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Introduced in the 19th Century during the British Raj, Whiskey has remained a beloved drink of Indians throughout the years. Available in a number of varieties, it is clear that whiskey lovers in India will have no shortage of options for a very long time.
With its vast price range whiskey is easily accessible to people spread over various economic and social standings in the society. Whiskey in parties and special occasions as well as in small gatherings and such is a common sight in India.
Many people prefer a glass of whiskey after a tiring day to relieve stress or to fight a cold winter.
The spirit drink is produced in India in a number of states with some even engaging in the export business of their branded whiskey to other parts of the globe.
While some states in the country have made the production and sale of this pristine drink an illegal affair, it has by no way reduced the demand or sale of this drink in the country.
Whiskey still remains a drink preferred by many Indians in many places in the country. With a plethora of choices in the market, India’s love for the drink remains ever so strong.
India is now considered one of the largest markets for whiskey in the world. We have listed some of the best whiskey brands available on the market in India if you ever feel the mood to explore this ever growing market in India.
Top 10 Whisky Brands In India With Price
Want to jump straight to my top picks? My favorite Top 10 whisky in India is Blenders Pride and Antiquity Blue.
1. Blenders Pride
Top 10 whisky in India, Blenders Pride was launched in 1995. Indian grain spirit and imported Scotch malts are combined to make this whiskey.
It is a company owned by Pernod Richard and is one of the top premium blended whiskeys in the country.
Its ingredients give it a smooth and smoky flavour and an exquisite taste which is beloved by many Indians making it one of the best in the market
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2. Antiquity Blue
Antiquity Blue is made of one of the finest malts in the country and rare Scotch which is carefully blended with premium grain spirit.
This premium whiskey is distilled in copper pot stills and matured in white oak casks to give it its signature flavour and feel.
Launched in 1992, this Indian whiskey is manufactured by United Spirits Ltd.
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3. McDowell’s Signature Whisky
McDowell’s Signature Whiskey is manufactured by United Spirits Ltd. It was launched in 1994 and is a blend of imported Scotch and local products.
It is sold in octagon shaped bottles designed by Claessens International (London Based).
Since its establishment, McDowell’s Signature Whiskey has been a major player in the Indian market and is easily available in most parts of the country.
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4. The Rockford Reserve
The Rockford Reserve is produced by Modi Illva India Pvt Ltd. The Rockford Reserve has been made and produced for consumers since 1959.
It is one of the fastest growing brands in the premium Indian Whiskey Market.
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5. Teacher’s Highland Cream
The Teacher’s Highland Cream is a famous blended Scotch whiskey brand. It is produced in Glasgow, Scotland.
It was introduced in 1884 and is one of the most famous blended whiskey available in the country.
Its malt content is considered to be 45%. It states that it uses fully smoked peated single malt whiskey for its manufacture.
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6. Seagram’s 100 Pipers
Seagram's 100 Pipers is a blended Scotch Whiskey produced by Pernod Richard and is a leading Scotch whiskey brand in the country.
The company claims that it is the seventh largest blended scotch worldwide.
The 100 pipers has its name and image from the Scottish tradition of bagpipers that led soldiers to battle.
It is a blend of around 30 source whiskies and is bottled in India and Scotland.
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7. Royal Stag Barrel
Also known as Seagram’s Royal Stag is an Indian brand whiskey that was launched in 1995.
This whiskey brand also comes under Pernod Ricard and is its best selling brand by volume.
It is sold in a number of countries in the world in a number of sizes.
It is a blend of imported Scotch and grain spirits and is named after a species of deer known for its antlers.
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8. Royal Challenge
Commonly referred to as RC, the Royal Challenge is a whiskey brand of India manufactured by United Spirits Ltd.
Launched in the 1980s by Shaw Wallace, the Royal Challenge is said to be a blend of Indian malts and Scotch Malts.
The whiskey is sold in other parts of the world such as the Middle East as well as in the United States apart from India.
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9. Dewar’s
Introduced in 1846, Dewar’s whiskey is an internationally acclaimed whiskey brand.
It has more than a thousand awards under its belt which makes it the most awarded blended Scotch whiskey in the world.
It is a single malt blended Scotch whiskey and is owned by the company Bacardi.
The brand started the process of “marrying” the whiskey in oak casks which gives it a smooth and robust feel.
