Luxury whisky brands and the rise of premium drinking culture in India

As tequila edges out gin across India’s cocktail scene, luxury whisky brands are quietly becoming the dark horse, reshaping drinking culture. Imports such as Japanese whisky, the increasing visibility of Macallan India along with  homegrown labels are factors positioning the best whisky brands in India as markers of taste and aspiration.

“Indians today are more conscious of what they are consuming and can afford to spend more on it, resulting in a desire to elevate their lives, leading to a rise in consumption of luxury whisky brands,” says Yangdup Lama, mixologist and co-owner of Sidecar in New Delhi. “Today, when people travel, they not only visit the historic spots but also opt for spirit distillery tours. Whisky tourism is better than rum or tequila, thanks to a certain romanticisation of whisky which makes them luxury whisky brands. Japanese whiskies take the top slot among luxury whiskies,” adds Lama. He has recently opened The Old House in Kathmandu after 29 years in the hospitality industry. 

Experimentation plays a key role. Bars are working with ingredients such as matcha, soy, burnt butter washes, and miso, signalling how whisky cocktails in India are moving beyond traditional ‘on-the-rocks’ serves. “Classic drinks like the Martini, Manhattan, and Old Fashioned, where the major component of the drink is the base spirit, the whisky used plays a major role in the aroma, flavour, and finish. Luxury whisky brands elevate the cocktail experience,” explains Lama. 

In New Delhi, The Love Hotel’s  ‘The Late Checkout’ reinterprets whisky sour with coconut syrup,matcha, and a white chocolate float, while its umami-led drink, 'Oops! We did it again', pairs whisky with pineapple, soy sauce, and a burnt butter wash. PCO Bar’s ‘Brocade’ uses Dewar's 12 YO with coffee-infused Cinzano Rosso (a sweet red vermouth), hibiscus brine, and Choya Umeshu for a floral, savoury profile.  In Mumbai, Bandra Born’s 'A-Kela' blends banana and green cardamom, while Goa’s Boilermaker experiments with sesame, plum, miso, fresh lemon, and albumin, proof that luxury whisky brands are shaping how India is drinking. . 

Below, these seven labels are redefining Indian luxury whisky and imports: 

1. Amrut 

Among the first single malt whisky brands in India, Amrut set a benchmark for luxury whisky with its tropical ageing techniques. High temperatures accelerate spirit-oak interaction, producing richer, more concentrated flavours. Made from six-row Indian barley, Amrut’s whiskies carry notes of tropical fruit, honey, spice, and oak. The Fusion edition, combining unpeated Indian barley and peated Scottish barley, stands out for its smoky-spicy complexity, earning Amrut global recognition among thebest whisky brands.

Price: ₹5,000–₹9,000 (750 ml)

Availability: All over India (except dry states)

2. Glenmorangie

This Highland distillery’s 18-year-old whisky reflects India’s growing interest in aged luxury whisky brands. Matured for 15 years in American oak bourbon casks and finished for three years in Oloroso sherry casks, it delivers honeyed notes, caramelised orange, and jasmine. Glenmorangie’s presence in the country highlights how the best whisky brands in India now include long-aged labels once restricted to global markets. Its smooth, layered profile makes it popular among bartenders experimenting with whisky cocktails in India.

Price: ₹9,500 and ₹15,841 (700 ml)

Availability: (Infinita 18 Years Old) Haryana and Maharashtra 

3. The Macallan 

Sherry-cask ageing defines The Macallan’s position among luxury whisky brands. Macallan has expanded availability of limited editions like Time Space Mastery and Harmony Amber Meadow, celebrated for dried fruit, spice, and sweet notes derived from sherry-seasoned casks in Jerez, Spain. The brand’s water source—boreholes along the River Spey, naturally filtered through granite bedrock—ensures consistency in both flavour and purity.Its collectible limited editions have made The Macallan a favourite for premium whisky cocktails, among enthusiasts and bartenders alike.

Price: ₹25,000–₹35,000 (limited editions, 700 ml)

Availability: Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, West Bengal, Assam

4. Crazy Cock

This 2023 launch by South Seas Distilleries represents a bold step in Indian luxury whisky. Its Single Malt Whisky RARE carries notes of warm spice and dried fruit, while DHUA introduces a subtle smokiness and a barbecue finish. Matured in first-fill ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, Crazy Cock uses cask techniques uncommon in India’s tropical climate, making it a sought-after choice for bartenders. Its smooth yet robust profile has positioned it as a versatile option for whisky cocktails in India.

Price: ₹4,000–₹6,000 (750 ml)

Availability: Boutique bars and state-licensed stores (Goa , Haryana, Maharashtra), and Duty-Free in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Goa, Bengaluru, and Chandigarh

5. Godawan

Crafted in Rajasthan, Godawan caters to collectors of single malt whisky in India. The limited 300-bottle run of its Single Malt uses six-row barley and a slow trickle distillation process, creating vanilla warmth, floral aromas, and a lightly spiced woody finish. Its Godawan 100 and Triple Cask editions—matured in ex-bourbon, PX sherry, virgin oak and cherry wood casks—highlight India’s growing presence in luxury whisky brands.

Price: ₹20,000–₹25,000 (500 ml)

Availability: Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Telangana, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and at Duty-Free in Bengaluru

6. Arthaus

A 2024 entrant, Arthaus blends Highlands and Speyside malts to cater to younger drinkers exploring luxury whisky brands. The whisky opens with bright citrus and vanilla, moving on to honey and dried fruit, finishing warm and nutty. Its approachable profile has made it a preferred option in upscale metro bars, reflecting howwhisky brandsnow balance global blends with accessibility for new whisky drinkers.

Price: ₹7,000–₹9,000 (700 ml)

Availability: Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal

Paul John

Distilled in Goa, Paul John’s annual Christmas blends have placed it firmly among Indian luxury whisky brands. Launched in 2018, these limited editions are noted for rich spiced notes reminiscent of Christmas cake, making them collector favourites. Its use of six-row barley and copper pot stills mirrors international single malt standards, allowing Paul John to compete with established imports as well as feature in premium whisky cocktails in India.

Price: ₹6,000–₹12,000 (750 ml)

Availability: Goa distillery outlet, Karnataka, Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Haryana and Kerala 

India’s evolving taste for luxury whisky

From the Japanese whisky India imports to homegrown single malts, the market is moving beyond status-driven collecting to experimentation and storytelling. Luxury whisky brands are no longer just symbols of wealth; they are shaping how urban India approaches flavour, travel, and even bar culture, creating a new vocabulary around premium spirits.