Rajasthan thrives on paradox. Where the heat is relentless and water scarce, beauty flourishes in abundance. Be it the golden sweep of sandstone palaces or the brilliance woven into its textiles, the desert transforms limitation into luxury.
It was here, against all convention, that Godawan Artisanal Single Malt was born in 2022. Forged through slow-trickle distillation in copper pots and sculpted by heat and evaporation, Godawan captured the very essence of resilience.
In just a few years, with 100+ national and international accolades, including the London Spirits Competition 2025, the Denver International Spirits Competition, and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, it has become India’s most awarded single malt.
But Godawan has always stood for more than whisky. Its very name honours the Great Indian Bustard, once abundant across the subcontinent, now among the world’s rarest birds. Known locally as the “Godawan,” the bird lays just one egg a year, making each hatchling a triumph against extinction.
Godawan 100 marked the survival of the first 100 Great Indian Bustards, a milestone in conservation. Partnering with the Wildlife Institute of India, the brand helps with restoring grasslands, sterilising strays, safeguarding water bodies, and protecting eggs. Today, proceeds from Godawan Single Malts sustain the program, inspiring Godawan 173: The Collector’s Edition.
To honour this moment, this liquor line turned to Jaipur Blue Pottery, a craft once reserved for royalty. Each bottle, created in collaboration with master artisan Leela Bordia of Neerja International, is a one-of-a-kind work of art where a single piece takes weeks to finish, making every bottle as rare as the whisky it holds.
Inside is a spirit of remarkable depth, crafted from Indian six-row barley and matured for over nine years across triple woods. It begins in American ex-bourbon oak, deepens in European Oloroso and PX Sherry casks, and completes its journey in historic Asha liqueur casks. These Sal wood vats were once used to mature a 42-ingredient heritage liqueur created by Thakur Karni Singh Ji of Mahanser. The result is a whisky of deep mahogany hues with aromas of roasted nuts, figs, raisins, polished oak, and spice. On the palate, it reveals walnuts and dark chocolate undertones, finishing long and warming with notes of toasted nuts and malty sweetness. Non-chill filtered and double distilled in copper pots, it retains a natural character of extraordinary refinement.
Godawan 173 made its global debut at London Fashion Week, where Sonam Kapoor acquired the very first bottle, a reminder that true luxury lies not just in possession but in preservation. With only 173 bottles available worldwide, this Rs. 5,00,000 collector’s edition will be found exclusively at Bangalore Duty Free and The Whisky Exchange, London.
A whisky born of scarcity, a bird reborn against extinction, Godawan 173 is not just a spirit, but a pledge to keep the desert’s song alive.