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10. Black Dog
Bottled and marketed by United Spirits Limited, Black Dog is a Scotch whiskey which is the fastest growing Scotch whiskey by volume in 2013.
It was introduced in 1883. The spirit for this whiskey is imported from Scotland and bottled and sold in India.
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11. Glenmorangie 10-Year
The Glenmorangie 10 Year is long known to be a quality whiskey.
It is a flagship single malt Scotch whiskey from the Glenmorangie distillery in the Highlands in Scotland which is a part of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy.
Founded in 1845, it uses the tallest stills for its distillery processes.
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12. Glenkinchie 12
The Glenkinchie 12 is a premium whiskey from the Glenkinchie distillery from the Lowlands.
The Glenkinchie was founded in 1825 (renamed later in 1883) in Scotland and is a distillery in the Lowland region.
It is currently owned by a company called Diageo which is a drinks giant. The Glenkinchie 12 Year Old was named as the best Lowland Single Malt in 2013.
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13. Glenfiddich 12
The Glenfiddich 12 Year Old is one of the world’s best selling malts. Founded in 1886, it is produced in Scotland by William Grant and Sons.
The word “Glenfiddich” means “valley of the deer” which is shown in its logo which is a stag. It has a distinct fresh aroma with a hint of pear and fruity notes.
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14. Ballantine’s 12-Year
The Ballentine’s is produced by Pernod Richard and is a range of blended Scotch whiskies.
It was introduced in the year 1827 and is the world’s second highest selling Scotch whiskey.
It has a strong history and is considered to be one of the first Scotch whiskies to establish itself in the European Market.
The Ballentine’s 12 Year Old belongs to its range of whiskies and is considered by many to be of excellent quality.
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15. Jack Daniel’s
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whisky is the world’s best selling whisky.
Every bottle of Jack Daniel’s is distilled as well as bottled in its distillery at Lynchburg, Tennessee.
The whiskey brand was established in 1866 making it the oldest registered distillery in the United States.
It is made of corn, barley and rye and mixed with iron free water which is collected from cave springs on the distillery site.
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16. Monkey Shoulder
Monkey shoulder was launched in 2005, is a blended Scotch and is a fan favourite.
It is a mixture of three different malts and also works great as a mixer or on its own.
It was named the trendiest Scotch whiskey brand in the world in 2016 and also in 2018 Monkey Shoulder was named as the best selling Scotch whiskey in the leading high end bars of the world.
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17. Jim Beam
Jim Beam is one of the best selling whiskey in the world. It is an American bourbon whiskey brand that has its production in Clermont , Kentucky.
It has been involved in the whiskey business since 1795.
After the end of the prohibition era, the company started calling itself “Jim Beam'' to honour James B.Beam who reestablished the business after prohibition.
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18. Talisker
Talisker is a single malt Scotch whiskey. Its distillery is based in Carbost, Scotland on the Isle of Skye.
The brand is operated by the company Diageo and is considered as a premium Single Malt Whiskey.
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19. Amrut Single Malt Whiskey
Amrut is a single malt whiskey company of India. It is manufactured by Amrut Distilleries and is the first single malt whiskey to be produced in India.
After whiskey connoisseur Jim Murray gave it a rating of 82 from 100, the company gained popularity not only in India but all over the world.
Amrut single malt whiskey is sold in countries like Australia, Belgium, Germany and the United States among many others.
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20. Chivas Regal
Chivas Regal is a part of Pernod Richard and is a blended Scotch whiskey manufactured by Chivas Brothers.
The company was founded in 1786 and is the oldest continuously operating Highland distillery.
Chivas Regal also produced the world’s first luxury whiskey, the Chivas Regal 25 Years Old.
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How to drink whisky?
Whisky can be drunk in different ways, depending on the choice of the drinker. The first way is called the neat drinker. In this, the whisky is drunk in a neat way with nothing added to it.
Just pour the whisky into a glass and enjoy the classic drink slowly and neatly. This way of drinking whisky is usually done by pro drinkers who have already experienced and can handle their alcohol well.
The second way is called whisky on rocks. In this, the drinker adds chunks or pieces of ice cubes to the drink before drinking it. Ice cubes cool the whisky and make it a cold whisky to drink.
Just put some ice cubes into the glass, pour the whisky into it and enjoy. The third way is drinking whisky with water. This way is usually for the first timers or the starters. This makes the drink a little lighter and gives it a soft and warm feeling.
