India is among the largest consumers of whisky around the globe and there are ample whisky brands that are popular in the country. Some of these are Indian brands while some others are international brands. If you’re among one of the connoisseurs of whisky, it’s important that you know of the top 8 whisky brands in India. Read on to know more!
Top 8 Whisky Brands In India
- McDowell’s
- Officer’s Choice
- Royal Stag
- Amrut Fusion
- Johnnie Walker
- Imperial Blue
- Chivas
- Paul John
McDowell’s
On the top of the list we have McDowell’s, one of the country’s highest-selling whisky brands. This Indian brand of spirits is manufactured by United Spirits Limited and is a popular one in the market. McDowell’s has ample variants, all of which have rich flavors and are smooth to taste.
The best part about this brand is that it sells affordable whisky that can be found in all of your local liquor shops. McDowell’s is one of those brands that you’ve seen your father or grandfather have with their friends. It’s a versatile spirit that can be enjoyed in more than one way and making a whiskey cocktail with McDowell’s is definitely something we’d recommend.
Variants:
- McDowell’s No.1
- McDowell’s Reserve Whisky
- McDowell’s Platinum Whisky
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Photo Credit: McDowell’s No.1. Luxury Premium Whisky
- McDowell’s Signature
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Officer’s Choice
As a whiskey lover, we’re sure Officer’s Choice whisky has been a part of your night outs with friends. This brand was launched in 1988 by Allied Belnders & Distillers, a company that has since then introduced a range of whiskies and rums. Officer’s Choice sells in over 18 countries globally and falls under the category of affordable whiskies in India.
According to the Brand Champions report created by The Spirits Business, Officer’s Choice was rewarded as the best-selling whisky of 2020. That’s how much this brand is loved! If you really want to enjoy this whisky, you can serve it on the rocks.
Variants:
- Officer’s Choice Black
- Officer’s Choice Blue
- Officer’s Choice Prestige
Also Read: How To Drink Whiskey: A Complete Guide
Royal Stag
Royal Stag is Pernod Ricard Group’s largest selling by-volume whisky brand, created in 1995. This top whisky brand in India is a perfect blend of Indian grain spirits and imported Scottish malt. Royal Stag whisky has refreshing leafy and woody notes, strong flavors, hints of smoke, and a fruity aroma, which make it stand out of the lot.
Besides, they do not use any artificial flavoring in any of their whiskies and that’s another interesting thing about this brand. If you’re on the hunt for an affordable whisky that tastes amazing without compromising on the flavor or quality, Royal Stag is the one whisky brand in India that you need to look out for.
Variants:
- Royal Stag Barrel Select Whisky
- Royal Stag Deluxe Whisky
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Amrut Fusion
This one is a very popular brand of Indian single malt whisky which is manufactured by Amrut Distilleries. Amrut is a Sanskrit word which translates to ‘nectar of the gods’ or ‘nectar of life’. This brand of whisky falls under the expensive range, but for the quality you get, it’s absolutely worth it.
Amrut was India’s first single malt whisky which has consistently maintained its amazing taste and overall quality. The brand makes whisky that has a combination of honey, fruit, and spice, which has garnered global fans. Over the years, this whisky has marked its place in the international market as one of the finest whiskies in the world.
Variants:
- Amrut Amalgam Malt Whisky
- Amrut Peated
- Amrut Fusion Single Malt
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Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker was founded in 1820 and has been one of the most iconic Scotch whisky brands across the globe. In India, Johnnie Walker is the go-to premium whisky brand that has made a name for itself in the market. It was founded by grocer John Walker, and the brand’s whiskies are sold in almost all the countries around the globe. This makes it one of the most widely distributed brands of blended Scotch whisky.
Ranging from affordable to super-premium, Johnnie Walker has an extensive collection for all their consumers. All of these whiskies are intense, flavorful, strong, and smooth to taste, and their quality is consistent through all of their variants. One special thing about Johnnie Walker is that their finest whiskies can be enjoyed in the company of fellow connoisseurs.
