With a distilling legacy dating back to 1922, South Seas Distilleries is redefining Indian single malts. In this exclusive interview with Drinks & Destinations, H.V. Chinoy, Director of South Seas, shares the passion behind their journey, the vision for Crazy Cock Single Malts, and their contribution to India’s craft spirits industry.
What inspired the creation of South Seas Distilleries?
South Seas Distilleries draws inspiration- a family legacy that began in 1922 when my great- grandfather and his five brothers crafted spirits from exotic Indian fruits and flowers in Maharashtra. They were the first to commercially produce refined Mahura (also known as Mahua, Mhowra, Madhuca and Mohua), a white spirit distilled entirely from flowers and cherished by India’s royalty and aristocracy. Building on this foundation of distilling expertise, the founder (my father) envisioned an era when Indian single malts would one day hold their own among the world’s finest. Over four decades ago, he took a pioneering step, following his vision and establishing South Seas Distilleries as one of India’s first single malt distilleries – a bold and unheard-of venture at a time when single malts were virtually unknown in India. He had the passion, foresight and determination to establish a distillery with state-of-the-art infrastructure – installing India’s largest copper pot stills and collecting rare casks from around the world. Our distillery houses the largest and most diverse liquid library in India, as well as the country’s largest maturation warehouses.
Can you tell us about the unique naming process for Crazy Cock Single Malt Whiskies- Rare and Dhua?
The name Crazy Cock Indian Single Malt Whisky reflects the founder’s global vision four decades ago and his willingness to take risks. The term ‘Crazy’ symbolises his passion and determination to create a pioneering, world class malt distillery at a time when the category of Indian Single Malts did not exist. The name embodies his passion, his bold mindset, his resilience to overcome challenges and his patience in waiting decades to mature and deliver exceptional single malts and unique exotic spirits.
The ‘Cock’ or the rooster is a symbol of new beginnings and positivity. Just as a rooster’s crow heralds a new day, Crazy Cock signifies a new chapter for South Seas as the company transitions from supporting the biggest spirit brands in the world to launch its own consumer- facing whiskies.
How do you approach the crafting of each whisky, from selecting ingredients to the distillation and aging process?
In my view, creating exceptional whiskies is not just about using the finest ingredients or tools. It’s about the continuous pursuit of excellence and crafting exceptional whiskies. For us, it stems from a combination of passion and four decades of experience of distilling and maturing malts in our microclimate. This has led us to build India’s largest maturation warehouse which is home to India’s most rare, aged and diverse liquid library.
We have a hands-on approach to whisky making and are involved in every aspect, from sourcing the finest ingredients, to milling, mashing, fermentation, distillation to personally travelling the world to source rare oak casks and patiently maturing malts for years. We have India’s largest copper pot stills, some of which were installed decades ago, each featuring a distinctive bulge – an iconic shape we’ve replicated on the neck of our Crazy Cock bottles. Our distillery also houses the country’s largest maturation warehouse, where some of India’s oldest single malts rest in rare oak casks. This “liquid library” holds some of India’s most precious single malts, and it’s from this private collection that we bottled Crazy Cock single malts- our inaugural label – allowing consumers a rare opportunity to experience what highly aged and expertly crafted Indian single malts can truly be.
How would you describe the flavour profiles of Crazy Cock Single Malt Whiskies- Rare and Dhua to someone trying them for the first time?
Our first two expressions “RARE” and “DHUA”, under the Crazy Cock label, are single malts that have been crafted using highly aged liquids, some of which are equivalent to 25-year-old whiskies from cooler regions due to our distillery’s unique microclimate and much higher angel’s share (evaporation during maturation).
Crazy Cock Single Malt Whisky – “RARE” is a single malt with a rich sherried flavour profile, a warm palate, and this expression is great for those who prefer a sherry cask finished whisky. Crazy Cock Single Malt Whisky – “DHUA”, which translates to smoke, is a peated single malt. This has a smoke-laced profile with mild notes of barbecue and is perfect for those who are looking for a richer whisky. Both expressions have a smooth and lingering finish.
What do you consider to be the defining characteristics that make South Seas Distillery stand out in the whisky industry?
