There are a plethora of brands to choose from. While most of them would be fancy brands from around the world, there are 10 desi liquor brands that are changing the liquor scene in the country. Some of them are award-winning, whereas some are lesser known.
Desmond Ji- Tequila
A little-known fact is that tequila made in Mexico can only be called tequila. It cannot bear the name of tequila if it’s made anywhere else, hence this agave liquor, aka tequila is distilled and manufactured in Goa by Desmond Nazareth. This top-shelf alcohol is made with blue-green agave sourced from the Deccan Plateau, the alcohol brand currently produces five spirits -Agave (100%), Agave Gold with an oak finish, Agave (51%), Margarita and Blue Margarita blend- through their facilities in Andhra Pradesh and Goa and is available across Goa, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Delhi.
Amrut- Single Malt Whisky
Launched in 2004, Amrut is India’s first single-malt whisky. The word Amrut stems from the Sanskrit word, Amrit meaning elixir of life. Made from barley sourced from the foothills of the Himalaya and aged in wooden oak barrels that gives it distinct colour and flavour, Amrut easily ranks in the top 10 whisky around the world. Amrut single malt whisky is sold in 11 variants.
Paul John- Single Malt Whisky
So Paul John did not technically start off as an Indian brand. It was first distilled in London and after receiving an overwhelming response, it spread to other parts of the world. Now the headquarters are based in Bangalore whereas the distillery is based in Goa. The whisky is made up of Indian ingredients like barley from the Himalayas and indigenous ingredients from the bay of Goa. It is the barley, water and charred oak caskets which allows you to call it, The Great Indian Single Malt. Available in stores across Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Delhi, It contains an average of 46% alcohol.
Solan No. 1- Whiskey
Brewed in the foothills of Himalayas, Solan No. 1 is made by the same distillers who also make the popular Old Monk we so dearly love. Solan No. 1 is blended with mature Malt Spirits produced using traditional Scottish methods of malting, kneading, and distillation on vintage copper pot stills and aged in aged oak casks. Its name comes from the village names Solan near Kasauli.
Wild Tiger- Rum
If your prefered poison is run and wanna give something else a try, venture upon Wild Tiger Rhum. The striking stripped packaging is hard to miss. Pegged as India’s first premium rhum, Wild Tiger is a blend of molasses and pure sugar cane spirits that are aged in ex-Bourbon oak wood casks. It has gathered a lot of praises, and the smooth finish will win you over. It also makes for a great gift to someone who loves their rum. Have they earned their stripes? We think so!