Every good bar has a few bottles that never stay on the shelf for long. They are the ones regulars ask for by name, and they are well worth keeping at home too. This list of bar-favourite whiskies covers Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Oban 14, The Macallan 12 Sherry Oak, Hibiki Japanese Harmony, Lagavulin 16, The Glenlivet 12 and Talisker 10, from a Kentucky bourbon built for cocktails to a peaty Islay classic. Whether you are stocking your first home bar or filling gaps in a growing whisky collection, here is what makes each pour special, along with its price in India, ABV and tasting notes.
This Kentucky bourbon is a familiar sight behind cocktail bars, and for good reason. It is rich enough to sip neat but sturdy enough to hold its own in an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan. You can expect dried fruit, vanilla, toasted oak, cocoa and a little spice. The Woodford Reserve Bourbon whiskey is bottled at 43.2% ABV.
Woodford Reserve Bourbon Whiskey Price in India: Rs 6,000 – Rs 500 (750 ml)
From Scotland's west coast, Oban 14 Year Old Whisky sits between light Highland malts and smoky island drams, which makes it an easy bottle to hand to almost anyone. It tastes of dried figs, honey, orange peel and a thread of sea salt and gentle smoke, at 43% ABV.
Oban 14 Year Old Whisky Price in India: Rs 8,500 – Rs 11,500 (750 ml)
The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak Whisky is the crowd-pleaser ofn the shelf. Matured in sherry-seasoned oak, this Speyside single malt delivers dried fruit, ginger, orange, vanilla and nutmeg, finishing warm and winey. It looks as good on the shelf as it tastes in the glass. The ABV is 40%, though some markets sell it at 43%.
The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak Whisky Price in India: Rs 13,500 – Rs 17,500 (750 ml)
Suntory's blend of malt and grain whiskies is prized for balance, and its 24-faceted bottle is hard to miss. The Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky is soft and gently floral on the nose, with rose, lychee, white chocolate, honey and a hint of sandalwood on the palate, at 43% ABV.
Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky Price in India: Rs 13,500 – Rs 18,000 (750 ml)
This is the bottle for smoke lovers. Sixteen years on Islay turns fierce peat into something deep and rounded, with heavy smoke, iodine, dark chocolate and dried figs leading to a long, warming finish. The Lagavulin 16 Year Old Whisky is bottled at 43% ABV and is best enjoyed slowly.
Lagavulin 16 Year Old Whisk Price in India: Rs 11,500 – Rs 14,500 (750 ml)
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Whisky is an easy-going Speyside malt that is a staple on bar shelves and a popular first single malt. It is light and fruity, with pear, vanilla, honey and floral notes, smooth enough for beginners and pleasant with a splash of water. ABV is 40%.
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Whisky Price in India: Rs 4,500 – Rs 6,500 (750 ml)
From the Isle of Skye, the Talisker 10 Year Old Whisky is peppery, salty and smoky in equal measure. It is a good step up from blended Scotch and works neat or in a highball. Expect sea salt, campfire smoke, sweet malted barley and a black-pepper bite at 45.8% ABV.
Talisker 10 Year Old Whisky Price in India: Rs 5,500 – Rs 6,800 (750 ml)
Note: Whisky prices in India are approximate for 750 ml bottles and vary by state excise duty and retailer.