Move on from Usual Alcohol and Checkout These 23 Best & Flavored Alcohol Brands in India

11 min readFeb 27, 2021

People in our country have an immense love for alcohol, be it wine, beer, whiskey, or gin. It is a perfect companion to any occasion and there is one for every mood. But sometimes, drinking the same spirit can be quite boring. Then comes to the rescue is flavored alcohol which can be fruity, sweet, spicy so every person can choose according to one’s preferable taste. Thankfully, there are many in the market and each of these flavors is unique on its own. Many people don’t like the flavor of unflavored alcohol and prefer flavored ones over the usual ones. Depending on your craving, you can choose yours from these 23 best-flavored alcohol brands in India.

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Beer

1. Breezer

When we think of flavored beer, the first one that pops in our mind is Breezer. Breezer has made all of us lose our alcohol virginity. It is a fruit-based alcopop with a varied percentage of alcohol content that differs from country to country. It comes in a massive range of fruit flavors and pioneered the class of flavored beers which includes: peach, apple, lemon, ruby grapefruit, pineapple, orange, watermelon, cranberry, blackberry, blueberry, pomegranate, lime, raspberry, coconut, mango, and strawberry. There are just too many. Isn’t it!

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2. Simona

Established in 2017, Thirsty beers aim to bring back origin to the art of beer and brews. Simona is Thirsty Beer’s second product which is a premium wheat beer. If you are looking for a flavored beer that offers aromas of banana and a clove-like spiciness, this is a perfect pick. It is a favorite in summers and is brewed using pure wheat malts and live yeast.

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3. Bira 91

Bira 91, where the number 91 stands for India’s country code, is a brand new craft beer that’s taking urban India by storm. Introduced in 2015, it’s already turned out to be a household call amongst beer fans and is the very best selling premium beer in lots of bars. The company pursuits to fill the space in the market for a trendy, unorthodox, fun, and smart brand of beer. It comes in different variants: White, Strong, Blonde, and The Indian Pale Ale. The Indian Pale Ale should be your top pick when choosing a flavored beer as it has rich aromas of tropical fruits with low bitterness and a hint of spicy citrus with a soft finish.

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Rum

4. Barcelo

Founded in 1930, Barcelo is the name and brand of different types of rums from the Dominican Republic and has its plant and distillery in San Pedro de Macorís. This is aged between 4 and 10 years and offers a superb flavor profile — sweet and spicy with a hint of caramel. It has 8 variants and is sold in over 50 countries, ranking it the 4th largest exporter of rum in the world.

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5. Angostura

Angostura’s story began in 1824 and now is the world’s most awarded rum range. It is a smooth rum and one of the most favorite flavored rums of many. It has deep flavors of clove, tamarind, and cinnamon. The owners claim that ‘the rums are 100% Trinidadian, made in one distillery on one Island’. The aged rums are blended, re-casked, and upon maturity hand-drawn for bottling and are truly smokey and oaky.

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6. Appleton Estate

Jamaican rums are typically fruity and pungent, and this rum is no exception. When it comes to flavored rums, there is nothing like this old and gold Appleton Estate. It is the most famous and oldest of all of Jamaica’s sugar-cane estates. It makes rich and aromatic rums with cinnamon and butterscotch flavors and is known for its long-aged editions. Due to the island’s warm climate, there is a much higher rate of evaporation that led aged Jamaican rums for between 25 and 35 years.

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7. Ron Matusalem

A super-premium rum of exceptional quality, Ron Matusalem is a complexly flavored rum. It is a Caribbean premium rum that was started by the Camp brothers in 1872 as a family affair and is now produced in the Dominican Republic. During the 1950s, the brand was one of the top premium rums in Cuba and the main flavors are caramel, chocolate, fruity, floral, vanilla, and nutty. The key to its complexity is the Solera aging process where various mature rums are blended together carefully.

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8. Sailor Jerry

Sailor Jerry, originally an American tattoo artist, started Sailor Jerry Ltd. in 1999 which produced an array of things. This is one of the top favorite flavored rum. The all-natural spices and flavors give this rum a rich, smooth taste characterized by top notes of vanilla and cinnamon. The recipe was recently changed and made slightly less sweet but spicier. It has a decent amber color with a bit of a red tinge.

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9. Bacardi

Bacardi is a family-owned spirits company that has more than 200 brands and labels. Founded in 1862, it now has sales in more than 150 countries. It is a hot pick, especially for youngsters when it comes to flavored rum. It is a smooth rum having a sweet and fruity taste with notes of vanilla and peaches. Bacardi’s black, open-winged fruit bat logo is world-famous. Bacardi Rum has 3 main flavors — Bacardi Select (Dark Rum), Bacardi Superior (White Rum), and Bacardi Gold (Gold Rum).

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Wine

10. Fratelli SETTE

Fratelli SETTE is a smooth and flavored wine (red) with rich flavors of smoky coffee and b. Relatively highly-priced, this is one of the most popular brands in India. SETTE means ‘Seven’ in Italian which indicates that it is a dream that the seven brothers of Fratelli had. The top 1% of the grapes from the Fratelli’s estate-owned vineyards in Akluj near Pune go into fulfilling this dream. SETTE is a barrel-aged red wine, matured in French oak for 14 months.

