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. You can also consider Johnnie Walker Blue Label and Johnnie Walker Blue Label Elusive Umami.
Price: Rs 2,930 onwards for Blonde, Rs 28,000 onwards for Elusive Umami, and Rs 20,000 onwards for Blue Label
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
Yaksha Whisky
Yaksha Whisky is a premium blend featuring Scotch malts and the finest Indian grain spirits. It is meticulously aged in oak barrels to create a smooth yet bold profile. With rich notes of oak, vanilla, and just the right touch of spice, Yaksha offers a refined and complex taste that stands apart from the rest.
Availability: Goa, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana
Price: Rs 1,450 in Goa
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
Rahasya Vodka
Rahasya Vodka delivers a distinct aromatic experience, making it an ideal choice for those who appreciate a unique take on traditional vodka. Whether enjoyed neat or mixed into cocktails, Rahasya's subtle herbal notes come to life, enhancing the drinking experience with every sip. It stands out for its purity and complexity, making it a must-have for adventurous drinkers seeking something extraordinary.
Availability: Rajasthan, Goa, Telangana, and Maharashtra
Price: Rs 890 in Goa
Best Wine Brands In India For Diwali Gifting
St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
The St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is a floral and refined wine with fine chalky tannins complimented by an expressive red fruit spectrum, enhanced with subtle refined oak. The colour is a medium-dark crimson with garnet hues, with an aroma of floral violets lift, perfumed blueberries and raspberry fruit, hints of cocoa with overtones of dark red fruits and cooling dried herbs.
Availability: Karnataka
Price: Rs 6,250
Grover Signet
Grover Zampa's innovative range showcases the vast potential of Indian winemaking. GZ's signature wine, which comes from a single vineyard with a unique concept, is one of them. This is available at cellar doors in Nandi Hills and Nashik and some upscale restaurants in Bengaluru and Mumbai. The options include Grover Zampa Signet Red, Signet Spectrum, Signet Shiraz (Amphora), Shiraz Signet (2L Foudre), Signet Shiraz (1L Foudre), and Signet Shiraz (24 months French Barriques).
Price: Rs 3,000 onwards
Best Rum Brands In India For Diwali Gifting
Camikara 3YO
Camikara takes its name from the Sanskrit term for liquid gold. This exceptional rum is aged for 3 years, celebrating the land, time, culture, and people. Bottled at 42.8% ABV, Camikara is a testament to purity—crafted as a 100% natural sipping rum. It offers a harmonious balance of oak and cane juice spirit with delicate oak nuances, a hint of char-induced smokiness and natural sweet notes.
Availability: Haryana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Goa, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh
Price: Rs 1,800 in Goa
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
Proost
Packed with two cans of Proost’s bold, punchy lager, boasting a smooth 6.8% ABV, this beer promises to set the festive vibes. In this hamper, you will also get two scented candles to set the perfect mood and a healthy stash of dry fruits. This Diwali, make it special with your buddies by gifting them this unique hamper.
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 225 for 650 ml for Woodpecker Glide, Rs 240 for 650 ml Woodpecker Crest
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 X 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
Dom Pérignon Champagne
Dom Pérignon, produced by the esteemed Champagne house Moët & Chandon, has complex flavour profiles. It carries notes of ripe fruits, citrus, toasted nuts, and floral undertones. The ageing process in the bottle contributes to these rich and nuanced flavours. It pairs well with various cheeses, particularly soft and creamy varieties like Brie and Camembert.
Price: Rs 33,242 onwards
Best Tequila Brands In India For Diwali Gifting
Volcan X.A. XtraTequila
Volcan X.A. Xtra Assemblage which recently launched is a premium blend of three aged tequilas—Añejo, Extra-Añejo, and Reposado—crafted without additives for a smooth, rich taste. They are perfect for gifting this Diwali. The aroma blends cooked agave with hints of vanilla, caramel, dried fruits, and subtle spices, making it a must-have in your collection.
Availability: Goa, Mumbai, and Kolkata
Price: Rs 30,865
1800 Tequila Anejo
1800 Tequila Anejo is a premium tequila known for its smoothness and robust flavour. It has a complex profile and a deep amber colour from being aged in oak barrels for at least three years. It has a velvety texture and a long finish with caramel, vanilla, and spice notes. If your friend is like Meredith from Grey's Anatomy whose favourite drink is tequila, do consider it as a Diwali present.
Price: Rs 8,750