Variants:
- Johnnie Walker Red Label
- Johnnie Walker Black Label
- Johnnie Walker Blue Label
- Johnnie Walker Double Black
- Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve
- Johnnie Walker Platinum Label 18 Year Old
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Imperial Blue
Another prominent household whisky brands in India is Imperial Blue, popularly known as IB. Imperial Blue whisky is a combination of scotch malts and Indian grain whisky that you will surely love. Owned by Pernod Ricard, this whisky brand is one of the best-selling ones in India. One thing that Imperial Blue is known for is its exquisite smoothness and strong flavor notes, best had with club soda or plain water.
Imperial Blue is one of those iconic brands that has managed to keep its quality intact along with its affordability. This one is a good-quality whisky brand that comes at an affordable price range and appeals to a large audience.
Variants:
- Imperial Blue Superior Grain
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Chivas
This brand of whisky is manufactured by Chivas Brothers, owned by Pernod Ricard. Chivas has been producing some of the world’s best whisky and has been the world’s fourth best-selling Scotch whisky since 2016. They have a great variety of whiskies under their name out of which Chivas Regal 25 was the world’s first luxury whisky. It was manufactured in 1909 and was a pretty iconic one for that time.
The distinctive notes and creamy aftertaste of the Chivas brand are its signature and the stand-out point as well. With a sweet flavor and smooth taste, their whiskies have been loved by whisky connoisseurs all around the globe. Their variants are matured for over 10 years with rich ingredients making them extremely smooth, flavorful, and strong all at the same time.
Variants:
- Chivas Regal 15 Year Old Scotch
- Chivas Regal 25 Year Old Scotch
- Chivas Regal 18 Years
- Chivas Regal Regal Premium 12 Years
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Paul John
Paul John is an Indian alcohol brand that over the last decade has fulfilled its vision to be a premium whisky brand in the country. To this date, Paul John has over 12 variants of whiskies under its name including single and special edition ones.
Paul John whiskies are made from Indian 6-row malted barley for some variants, and for others, Aberdeen peat and imported Islay is used. They use traditional copper pot stills to distill the whiskies, and they mature them in Charred American Oak Casks. Their process of manufacturing and production is unique and that peaks through the flavor palate of their products.
Variants:
- Paul John Bold Single Malt
- Paul John Brilliance Single Malt
- Paul John Edited Single Malt
- Paul John Nirvana Single Malt
- Paul John Single Malt Mithuna
- Paul John Single Malt Oloroso
- Paul John Kanya (Limited edition)
- Paul John Oloroso Single Cask (Limited edition)
- Paul John Mars Orbiter (Limited edition)
- Paul John Christmas Editions – 2018, 2019, 2020, & 2021 (Limited editions)
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Summing Up
Whisky is one of the most loved as well as one of the most intricate spirits in the world. All of the whisky brands mentioned in the list above have a few variants, taste profiles, and wide scale of price ranges. You can check out this list to find a whisky brand in India that you like and prefer.
FAQs
Why Is Single Malt Costly?
One of the main reasons why single malt whiskeys are so expensive is because the process of production and storing a single malt whiskey is very tedious.
Which Whisky Brand Is Best In India?
India is one of the biggest consumers of alcohol and has ample whiskey brands. Some of the best whiskey brands in India are: Antiquity, Black Label, Chivas, Bagpiper, and Officer’s Choice.
Which Is The Smoothest Whiskey In India?
In India, you will find a bunch of whiskey brands in India that sell smooth and strong whiskeys. But, out of the many, the smoothest whiskey in India is the Glenfiddich 18 Years.
Which Whiskey Is Sweet In Taste?
If you’re not a fan of the strong whiskey flavor, you can try out bourbon whiskeys. They are sweet because of the high percentage of corn in their ingredient list and hence sweeter compared to many other types of whiskey in the market.
What Is The Number 1 Selling Whiskey?
McDowell’s No. 1 Whisky is the number 1 selling whiskey in the country. It’s also one of the most affordable whiskeys that you can find in most local shops.
Which Type Of Whiskey Is Smoothest?
Blended whiskey is the smoothest whiskey. It’s made by mixing malt whiskey and grain whiskey which gives it a smooth taste and great flavor.
What Are The 3 Types Of Whiskey?
The three types of popular whiskeys are single malt whiskey, blended whiskey, and grain whiskey.
Which Whisky Is Good For Beginners?
If you’re a beginner at alcohol or whiskey, it’s best to try some smooth and sweet whiskeys to build the taste for it. You can try whiskeys from Amrut, Antiquity, or Black Label.
