For obvious reasons, the last quarter is always the busiest time for the alcohol industry. We have had many exciting launches in the recent past. In August, India got its first jaggery rum in the form of Huli. Produced at a micro-distillery near Mysore, the single-origin jaggery rum is only available in Karnataka. Allied Blenders & Distillers (ABDL), the country’s third largest, has entered the market with Zoya gin, while Stranger & Sons has teamed up with coffee specialist Subko to create Filtr Martini, a ready-to-drink cocktail. Whiskey maker Paul John is also preparing an annual Christmas release, which is expected to have notes of mango and pineapple and a long fruity aftertaste. The Christmas Edition was aged in Caribbean rum and American virgin oak barrels. Here we take a look at some of the other standout releases that caught our eye and should ideally find a place in our home bar or yours this winter.
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A rare cask of Macallan 2023
Glasgow-headquartered Edrington Group, which owns The Macallan, has been paying more attention to India of late, and understandably so. In April of this year, it released the very limited edition M 2023, which is considered to be one of the darkest whiskeys created by the distiller. It has now dropped the Rare Cask, which, as the name suggests, was made from the distinctive sherry-fixed oak casks at the well-known Speyside whiskey producer’s warehouses. Rare Cask whiskeys are annual releases made in collaboration with a famous individual. The 2023 Release, a rich, complex whiskey with a velvety taste and hints of sweet raisin, was created in collaboration with Scottish musician and composer Charlie Burchill. At a price of approx ₹40,000, this is the whiskey to drink at your leisure after the festive buzz dies down.
Golden Gin Jaisalmer
Radico Khaitan’s Jaisalmer Gin, which commands a 50% market share in the premium gin category, has been providing a consistently excellent experience for the past five years. And that’s fueling extreme curiosity about the newly released gold edition, which the company says uses a filtration process involving “interwoven golden silk threads” that enhance its smoothness. The botanicals in the gin include saffron, the most expensive spice in the world, as well as orange peel from Nagpur; green tea from Darjeeling; and pink pepper from eastern India. The Gold Edition costs between ₹4000 and ₹7000.
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Amrut Bello
In 2012, Amrut obtained India’s first-ever jaggery distilling license and subsequently created Two Indies, a blend of Indian jaggery rum and molasses-based rums from the Caribbean. With his latest launch, Bella, he extends his engagement with the jagger. Bello, one of the world’s first rums made with jaggery, uses jaggery from Mandya, the sugarcane state of Karnataka. It is distilled in stills and aged for six years in ex-bourbon barrels. Amrut says the craft rum is both fruity and chocolatey, with a sweet almond undertone. Bella for the price ₹3500 in Karnataka.
Indra Diwali 2024 Edition
The widely-awarded Indri Annual Series is back with another acclaimed whisky. Aged in Pedro Ximezez sherry casks, the Diwali editions have a very different profile to Indri Trini. The 2024 edition is bottled at 50% volume and promises sweet peat smoke and elegant sherry notes. Whiskey sold at retail ₹15,000 and recently won Gold at the World Whiskeys Awards, available only in Gurugram.
Vodkas “Russian Standard” and “Onegin”.
You might think that the vodka scene has died down, but the fact is that 13 million cases of vodka are sold in India every year, and the category is growing at around 20%. Both of the last vodkas on the shelves of the Pizzeria. The Russian Standard range, distributed by ABDL, uses glacial water and winter wheat from the Russian steppes. Prices range from ₹2200 for the original ₹5,000 for Platinum in Maharashtra. Onegin, imported by Monika Alkobev, is triple charcoal filtered and infused with almond, honey distillate and vanilla infusions. Vodka, named after the main character of Alexander Pushkin’s novel, is sold at a price ₹5400.
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Arthouse
ABDL, which owns million-dollar brands such as Officer’s Choice Whiskey and Sterling Reserve, is stepping up its premium game. The latest addition to the premium portfolio, in addition to Zoya gin and Russian Standard Vodka, is Arthaus Blended Malt Scotch. The whiskey is a blend of single malts from the Highlands and Speyside in Scotland and is sold in ₹4800 in Mumbai.
