The Birth of Godawan 173: The Collector’s Edition

In Rajasthan, where the sun scorches and the air shimmers with heat, the land gives little away easily; scarcity shapes everything. The summers sear at over 100°F, the soil is parched, and water is so precious it is measured like treasure. Yet for centuries, in this place where little should thrive, beauty has always found a way. Rajasthan’s people have turned scarcity into splendour — chiselling palaces from sandstone that defies time, weaving colour into fabric, and making textiles of beauty by painting tales onto pottery so fine it could outlast generations. It is a culture of resilience and a spirit of ingenuity.

It was here, in this land of paradoxes, that Godawan Artisanal Single Malt was born in 2022. Not in Scotland’s lush valleys or Japan’s misty mountains, but in Rajasthan’s sands — where whisky had no precedent. Daring to craft something the world had never imagined: a whisky forged not in abundance, but in scarcity. Slow-trickle distillation in copper pots. Heat and evaporation sculpt the flavour, creating a spirit with extraordinary depth and complexity. From its very first sip, Godawan carried the essence of the desert — bold, resilient, and unique. 

Its boldness has not gone unnoticed — in just a few years since launch, with 100+ national and international accolades, Godawan has become India’s most awarded single malt, celebrating both its craftsmanship and innovation. Among its many honours are wins at the London Spirits Competition 2025, the Denver International Spirits Competition, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and has been triple-crowned as single malt of the year. It was not simply another whisky; it was proof that greatness can be crafted even where nothing should thrive.

But the brand has always stood for more than a liquid. Its very name honours the Great Indian Bustard — a majestic bird once abundant across India’s plains. Known locally as the “Godawan,” it was once considered for the title of national bird. More recently, it has been teetering on the edge of extinction. Unlike other birds, the Godawan lays only one egg a year. And so, each hatchling is not just another life, but a victory against silence. For years, fewer than a hundred remained, and the desert grew quiet. 

That’s where the journey of Godawan 100 began, a limited release that commemorated the first 100 surviving Bustards — a milestone in conservation that broke records for the brand. But the story did not stop there. Through collective efforts — in partnership with the Wildlife Institute of India — grasslands were restored, safe water bodies created, and fragile eggs carried to hatcheries. 

Conservation efforts continued, and the Great Indian Bustard Program grew stronger, supported by the proceeds from the Godawan Single Malts sold. Slowly, hope multiplied and today, the number has risen to one hundred and seventy-three birds — the very milestone that inspires Godawan 173: The Collector’s Edition. 

To truly honour this, we went back to Rajasthan’s roots to pay tribute to its local craft. Historically, alcohol for royalty was stored in exquisitely designed ceramic pots, and Godawan 173 called for a royal celebration. That’s when we were inspired by Jaipur Blue Pottery — a craft once reserved for kings, kept alive today by local craftsmen. The project ensured employment travelled back to local homes, sustaining not only the craft but the communities that keep it alive.

No two bottles are the same, each a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. The cobalt blues blaze like desert skies at dusk, broken with motifs of white that recall Rajasthan’s sands. Unlike most pottery, which is shaped from clay, Blue Pottery is forged from quartz, salts, and natural glaze — a recipe carried from Persia centuries ago, perfected in Jaipur, and kept alive today by only a handful of artisans. It is delicate, luminous, and impossibly intricate. 

By collaborating with master artisan Leela Bordia of Neerja International, Godawan 173 ensures this craft is not only preserved but celebrated worldwide. Each bottle, therefore, is more than a vessel — it is a story of Rajasthani art sustained, of hands that refuse to let tradition fade.

The spirit inside tells its own story of flavour, depth, and innovation. Crafted from Indian six-row barley from the farms of North India and distilled in a lamp-shaped wash still and an onion-shaped spirit still, it is matured for over nine years across three distinct woods. It begins in American white oak ex-bourbon casks, deepens in European Oloroso and PX Sherry casks, and completes its voyage in Rajasthan’s own Asha liqueur casks, carved from Indian Sal wood.

The Asha Liquor itself is a heritage creation dating back over a century, first made by Thakur Karni Singh Ji of Mahanser. Crafted with 42 ingredients, including fresh fruits, spices, dry fruits, botanicals, honey, and milk, the liqueur was matured in heavy Sal wood vats that lent it a rich, resinous character. These very vats, seasoned with decades of flavour, were repurposed to finish Godawan 173.  

The result is a beautiful single malt of rare character, with deep mahogany and amber highlights. Its aromas reveal a bold interplay of roasted nuts, figs, raisins, polished oak and spice, leading to a rich, sophisticated palate of walnuts, dark chocolate and Sherry undertones. The finish is long, warming and refined, with notes of toasted nuts, oak spice and a malty sweetness. Non-chill filtered and double distilled in copper pots to preserve its natural character, this light yet luxurious spirit stands as a testament to India’s ability to craft whiskies that resonate on the world stage.

Godawan 173: The Collector’s Edition was unveiled at The Savoy London, with Bollywood star and global fashion icon Sonam Kapoor. Emphasising her personal commitment to this conservation effort, she donates USD 50,000, along with Diageo India, turning the launch into a powerful statement of mindful luxury. In addition to this, she walked the red carpet at London Fashion Week donning the emblem of Godawan, wearing a custom-designed gown by British-Turkish designer Erdem Moralıoğlu, a global name in fashion whose couture collections are coveted by royal households. This marks a global moment that true luxury lies not just in possession, but in purpose.

 This limited-edition will be available at Bangalore Duty Free at INR 5,00,000 and premium outlets in London, including The Whisky Exchange. When each bottle finds its way to 173 shelves across the world, it will carry the story of a whisky born of scarcity, a bird reborn against extinction, and a brand that has chosen purpose as its compass.

Cherish the Rare.

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