India is a country where people celebrate every little bit of success in a grand manner. And celebration equals alcohol! So, if you’re looking to celebrate your promotion or birthday, or you just want to party with a touch of liquor, we got you. These award-winning alcohol brands are just what you need and, in addition, they’re all homegrown!
1. Royal Stag
Royal Stag is one of the well-known whiskey brands in India. It was launched by Seagram in 1995, and is a perfect blend of imported Scotch malts and grain spirits. It was also the first whiskey brand in India which did not make use of artificial flavoring and brought in the international blend. How awesome is that!
Now, looking inside, Royal Stag has an alcohol content of around 40%. So if you’re a lightweight, we’d suggest stopping after two glasses at max. But hey, if you know how to hold your alcohol, go for it!
And of course, we need to talk about the awards. Royal Stag won several awards in 2023 at the London Spirits Competition. Seagram’s Royal Stag Deluxe Whisky and Seagram’s Royal Stag Barrel Select Premier whisky won a bronze medal. How cool is that!
2. Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin
Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin was founded by Radico Khaitan in 2018. They are one of the oldest whiskey distilleries in India. The drink is crafted from different botanicals from around India like vetiver, cubeb, sweet orange peel, caraway seeds, lemongrass, Darjeeling green tea, and lemon peel. Along with balancing the herbs and spices, it also contains around 43% of alcohol.
Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin ended the year with a bang when they won Double Gold Medal and Best In Show By Country at the Bartender Spirits Awards 2024!
3. Kingfisher
Kingfisher beer first came into the picture because of the United Breweries Group, which was founded in 1857. The beer itself was relaunched in 1978 by Vijay Mallya. It’s made from high quality hop extract and malted barley. It being such a popular brand, you’ve probably already tried it. But surely, you didn’t know the story behind it. Now you do!
The alcohol content in Kingfisher beer is only around 4.8%. So, if your plan is to keep drinking without getting drunk very easily, try this one. Oh, and how can we forget, they won a Gold (category – pale beer) and a Bronze medal (category – lager) at the World Best Beer Award in 2023.
Also read: Best Craft Beer Flavors in Mumbai
4. Woodburns
Woodburns is one of the newer brands that has emerged quite recently in 2019. The brand originated in Goa, and was founded by Aman Thadani. It got its fame after it was awarded thrice from different continents. It’s produced using malted barley, 100% Indian origin!
The alcohol content is observed to be around 42%, similar to the other whiskey brands we talked about earlier. Also, they won a Silver medal at the 11th Spiritz Awards in 2024! Now that is some achievement to brag about.
5. Sula Vineyards
The idea of Sula Vineyards was sowed into the founder Rajeev Samant’s mind in 1994 when he visited his family land in Nashik (a place well-known for grapes). He looked at the land and went “Grape vineyards!”. The curiosity led him to California where he spent months observing the process of wine making. And later in 1996, he came up with Sula Vineyards. Today, it’s among India’s one of the top brands for wine.
It’s made using fresh desi grapes grown in Nashik, and the alcohol content is between 8 and 14%. To end it with a note of pride, Sula Vineyards became the first Indian wine producer to win a Gold medal at Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters in 2024.
6. Greater Than
When an enthusiast puts their mind to something, anything is possible! Greater Than was founded by Anand Virmani in Goa in 2017, with an intention of crafting India’s own gin. This liquor is made using juniper along with other botanicals like lemongrass, coriander seeds, fennel, and ginger. Like a true spirit, the alcohol content is around 40%. And to boast even more, Greater Than won the Double Gold Award 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC)!
7. Officer’s Choice
Officer’s Choice is a whiskey brand manufactured at Allied Blenders & Distillers (ABD) and founded by Kishore Chabria in 1988. They are considered the market leader for whiskey manufacturers in India. The whiskey is a perfect blend of scotch malt and grain spirits, and its taste is definitely enjoyed globally. So, if you love a good whiskey, take a glass right now and try a sip! Officer’s Choice is a part of this list because it won a silver award at Monde Selection Quality Institute in 2022.
8. Stranger & Sons
Stranger & Sons takes inspiration from bits and pieces around the world like a true traveler. The maker Sakshi Saigal spent her time roaming in Netherlands, Barcelona and Portuguese, and then threw her collective experiences of the individual places into her brand.
The gin is a true essence of different native botanicals like a citrus peel mixture of Bergamot and Lemon, Nagpur oranges, and also some local spices like pepper, nutmeg, coriander mace, licorice, and cassia. Phew! That’s a long list. Stranger & Sons won a few awards in 2022 and 2023, a Gold medal and a Silver medal respectively.
9. Amrut
Amrut came into existence with India’s independence! Looks like the first thing they thought of after Independence is – “We need something of our own to celebrate with!”
The brand originated in 1948, by Shri J.N. Radhakrishna who founded Amrut distilleries. The name of the brand is derived from a Sanskrit word, which essentially means “nectar of the gods”. And surely, the drink must taste like divine nectar, with a symbolic name like this. The distillery produces a variety of liquor and spirits which include rum, vodka, whiskey, and brandy. So, take your pick!
They have won 5 Gold medals at the International Spirits Challenge in London, 2024, and wait a minute, it doesn’t end there – they were also crowned with the title of “World’s Best Whiskey”!
10. Smoke Lab Vodka
Smoke Lab Vodka, founded by the NV Group, are one of the top spirit companies in India. Varun Jain, the founder of the brand, created this in 1994 with the idea of bringing Indian flavors together and making something magical. The drink is made from Himalayan spring water and basmati rice. What a combination! It also has no artificial ingredients present in it.
Smoke Lab Vodka hit a strike when they won the Double Gold medal and Consumer’s Choice Award at 2022 SIP Awards, also a Gold medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Awards!
Also read: Best Scotch Whiskey Brands Available In India
Summing up
Looking at the list, we can surely say that India has some of the best brands in the alcohol industry. These award-winning brands are breaking boundaries with their chilling beers, flavorful whiskey, and more. Each brand has their own unique story and if you’re of a curious mind, getting to know their story in detail would be a journey on its own. And if you found something here that is not your usual go to, give these brands a chance!
FAQs
1. Which alcohol is the most bought in India?
The most bought alcohol types in India are whiskey, rum, and beer.
2. Which brand of drink is the best in India?
Kingfisher, Paul John, and Old Monk are few of the best brands for alcohol in India.
3. Who are the top drinkers in India?
Looking at the statistics, Arunachal Pradesh has the highest number of people who drink alcohol.
4. Which alcohol is the least damaging to your body?
Red wine, whiskey, and champagne are some of the least damaging alcohol beverages.These drinks contain antioxidants that promote good health.
5. What alcohol is good for sleep?
Few alcoholic beverages like brown liquor brandy and bourbon are traditional nightcaps.
6. Who is the market leader in alcohol in India?
United Spirits is the largest spirit company in India and amongst the top 3 in the world.
7. Which brand has the highest alcohol?
Polmos Spirytus Rektyfikowany Vodka, a Polish spirit, has the highest alcohol content of 96%.
8. Which country is the biggest importer of alcohol?
The United States was found to be the highest importers of alcohol, with a value of 11 billion US dollars, in the year 2023 as per Statista.
