – Rare (unpeated) & Dhua (peated), as the distillery reinforces its position at the forefront of Indian whisky innovation.
The Madhuca Heritage Editions mark a milestone in single malt whisky history. More than an experiment, they embody Indian terroir, tradition, and craft. With the world’s first Mahura-cask finished single malt, India’s oldest single malt makers have turned a new page in whisky history, extending their legacy onto the world stage and taking the best of India to the world!
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