From the best of Indian craft gins to new versions of the most iconic single malt brands in the world, here are the best spirits that you can pick this Diwali!
So you’re prepping for a full-fledged Diwali party, and you’re set with the very best hampers and party plan for the festival. However, matching your festive fervour also means ramping up your selection of spirits at your home bar–and with India’s wonderful alco-bev industry stepping up its game with every passing week, the choices you have are an eclectic kaleidoscope of spirits that should please everyone’s palates. On this note, here’s looking at the best spirits for this festive season which would find their place at your home bar, or in your Diwali gift hamper as well.
Glenmorangie Limited Edition Festive Pack
Given the timeless, eternal nature of single malt whiskey, it’s hard to not start a Diwali gifting list of spirits without it — that too for one of the most iconic single malt brands in the world. One of its newest renditions is the Limited Edition Festive Pack by Glenmorangie — a single malt version that is seemingly made for cocktails. Fancy yourself the classic Manhattan? This could well be your best bet!
Greater Than
One of India’s first craft gins and also one of the most prominent, Greater Than today enjoys a steady following thanks to its smooth texture, its dry profile that befits its place among all the London dry gins in the world, and the fact that it is one of the best gins for a party. Add to it the fact that gins are pretty much at the top of the list for custom-creating cocktails, and you have a winner at hand here.
Belvedere
If you prefer vodka, chances are that you like the slightly sharper profile of a white spirit — and Belvedere is right at the top among premium vodka choices to make. This Polish vodka prides itself as a ‘strictly kosher’ drink that is made with stringent rules, and this festive season, you can even pick a special edition Belvedere Pure vodka for your party this month.
The Macallan 18yo Double Cask
One of the greatest heavyweights in the world of single malt whiskey, The Macallan is one of the best known and respected names–even among the greatest purists of whiskies around the world. The Macallan 18-year-old double cask is one of the most premium whiskies that you can buy, by any metric, with it being matured in American oak casks, and the much vaunted Oloroso sherry casks. Reserve The Macallan for that special gift, or for the most special moments in this season.
Hapusa Distiller’s Cut
Alongside Greater Than, Hapusa has also been one of the most well recognised names in the craft gin space. For this festive season, Hapusa is adding an extra bit of zing to the festive season with the Hapusa Distiller’s Cut — a special variant of the gin with added alcohol content, one that amplifies how you taste the botanicals in the gin.
Jerry’s Cocktails
Quite often, you may want to look at finding a shortcut around creating the best cocktails in the world. While plenty of pre-mixed cocktail preparations have failed, Jerry’s Cocktails have quickly picked up adoption as one of the more reliable options. From gin mixes to whiskey concoctions, Jerry’s could give you a great leg up this Diwali!
Smoke Lab
Fancy yourself a vodka, the vegan way? Smoke Lab has offered a gluten free, strictly vegan take on the white spirit–thus making it a rather interesting proposition for your festive parties. Not only does it add a choice of diversity, but Smoke Lab also adds plenty of zing to the taste of vodka, if a sharp, stiff drink is what you prefer.
Simba and Bira
Simba and Bira are perhaps two of the most recognisable names in the range of Indian beer brands. This Diwali, stock up at your beer bar with evergreen, trustworthy entrants such as the strong yet smooth Bira Gold that many with fondness for the bitterness in the froth would love, as well as the effervescent Bira Light. From Simba, stock up on the fruity, sweet Simba Wit, and the Simba Stout–which is interestingly a beer that’s great for all-day parties!
Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19yo Batch 4
Yet another iconic, everlasting single malt brand from the legendary Islay region of Scotland, Ardbeg is a towering single malt presence–even in the venerable range of brands that market single malt whiskies around the world. This festive season, Ardbeg is introducing a limited, collector’s edition single malt–the fourth batch of its permanent 19-year-old collection, which is released in limited numbers every year. It is available in duty-free only, so if you’re coming back from a trip or going for one, be sure to pick it up. This one’s for the keeps!
Hennessy X.O.
They say that every party gets an added bit of weight when you add a cognac to it, so the festive Diwali list could not really be completed without the venerable Hennessy X.O. The sweet yet stiff taste of cognac is one that works as a great post-dinner drink–perhaps after you’re done dancing and it’s the conversation hour of the after-party. Nevertheless, it’s an evergreen choice that can never really be ignored.