While bars in India are having a moment with intriguing concepts and cocktails for tipplers, independent spirit labels are equally becoming innovative with their offerings. Homegrown alcohol brands are capturing India’s flavours, ingredients, craftsmanship and heritage with interesting spirits.
If you’re looking to stock up on some new bottles at your at-home bar this season, look no further. From innovative gins and artisanal whiskies to heritage-inspired rums, here are six new alcohol brands that are sure to stir things up indoors.
Six Brothers Mahura
With a heritage dating back to 1922, South Seas Distilleries has launched two Mahura spirits: Six Brothers 1922 Resurrection and Six Brothers Small Batch (Original). These represent the world’s first-ever matured Mahura spirit, crafted with a century of family expertise and distilled in India’s largest copper pot stills, typically used for the country’s oldest luxury Single Malts.
Six Brothers brings innovation to the Indian Heritage Spirits category. Made entirely from Mahura flowers, it celebrates the Chinoy family’s legacy as India’s oldest and largest Mahura distillers. The limited 1922 Resurrection edition, with only 102 bottles, honours the six brothers who pioneered Mahura distillation for royal families in the early 1900s, making it the world’s oldest matured Mahura spirit. Six Brothers Small Batch (Original) is a refined, small-batch Mahura spirit, double-distilled and platinum-filtered for a balanced taste. Its design, featuring six pairs of eyes, symbolises the family’s century-old craft. Notes include dried fruit, a silky, savoury palate, and a clean, spicy finish.
Price and Availability: Depending on its stock, Six Brothers 1922 Resurrection (750 ml) is priced at INR 1,02,000 and Six Brothers Small Batch (Original) (750 ml) is available in Maharashtra for INR 2492 with plans to expand to Goa and Haryana.
Daku
View this post on Instagram
This new rum comes from the founders of Chambal Gin. Bapuna Alcobrew has now launched Daku Rum, featuring two variants: Daku Gold and Daku Silver. These rums have already earned international accolades, including India’s Spiritz Grand Gold and medals from the UK, Bruxelles, and London awards.
Crafted in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, by third-generation distillers, Daku Rum embodies the bold spirit of the Chambal Valley. Daku Gold, an unaged rum with a deep amber hue, is finished in oak barrels, delivering flavours of cinnamon, sherry, and caramel. Daku Silver, a clear rum, is infused with vanilla, nutmeg, and mace, offering a smooth, refreshing finish.
Price and Availability: Available in Goa for INR 1,690 and Maharashtra for INR 2,900. Daku Rum is soon expanding to Rajasthan and Haryana.
Amrut Amalgam
Amrut Distilleries introduces India’s first pure malt whisky. Aged in both American oak and bourbon casks, Amrut Amalgam imparts light, sweet notes with a subtle spicy finish. Its versatile profile complements both traditional Indian dishes and international cuisines, making it an ideal addition to any holiday gathering.
Price and Availability: INR 3500; available in all retail stores
FILTR – Martini by Stranger & Sons X Subko
Coffee and gin might be a dangerous combination but we’re always on board with it. This time, South Indian filter coffee and the Kaapi ritual serve as an inspiration. Keeping up with cool creations, Stranger & Sons has collaborated with Subko to come up with the Filtr Martini, a ready-to-drink cocktail that reimagines the Espresso Martini. Crafted in small batches with premium ingredients, this gin offers a refined, sophisticated drinking experience with a bold, balanced flavour profile. Simply shake with ice for a frothy layer and finish with a Vanilla garnish spray.
Price & Availability: INR 2999 in Maharashtra and INR 2120 in Goa.
Woodpecker
This new homegrown beer label comes with a twist, quite literally. SOM Distilleries and Breweries Ltd. have launched India’s first twist-cap beer, Woodpecker Premium Beer in Karnataka. Eliminating the need for a bottle opener, this innovative brand offers an easy, hassle-free drinking experience.
The Woodpecker line includes two variants: Woodpecker Glide, a mild beer, and Woodpecker Crest, a bold, strong beer. Both are crafted with imported two-row barley, Indian malts and hops from Germany, making Woodpecker India’s first cross-malt beer. Brewed over 30 days with one batch per month, Woodpecker promises consistent, rich flavour. Glide is also a 100% natural brew, with no adjuncts like rice or sugar.
Distinct twist caps—yellow for Glide and black for Crest—make it easy to open. The bottles use direct print-on technology instead of paper labels for added sustainability and a modern look, with an anti-counterfeit neck profile for security.
Price & Availability: INR 150 onwards; available only in Karnataka, although the regular packaged bottles are also available in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Odisha.
ZigZag
After a successful debut in Goa, ZigZag arrives in Delhi NCR with vibrant flavours and quality distillation. It’s more than vodka; it’s an invitation to live boldly. Perfect for free spirits, ZigZag offers four flavours—Original, Lime, Orange, and Green Apple—in sizes 750ml, 375ml, and 180ml. Crafted with carbon, silver, platinum, and gold filtration, ZigZag promises a smooth experience that turns everyday moments into celebrations.
Price & Availability: Between INR 400-450 for the Original variant (750ml); available in three sizes—750ml, 375ml, and 180ml— ZigZag is offered at retail outlets, bars, and restaurants across Goa and Delhi.