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11. Grover La Reserve

Grover La Reserve is aged 16 months and is manufactured in Nandi Hills of Bangalore. This is a well-balanced medium-bodied wine with complex layers and is jam-packed with flavors. It delivers a smoky aroma, with notes of bacon to the dark plum and roasted cherry flavors. The soft finish features some peppery notes and combines grace and majesty on the palate.

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12. Crios Torrontes

Susana Balbo has been called the ‘Evita of Wine’ and the ‘Queen of Torrontes’. Her Crios Torrontes which is made in Argentina is a flavored wine (white). It is a floral and fruity drink with apple blossom, peach, orange citrus, and lime. On the palate, it has a tangy acidity and notes of fresh grapes. This wine works with smoked meats and seafood.

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13. Carpene Malvolti Prosecco

Antonio Carpene founded his winery in 1860, having been fascinated with Champagne. Carpene Malvolti Prosecco is a full-flavored wine (sparkling) made in North-East Italy. Fine and continuous bubbles, the wine is fruity, extra dry, and appealing. It has a floral and fresh fruit bouquet with a lemony finish and ripe expressions of apple.

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Scotch

14. Macallan

Macallan distillery, founded in 1824, is located in Moray and was one of the first Scottish distilleries to be legally licensed. In 2009, it was reported that this flavored scotch is the world’s third largest-selling single malt and second-largest by value. The Macallan is sweet and full, but not overly complex. Lots of sherry, plums, powdered sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg give it a silky, round mouthfeel. A lot of time and effort is invested in the making of Macallan and was matured only in oak sherry casks.

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15. Bruichladdich

Bruichladdich distillery was built-in 1881 by the Harvey brothers and sits opposite the western shore of Loch Indaal on Islay. The distillery produces mainly single malt Scotch whisky and is one of eight working distilleries on the island. This flavored scotch has characteristics of butterscotch, apple, papaya, vanilla, and lemon. The tropical fruit flavors slowly fade to leave a delicious mixture of salty vanilla.

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16. The Dalmore

One of the most legendary distilleries in the world, The Dalmore was founded by Alexander Matheson in 1839. It has a unique maturation process: many expression of The Dalmore is matured in 2 precious wooden casks: American white oak ex-bourbon casks and exclusive aged sherry casks from Gonzalez Byass. This flavored scotch is undeniably one of rich, full-bodied toasty whisky, with orange, chocolate, and coffee flavors.

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17. The Glenlivet

The Glenlivet distillery was founded in 1824 and the brand is the biggest selling single malt whisky in the US and the second biggest selling single malt brand globally. This flavored scotch is a pretty creamy refreshing malt and packs in a citrusy punch, with the smooth aroma of grapefruit, lemon, and juicy citrus notes lingering on long after you’ve completed your drink.

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18. Johnnie Walker

Originated in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock, Johnnie Walker is a brand of flavored Scotch whiskey now owned by Diageo. The brand was first established by grocer John Walker. It is the most widely distributed brand of blended Scotch whiskey in the world and is sold in almost every country. On the nose, it’s all about the honey with thick caramel notes and subtle nutmeg spice. Smooth elements come through on the palate, along with sweet, spicy vanilla with a sweet finish. Black Label exhibits an intense, rich gold hue and is accompanied by rich, complex, and full-bodied aromas which are fruity and smoky.

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19. Talisker

Talisker distillery, founded in 1830 is an Island single malt-flavored Scotch whiskey distillery based in Carbost, Scotland. The spirit is most frequently matured in the American oak cask and is loved all over the world for its marine character. It has a fresh, fragrant nose and pungent smoke with black pepper, with a touch of brine and dry barley. Orchard fruit provides a beautiful and delicate balance. Talisker tastes sweeter than it smells. It has a heavy mouthfeel, full of smoke and iodine, with a peppery finish.

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Gin

20. Fords Gin

It is a classic London Dry Gin and works well when sipping cocktails. Fords Gin has 9 botanicals — juniper, orange, coriander, grapefruit, lemon, orris, jasmine, cassia, and angelica. These botanicals are from the 125-year-old English importing business and the gin itself is made in England at Thames Distillers. This flavored gin has an earthy backbone and piney juniper flavor with a gentle floral note. The finish has a cinnamon bite and a moderately bitter flavor.

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21. Gunpowder

A handcrafted Irish gin, Gunpowder is a flavored gin made with juniper, angelica, orris, caraway, coriander, meadowsweet, cardamom, and star anise as well as vapor infused oriental lemon and lime, fresh grapefruit, and gunpowder tea. It is distilled at The Shed Distillery, Ireland, and has bright citrus and green tea notes which are complemented by spices.

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22. Bulldog

Bulldog is a delicious English gin made with 12 botanicals including poppy, dragon eye, lotus leaves, citrus, almond, lavender, and many more. This flavored gin is distilled 4 times in copper pot stills. The nose on opening the bottle has more complex aromas than other gins and is very different. The gin tastes best when mixed with an ice-cold Schweppes tonic and a twist of lemon zest.

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23. Colombo №7

A gin-like no other, Colombo №7 is a distinctly Sri Lankan take on a London dry gin and is the first Asian-made handcrafted gin. It uses 7 spices and botanicals, 4 native botanicals being — cinnamon bark, curry leaves, ginger root, and coriander seeds. Colombo №7 is a properly balanced gin. The finish has great white pepper notes. The gin is based on a 70-year-old-recipe and is distilled in small batches in traditional copper pot stills.