What sets South Seas Distilleries apart is our legacy of firsts in India’s distillation industry. Take for example our copper pot stills – we were one of the first to bring in such large copper pot stills. We have produced exceptional single malts for over four decades, supporting the world’s largest whisky brands. Our maturation warehouse is the largest in the country, lined floor to ceiling with rare oak casks sourced globally – a liquid library containing some of India’s most valuable single malts, some of which have been resting for decades. Our unique microclimate in Dahanu, Maharashtra, also leads to a much higher angel’s share leading to rich, flavourful whiskies, from the first-fill oak casks, making these malts much more precious.
While Indian single malts are now gaining recognition, we have been quietly distilling and maturing them for decades. My father and our team have painstakingly mastered the art of single malt distillation and maturation in India. But the most unique aspect of South Seas is the century of distilling wisdom passed down through four generations – an invaluable legacy in our industry.
Can you share any details about upcoming releases or future plans for the distillery?
Our family has had a deep connection with Mahura (Mahua) spirit for over a century. We are the oldest commercial distillers of Mahura (Mahua) spirit and having a legacy of 102 years distilling this spirit, have recently unveiled Six Brothers Mahura, the world’s first global heritage Mahura (Mahua) spirit. We’re excited to present this very versatile white spirit which can be savored neat, on ice, or as your favorite cocktail, as India’s global ambassador, much like Tequila is to Mexico or Cognac is to France or Sake is to Japan. The Mahura (Mahua) tree, also known as “The Wishing Tree” and symbolizes prosperity, abundance and good fortune. It is made from 100% Mahura (Mahua) flowers. The Mahura (Mahua) tree grows in the wild in the forest of India and blooms once a year and is indigenous to India.
We will continue to expand our portfolio in the future with exciting variants from our extensive collection of malts and other spirits resting at our distillery, but for now our focus is on introducing more people to experience Crazy Cock Single Malt Whiskies as well as Six Brothers Mahura.
What sustainable or innovative practices are incorporated into your whisky production process?
With the start to finish whisky production is housed entirely at our distillery thereby ensuring efficient resource management at every stage. The Crazy Cock Single Malt Whisky bottles are crafted from recyclable glass, and the Mono cartons are also made from recyclable materials.
How has the reception been from whisky enthusiasts since the release of Crazy Cock Single Malt Whiskies – Rare and Dhua?
The response to Crazy Cock single malt whiskies, which are small batch , non-chill filtered whiskies from India has been extremely positive . Many who have tried them say they finally understand the complexities of highly aged single malts, especially those who are used to younger whiskies. When it comes to our two expressions, “RARE” and “DHUA,” we’ve seen an almost equal split of preferences amongst our audiences. Interestingly, some who claim to dislike peated malts find drawn to Crazy Cock single malt whisky – “DHUA”, the peated expression. Both the whiskies are being showered with a lot of appreciation for their smooth, rich and flavourful profile. Connoisseurs consistently rave about our whiskies and say they are an absolute delight and a revelation of Indian single malts.
In your opinion, what does the future of whisky look like in India?
The future of whisky is bright, as consumers increasingly seek authenticity, distinctive and unique experiences. Brands like ours focus on quality over quantity, and we personally oversee every stage of the whisky-making process ourselves. I myself have bottled the first batch of Crazy Cock single malts, and that goes to show how involved we are in the business. We are genuinely passionate about our craft, and I believe people will naturally gravitate toward brands and products that create a deeper, more personal connection.
How does your distillery contribute to the local community or the broader craft spirits movement?
With regards to the contribution to the local community our distillery has always employed and supported people and vendors from the surrounding towns. We are passionate about our environment and have tree planting drives where we plant thousands of trees during the monsoons each year. We have chosen packaging materials which are recyclable and eco-friendly.
We are also passionate about our craft, prioritizing the art of distilling and maturing luxury single malts and spirits over anything else. This commitment is rooted in the vision of our founder, my father whose vision & passion led to setting us of South Seas four decades ago and distilling and maturing Indian malts way before their time. As well as the vision my great-grandfather and his five brothers, the Six Brothers had in 1922 to create refined Indian spirits. We know that India can and is producing some of the finest quality spirits across various categories that can rival the best in the world. With our Crazy Cock single malt whiskies, we aim to keep growing India’s single malt reputation globally along with other players. With Six Brothers Mahura (also known as Mahua), we are excited to reveal India’s first global heritage spirit, made from 100% mahura flowers (mahua flowers) , that India can truly call its own, showcasing the true potential of our heritage spirit. We hope this will pave the way for Indian spirits and help the world associate India with luxury, unique & exotic spirits.
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