Just pour the whisky into your glass and add water to it. The fourth way is drinking whisky in a cocktail. In this way the whisky is mixed with another liquid or some fruits to give it a mixture.
Although this is not preferred by many people, there are some drinkers who like their whisky in a cocktail.
Types of whisky
Whisky is of different types depending on the place it originated from. Some of the types of whisky are mentioned below:
Scotch whisky:
The whiskeys that are made in Scotland are called Scotch whisky and this type of whisky is made from malted barley and stored for at least three years.
This type of whisky is rich in taste and has a vibrant history. The scotch whisky is further divided into different sections. The first is highland, which is found in most of the sections in Scotland.
This type of whisky has a fruity flavour and a little spice added to it. The second section is lowland which is mild and has lighter characteristics. The third section is called campbeltown and is influenced by the sea.
The fourth is the Islay which is also heavily influenced by the sea and has a briny and smoky taste. The fifth is the speyside which is sweeter and has a rich finish.
Irish whisky:
The whiskey needs to be made in Ireland and has to be aged for at least 3 years to be called Irish whisky. It has a light and fruity taste and is distilled traditionally in copper pots.
Irish whiskey is made with two ingredients, the first one is single malt which is completely made in a single distillery from malted barley. The second one is made with corn or grain and is lighter.
Japanese whisky:
This type of whisky is made in Japan and they take inspiration from the Lowlands and Speyside whiskies of Scotland. They are light and sweet in taste and have a hint of honey to it.
The Japanese make their whisky through more advanced technology and try to reach the demands and expectations of the consumers.
American whisky:
American whisky is made in America and aged in charred oak barrels. Their ABV levels are under 80% and they do not have the smoky, peaty or briny flavour and are rather sweeter in taste.
They have different sections namely, bourbon, wheat, rye and tennessee. They are made with 51% wheat, corn mash, rye mash and are distilled down to under 80% ABV.
Benefits of whisky
You will be surprised to know that despite being an alcohol beverage, whisky can benefit you in many ways-
Heart health: Due to the presence of polyphenols and antioxidants based on plants, whisky can lower the risk of heart issues and also improve your heart health.
It can also lower bad cholesterol in your heart making your heart health better.Weight loss: Whisky is also beneficial for weight loss. The polyphenols present in the whiskey works on the cholesterol and helps you in decreasing your weight eventually.
Cold: Whiskey can also help you in relieving cold symptoms. It warms the blood vessels and widens it. This clears mucus congestion in your sinuses and chests and helps you to relieve the symptoms of cold.
They can also relieve cough, flu and wheezing.Immune system: Whiskey is also a beneficial factor for your immune system. Studies have proven that whiskey boosts the immune system and makes it stronger to fight diseases and viruses.
Brain health: The whiskey is made of plant based antioxidants which is good for your brain health. It helps in maintaining a healthy balance of chemicals in your brain thus improving the health of your brain.
Conclusion
These were some of the top 10 whisky brands in India with price that have gained tremendous popularity over the years. Be sure to seek consultation with experts to learn more about these premium brands.
Also make sure to consider your budget as some of these liquors can certainly prove to be pricey. Cheers!
Frequently Asked Question
Q1. Which is the best Whiskey in India?
Ans: The best whiskey in India is considered to be Jim Beam. It is popularly used on different occasions. It has a warm and caramel-like taste and comes in an elegant package making it the most preferred and best whisky in India.
Q2. What are the best whiskey brands in India?
Ans: Some of the best whiskey brands in India are Blenders Pride, Royal Challenge, Rockford Reserve, 100 pipers, Jim Beam, Teachers Highland Cream, Monkey Shoulder, Glenmorangie, McDowell's No.1 Whiskey.
These whiskeys are the most drunk and most used whiskeys on different occasions.
Q3. Which is the most popular whisky?
Ans: Jim Beam is the most popular whisky because of its warm oak and caramel taste. It is beautifully and elegantly packed and is popularly used in every occasion.
Q4. Which whisky brand is affordable ?
Ans: The most affordable whiskey brand is McDowell’s Signature. The whiskey comes in around 500 to 600 rupees for 750ml. This is quite less compared to the other whiskeys and does not disappoint in taste as well.
Q5. What are the different types of whiskey?
Ans: The different types of whiskey are scotch whiskey, American whiskey, Japanese whiskey and Irish whisky. They differ in taste and are made with different ingredients and aged in different ways.
