Popular whisky brands in India make whisky typically from a blend of grains, including malted barley, corn, wheat, and sometimes even a touch of molasses-derived spirit. The unique climate in India, with extreme temperatures and humidity, accelerates the ageing process, resulting in whiskies with distinctive flavours. Let’s go through the top 10 whisky brands in India!
Below, we have compiled a list of the popular whisky brands in India, arranged in ascending order based on the number of cases sold in 2023.
| Rank & Whisky Brand | Company | Number of Cases Sold in 2023 (in millions) |
|---|---|---|
| #1 McDowell’s No.1 | United Spirits | 31.4 |
| #2 Royal Stag | Pernod Ricard India | 27.9 |
| #3 Officer’s Choice | Allied Blenders and Distillers | 23.4 |
| #4 Imperial Blue | Pernod Ricard India | 22.8 |
| #5 8PM | Radico Khaitan | 12.2 |
| #6 Blenders Pride | Pernod Ricard India | 9.6 |
| #7 Royal Challenge | United Spirits | 8.6 |
| #8 Sterling Reserve | Allied Blenders and Distillers | 5.1 |
| #9 Director’s Special | United Spirits | 3.3 |
| #10 Signature | ADS Spirits | 2.9 |
Source: Brand Champions 2024 - The Spirits Business
Now, let’s learn more about these top-selling whisky brands in India:
The unique aspect of McDowell"s No. 1 is its composition, which is a blend of imported Scotch and select Indian malts. As part of its marketing efforts, McDowell"s No. 1 has been actively involved in Bollywood and cricket, associating itself with various films and sporting events. It has also sponsored music concerts.
Royal Stag has achieved significant success over the years. It is known for its exceptional quality and affordability and is available in various pack sizes in numerous countries worldwide.
Officer"s Choice"s success is attributed to its affordable pricing and widespread appeal. Kishore Chhabria is the man behind the brand. His vision was to provide a sense of high status at a low price, which was achieved through the brand"s name and packaging, featuring naval officer stripes.
The brand"s 35th anniversary in 2023 was marked by the release of a Limited Edition Officer’s Choice Blended Scotch Whisky,which was distilled, blended, and bottled in Scotland.
Since 2002, when it became part of Pernod Ricard, Imperial Blue has seen consistent growth and has managed to retain its position as one of the top-selling whisky brands in India.
The brand has been successfully marketed with the "Men will be Men" campaign, known for its quirky messaging. This campaign has gained a cult status in India.
Imperial Blue has also made strategic associations with music and football to connect with its target audience, indicating its focus on resonating with younger demographics.
The 8PM Premium Black is notable for its fruity and sweet aroma with a hint of peat, offering a well-balanced bouquet. The taste profile includes a medium body with a slight sweetness and a hint of fruitiness, leading to a rich and medium finish.
The brand has been part of the Pernod Ricard group since 2001. Blenders Pride has consistently maintained a position as a high-quality whisky tailored to the tastes of whisky enthusiasts in India.
Blenders Pride also offers a Reserve Collection, launched in 2011, which caters to discerning whisky enthusiasts with an evolved fruity palate.
Royal Challenge became the first whisky brand to reach the 1 million cases benchmark within the mid-prestige price segment.
Furthermore, Royal Challenge was recognised for its quality by winning the best Indian Whisky Gold at The International Whisky Competition in 2011.
Sterling Reserve has been actively promoting its brand through various campaigns, including advertising during major events like the Indian Premier League.
Signature Premier Whisky contains notes of honey, fruits, and a tinge of malt, while Signature Rare has notes of dried fruits and nuts. This is a three-grain whisky blended with Indian malts and grain spirits. The brand saw an increase in sales by 15.9 percent. According to Spirits Business magazine, Signature is one of only two brands on their list of the biggest-selling Indian whiskies to show double-digit growth.
First Published: Oct 16, 2024, 10:39
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