Diwali is about rituals, celebrating the victory of good over evil, indulging in sweets, relishing savouries, and enjoying with family. While all this sounds fun, you can make it more exciting by bringing fine spirits into the picture. Either you gift them or buy them for yourself, you cannot look away from alcohol brands on Diwali.
Taash parties to small gatherings, this festive spread should include lavish and limited editions of whisky, rum, gin, and more. This small guide will acquaint you with the best options available in India. Get them before their stock runs out.
Best Whisky Brands In India For Diwali Gifting
The Glenlivet
India’s largest-selling single malt whisky (IWSR 2023), marks 200 years of redefining whisky craftsmanship with the launch of its limited edition pack. Its palate is crisp and lively, its nose exudes floral hints, and the finish is smooth. It also flaunts citrus and vanilla notes while giving the flavour of a ripe pear.
Availability: Gurugram, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Jaipur, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Ludhiana
Price: Rs 3,300 in Haryana
Black & White
Black & White scotch whisky by Diageo is smooth, light, fresh and spicy with smoky hints. It boasts a pale gold hue and releases aromas of oak, biscuits with notes of sharp grain alcohol, and a touch of peat. It has a short finish with notes of vanilla, honey, and oak.
Price: Rs 2,600 onwards
Royal Ranthambore Heritage Collection Royal Crafted Whisky
Each 750ml bottle now comes paired with a specially crafted, imported glass featuring the iconic Royal Ranthambore logo. This limited-edition pack will enhance your drinking experience. The whisky has a complex profile but a luxurious taste. It is a perfect Diwali gift for your friend who likes to collect limited editions.
Availability: Haryana, Punjab, Daman & Diu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka
Price: Rs 1,200 in Haryana
Indri Diwali Collector's Edition 2024
Produced by Piccadily Agro Industries, Indri Diwali Collector's Edition 2024 is a must-consider gift option for whisky enthusiasts, especially ones looking to try Indian brands. Its smooth finish and luxurious packaging will convince you to buy it for your friends or peers or maybe add it to your exclusive collection.
Price: Rs 15,000
Johnnie Walker Blonde
Johnnie Walker Blonde, Johnny Walker by Diageo's latest variant. It has been crafted by maturing in first-filled American oak casks. It has a smooth finish which makes it a must-try for every scotch whisky lover. The sweet, fruity flavours of the whisky burst into life when assorted with a kick of lemonade and a slice of orange.
Price: Rs 2,930 onwards
Chivas 18
Chivas 18 is an intricately crafted whisky flaunting an impressive array of 85 distinct and delectable flavours. With Chivas 18 Gold Signature, the master blender, Colin Scott, has crafted yet another masterpiece. It is a sublime blend of 22 fruit notes, 20 floral notes, 22 sweet notes, and 21 complex nutty and spicy notes.
Price: Rs 5,000 in Gurugram
Best Gin Brands In India For Diwali Gifting
Kumaon & I
Kumaon & is India's first provincial gin that pays tribute to the one-of-a-kind Himalayan ingredients. 11 Himalayan ingredients are used to craft this gin, and it is distilled for 9 hours. It has the freshness of Galgal, warmth from black cardamom, and notes of Kalmegh bark.
Availability: Goa, Gurugram, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Maharashtra
Price: Rs 2,700 in Uttarakhand
Also Read: Diwali 2024: Best Snacks Hampers For Gifting
Amrut Nilgris Gin
Amrut Nilgris Gin is distilled at 7,000 ft above sea level in the Nilgiris mountains. It flaunts notes of fresh juniper berries, coriander, and Indian tea. They are matured in copper pot stills and evolve into a complex palate of zesty lemon and raw mango, and conclude with a crisp, refreshing finish. The list of ingredients includes juniper berries, coriander, lemongrass, angelica, orris root, cinnamon, mace, nutmeg and tea.
Price: NA
Jin Jiji
Jin Jiji Darjeeling is a dry gin that offers the flavours of masala chai. Anyone who is a chai and alcohol lover in your group would love this one. Jin Jiji Dry Jin is made from juniper berries, sweet spices, mint, ginger, chamomile, and citrus ingredients.
Availability: Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Maharashtra
Price: Rs 1,210 in Uttarakhand
Best Vodka Brands In India For Diwali Gifting
Ochre Peach and Cherry Vodka
Ochre Peach and Cherry Vodka offers a smooth and flavorful experience rather than burning your throat and stomach. It is infused with fresh peaches, cherries, and black cherries that create a burst of crisp and fruity flavours. The sweetness of peaches blends impeccably with the rich complexity of cherries.
Price: Rs 1,275 for 750 ml
Best Beer Brands In India For Diwali Gifting
BeeYoung
This Diwali, consider gifting your friend BeeYoung Beer and its new variant, BeeYoung Beyond. It is India's first crafted strong beer, features Superior European two-row barley malt, Columbus and Styrian Golding hops, and the purest water from Bhakra Dam, resulting in a rich malty flavour with fruity undertones.
Price for BeeYoung Beer - 500 ml can, Rs 110, 650 ml bottle - Rs 150
Price for BeeYoung Beyond - 500 ml can, Rs 170, 650 ml bottle - Rs 220
Proost69
At 4.5% ABV, this mild lager goes just about right between refreshing and flavoured, making it a great treat for a festive get-together. The rich maltiness underlined with a hoppy blast promises to tantalise the taste buds. Every sip of this drink is refreshing.
Price: Rs 150 for 500 ml can
Woodpecker Beer
Woodpecker Beer by Som Distilleries and Breweries, a Bhopal-based Alcoholic Beverage Manufacturing Company, promises to add a spark to your Diwali celebrations. It is a strong and bold beer which has been crafted using a blend of imported two-row barley & Indian malts and hops sourced from the Rainier region of Germany. It is a 100% natural brew.
Price: Rs 230 for 650 ml
Maka Di
Maka di by Latambarcem Brewers Private Limited (LBPL) offers a diverse selection of craft beers for various tastes and occasions. The varieties include - Belgian Blanche (5% ABV) is light and citrusy, Belgian Triple (8% ABV) is strong and malty, Bavarian Keller (5% ABV) offers a balanced, unfiltered traditional taste, Honey Ale (8% ABV) is sweet and smooth, and Rocket Rice Lager (5% ABV) is crisp and refreshing, great for barbecues.
Price: NA
McDowell's C Range
X Series by McDowell’s & Co. is a groundbreaking portfolio of spirits crafted across seven distilleries in India. This collection includes vodka, gin, a vibrant citron rum, and a rich dark rum. Vodka is made from a single grain, dry gin is a blend of botanicals, citron rum balances flavours of Indian white rum and French lemons, and Dark Rum is a fusion of double-distilled Jamaican and Indian rums.
Price: Rs 1,200 onwards for Vodka, Rs 1,400 onwards for Dry Gin, Rs 1,100 onwards for Dark Rum, and Rs 1,450 onwards for Citron Rum
Bandarful
If your friend or peer is a coffee addict, they would love coffee liquor by Bandarful. "Crafted from estate-sourced coffee and all-natural ingredients, Bandarful brings bold, vivid flavours that are as versatile as they are delicious. Whether you’re sipping it neat, enjoying it as a digestif, or mixing it up in a cocktail, it’s the perfect companion to make your Diwali celebrations extra fun," read one of their Instagram post.
Availability: Uttarakhand, Goa, Karnataka, Delhi and Maharashtra
Price: Rs 1,580 in Delhi