A hint of oak, lovely notes of caramel, and the beauty of amber color, whisky is surely more than just a drink. It is a wonderful experience that comes with a story. The story of grains, wooden casks, and the region they come from. Every whisky has a story to tell; you just need the right connoisseur. And if you are just beginning your journey to whisky’s storytelling, here are the best 10 scotches you must try in India.
This Speyside single malt whisky is known for its vibrant fruity aroma (apple, pineapple, and pear) with floral notes. With every sip, it delivers a creamy and silky texture that blends honey, citrus, vanilla, gentle oak, and zest. The finish is refreshing and clean with orchard fruit sweetness that lingers for a good time. It is perfect for neat pours and those starting their whisky journey.
Chivas Regal is a Speyside-influenced blend that offers a smooth richness with vanilla, ripe pear, toffee, and a hint of nuttiness. It offers a nice creamy, velvety mouthfeel with a balance of warm spice and balanced sweetness. While Chivas 12 is versatile and mellow in taste, Chivas 18 offers deeper dried fruit and oak depth. This whisky is perfect for making cocktails as well as for gifting.
This iconic blend varies by label but is known for its blend of smooth smokiness, orchard fruits, and vanilla with a velvety texture. The black label is loved and celebrated in India for its adaptability and for its luxurious silkiness. Its texture is smooth yet bold with gentle warmth and peat undertones from multi-region malts. Black Label offers balanced spice and peat, while premium variants provide long, elegant finishes.
This Speyside single malt is known for its sherry oak influence and lovely aroma of raisins, ginger spice, dark chocolate, and dried fruits. Every sip talks about its velvety, rich texture and taste of orange zest, nuttiness, cloves, and caramel sweetness. The finish is long and warm, offering the taste of toffee and oak. Macallan whisky offers a complexity that is perfect for special occasions like birthdays, family dinners, and parties!
Known as one of the world’s best-selling single malts, this whisky offers nice fruit-forward notes. This includes vanilla, pear, green apple, and floral hints. It is light and smooth on the tongue while offering a balance of caramel, malt sweetness, faint peat, and oak. The aftertaste is clean and lingering and is perfect for both sipping neat and highballs. This is what makes it a popular choice among both whisky enthusiasts and beginners.
Royal Salute is a Chivas Brothers luxury blend that offers gentle smokes, marzipan, vanilla, stone fruits, and richness from honey. The texture is full-bodied with creamy elegance, along with warmth from spices. Its 21-year expression is known for its flavorful, polished oak layers. It is a known and celebrated brand, especially for premium Indian gifting, making it ideal for special celebrations.
Talisker 10, from the Isle of Skye, is loved for its spicy aroma coming from chilli, maritime smoke, brine, and peppery spice. Its is full bodied with a little oily texture that delivers seaweed notes along with sweet malt, black pepper, and intense peat. The finish of this whisky is long and also has lingering salt and smoke. It is the perfect option for whisky lovers who prefer peaty punch.
Known as Orkney’s iconic single malt whisky, Highland Park offers aromas of vanilla, tropical fruits, light smoke, and honey. The drink is medium-bodied with a mouthfeel that is waxy and creamy. It is known to balance the spiciness of clove, the richness of sherry, the sweetness of toffee, and the gentleness of peat. This is why the aftertaste gets a bit smoky, faded, and dry. If you love your drinks to be subtle, then this whisky is just for you.
Dewar’s White Label is loved by Indians for its aroma from floral notes, subtle smoke, and honey. Its palate talks about its creamy and smooth texture, which blends the taste of light peat, oak spice, vanilla, and orchard fruit. It offers an approachable sip with a medium finish that lingers with warmth and mild dryness. This scotch whisky is perfect for sipping neat or for making highballs in social settings.
Ballentine’s Finest offers a nice aroma of vanilla, faint spices, vanilla and honey. It is light-bodied and velvety on the tongue. It delivers sweetness from caramel, floral hints, and subtle smoke with balanced oak. The aftertaste is clean, fading away in an elegant fashion. The drink comes under the premium segment and is perfect for beginners, as well as a nice option for cocktails.
From Ballentine’s Finest to Glenlivet, this list has some of the most amazing whiskies to try in India. Take a look at its taste and texture, and decide based on your palate which one you would love to try.
Johnnie Walker Black Label remains a strong value scotch at an affordable price, offering premium 12-year complexity over cheaper blends.
Glenfiddich 12, Glenlivet 12, Macallan 12, Aberlour 12, and Talisker 10 are some affordable single malt options.
International Scotch Day is August 5, while National Scotch Day (US-focused) is July 27.
