Indian spirits have entered a more assured phase. It is less about chasing trends and more about refining identity. The new releases reflect that shift. The gin boom has slowed, opening space for rums, whiskies, wines, beers, and indigenous spirits that show better balance and clearer intent. Brands are leaning less on novelty and more on ingredients and technique. These bottles offer a snapshot of where Indian alcohol is right now, and where it’s starting to head.
Camikara Rum 3YO Cask Aged
This rum is a confident outlier in a quiet year for Indian rum. Aged for three years in American oak and bottled at 42.8 per cent ABV, it is non–chill filtered, lending the spirit a notably richer texture. Vanilla and polished oak lead, followed by leather and a restrained trace of tobacco that adds depth without heaviness. The profile balances structure and clarity, allowing the cane juice character to remain visible beneath the cask influence. Designed to challenge the idea of rum as seasonal, it works neatly over ice or as a composed cocktail base, while remaining firmly credible as a year-round sipping rum.
Cashmir Vodka
Cashmir Vodka is a provenance-forward, small-batch expression. Distilled from Sona Moti, a rare 2,000-year-old non-GMO heritage wheat from Punjab, and proofed with spring water sourced from the Kashmir Valley, it foregrounds raw material over theatrics. Seven-times distilled and filtered through activated carbon, mango charcoal, and precious metal layers, the result is notably soft. A mild wheat sweetness anchors the palate, followed by a gentle pepper lift that keeps it neutral.
Chandon Brut 2015 Vintage
Chandon Brut 2015 Vintage is arguably India’s most expensive wine, released to mark a decade of Chandon in the country. It distinguishes itself with an unexpected touch of Zinfandel in the blend, reshaping a familiar lemon, green apple, and brioche profile into something darker and more complex. Eight years of extended yeast ageing introduce earthy, pastry, and cheese-rind nuances, while Chardonnay brings precision. The Zinfandel adds richness, underpinning a rare dark chocolate and cacao note seldom seen in Indian sparkling wines.
Cherrapunji Gin
A true standout in a cooling gin market, Cherrapunji Gin is made exactly where the name suggests and housed in a striking steel bottle. The nose opens with zesty citrus, leading to a bright palate built on fresh Himalayan juniper sourced from Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, layered with pungent forest peppers, warm spice, and a subtle smoky edge. Botanicals are foraged across Northeast India, including sun-dried peel from GI-tagged Khasi mandarins and Assam tea, grounding the gin firmly in place. Versatile enough for a crisp G&T or a focused martini, it deserves far greater visibility on duty-free shelves worldwide.
Maya Pistola Extra Añejo Tequila
Maya Pistola Extra Añejo continues to set the pace for Indian agave, delivering its most complete and mature expression to date. Crafted from 100 per cent Agave Americana and aged in a combination of virgin American oak and ex-bourbon barrels, it shows real depth and restraint. Bottled at 48 per cent ABV, the palate is velvety and layered, moving through dark chocolate, spiced caramel, candied cherry, toffee, and honey, before settling into a subtle, earthy smokiness. Rich without excess, it feels firmly grown-up and sippable. Best enjoyed neat or over ice, it represents a significant step forward for Indian agave on the premium stage.
Paul John Madeira Select Cask Single Malt
Paul John Madeira Cask arrives at a moment when Indian whisky is claiming premium ground, and it rewards repeat visits. Finished in Madeira casks and bottled at 48 per cent ABV, the unpeated single malt shows a deep mahogany hue and a correspondingly dense mouthfeel. Aromas of ripe cherry, manuka honey, peach, and orange zest are wrapped in caramel and a hint of chocolate. The palate leans indulgent—tropical fruit, salted caramel, and roasted nuts—before settling into a long, full-bodied finish edged with crisp oak.
Six Brothers Mahura
This spirit is a masterclass in making an indigenous spirit from Central and East India feel current. Crafted in small batches from mahua flowers, double-distilled in India’s oldest copper pot stills, and platinum-filtered, it delivers a cleaner, more composed expression of the tribal alcohol without losing soul. The nose leans earthy and fruity, with dried hay, green fig, apricot, and spice. The palate balances sweetness, light salinity, pepper, and gentle umami. Smartly priced and sharply packaged, it also delivers a Negroni that simply works.
Sound Vodka Coffee Liqueur
Sound Vodka Coffee Liqueur sits in the grey area between category and craving. Technically a liqueur at 25 per cent ABV, it earns its place alongside vodka through intent and execution. Made with all-natural Arabica coffee, it delivers a clean, expressive coffee profile without tipping into cloying sweetness. The texture is smooth, the flavour direct, and the finish restrained. It blurs the line between nightcap and dessert, and works just as comfortably neat as it does in pared-back cocktails where the coffee leads.
