Spirits by the Shore, the annual gathering for whisky enthusiasts and collectors organised by Single Malt Amateur Club (SMAC) India, will return to Goa on September 11 and 12 for its sixth edition.
The two-day gathering will be powered by Godawan Artisanal Single Malt by Diageo India, with whisky remaining at the centre of the programme while the event explores Goa’s broader spirit culture.
Whisky remains the anchor
SMAC India brings a curatorial approach shaped by years of tastings, masterclasses, distillery experiences and member-led discovery. The gathering aims to connect enthusiasts directly with makers, distinctive liquids and fellow collectors.
The programme will feature distillery visits, limited and exclusive bottlings, rare and cask-led tastings, conversations with makers and collectors, and opportunities to experience whiskies closer to their source.
Distillery experiences and exclusive pours
“We’re delighted to partner with SMAC India for this year’s edition and bring Godawan into a platform that celebrates exploration, craftsmanship and the growing culture of whisky in India,” Diageo India, Vice President – Marketing and Portfolio Head – Premium & Luxury, Varun Koorichh, said.
Guests will begin with a visit to the Paul John Visitor Centre. The whisky programme will also include the unveiling of a community-selected exclusive whisky and a dedicated tasting of Godawan Artisanal Single Malt.
Exclusive cask-led discovery
Select SMAC members will have access to an exclusive cask tasting from Diageo India’s India Rare Spirits programme, offering a closer look at distinctive whiskies and cask-led discovery.
“Spirits by the Shore was never intended to be a conventional tasting event. It was created to encourage people to travel for whisky, encounter the spirit closer to its source and build lasting friendships around the culture of a place,” SMAC India, Founder, Hemanth Rao, said.
Goa’s wider spirit culture
The programme will also explore Goa’s indigenous feni-making traditions through a visit to Cazulo Feni Distillery and an agave masterclass with Maya Pistola Agavepura.
Guests will have opportunities to discover and shop from a curated selection of spirits, while an evening soirée will bring together whisky, food, music and conversation.
Community drives the gathering
SMAC India said the community of enthusiasts, collectors, makers and friends remains central to Spirits by the Shore. The gathering is positioned around knowledge-sharing and relationships as much as the spirits being tasted.
The event aims to develop into a recurring destination for whisky travel in India, connecting enthusiasts with distinctive liquids while deepening the relationship between whisky, provenance, place and community.