The whisky shelves in India are getting harder to predict, and that is a good thing. The latest What India Is Drinking 2026 survey, which tracks the whisky brands being poured across premium bars, shows a mix of familiar international names and increasingly confident Indian single malt whiskies. The survey covered 155 bars across 18 cities, with bartenders, bar owners and beverage leads mentioning 527 brands across 21 categories. When it comes to single malt whisky bottles, there are a few familiar faces at the front, but the homegrown whisky bottles in India are also making it very difficult to ignore them. Here are the top 5 single malt whiskies in India in 2026 and the list spans Yamazaki, Glenfiddich, the Glenlivet, Indri and Godawan whisky - whiskies that stood out in the survey. These whiskies lead their respective single malt whisky categories.
Japanese whisky continues to have serious pull in India's premium bars. Yamazaki whisky takes the top spot in the International Single Malt Whisky category. Its position is particularly interesting because Japanese whisky has moved from niche curiosity to a fixture on high-end back bars. Yamazaki's place at No. 1 shows that its appeal in India extends well beyond collectors and whisky enthusiasts.
The Yamazaki Single Malt price is ₹19,955 for 700ml in Mumbai.
In the Scottish Single Malt category, Glenfiddich whisky remains at the top. The Speyside distillery has one of the most recognisable names in Scotch, and its continued presence at No. 1 suggests that familiarity still carries plenty of weight at India's bars.
The Glenfiddich 12 Year Old price is ₹6,900 for 700ml in Mumbai.
The Glenlivet whisky occupies the second position in the Scottish Single Malt category, keeping the long-running Speyside rivalry very much alive.
Its position also shows how strongly approachable, polished single malts continue to feature in India's premium on-trade. For drinkers who prefer fruit-forward Scotch over heavier, peat-driven styles, it remains one of the familiar names shaping the category.
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old price is ₹5,500 for 750ml in Mumbai.
The homegrown single malt scene is where the 2026 report gets particularly interesting. Indri whisky leads the Indian Single Malt category, putting a homegrown name at the top of the country's domestic single malt whisky conversation.
That is part of a broader shift highlighted by the survey: Indian brands are appearing more frequently and more prominently across premium bar menus, rather than simply occupying a specialist corner of the back bar.
Indri Trini price is ₹5,900 for 750ml in Mumbai.
Godawan takes the No. 2 spot among Indian Single Malts, behind Indri and ahead of Paul John. The Diageo-backed Indian single malt whisky has therefore, moved into a strong position in a category that is becoming increasingly competitive.
Godawan Whisky 01 Rich And Rounded price is ₹5,400 for 700ml in Mumbai.
The What India Is Drinking 2026 survey result is a useful snapshot of where the whisky culture in India stands in 2026. International names still command major attention, but Indian single malt whiskies are no longer merely supporting characters.
The most interesting part of the 2026 results is the mix. Yamazaki leads international single malt, Glenfiddich leads Scottish single malt, and Indri and Godawan sit at the front of India's homegrown category.
There is no single whisky style dominating the conversation. Instead, premium bars in India are making room for Scotch, Japanese and Indian whiskies side by side and that makes the the whisky scene here considerably more interesting to drink your way through.