The Undisputed leader in the premium whisky category, Seagram’s Blenders Pride has introduced a limited-edition pack in association with design maestro Manish Malhotra. The limited-edition pack echoes the impeccable craft of the designer and invites the consumers to ‘taste the stardom’ so one can celebrate the rich taste and unmatched craftsmanship of the pack, making a bold style statement that spells out ‘My Craft, My Pride’.
 The unique collectible reverberates with a contemporary design that is a true representation of the glamourous curations the designer is synonymous with. Inspired by the skillfully crafted smooth blend, the limited-edition pack is adorned with intricate patterns of his creations - with warm metallic accents and tones that build a sense of glamour, celebration, and lifestyle. Manish Malhotra’s time-honed legacy, built over 30 years, is highlighted on the pack, which embodies a seamless blend of fine craftsmanship that reflects his signature style.

Beam Suntory’s International Blended Whisky Oaksmith® Gold and Oaksmith® International win Gold and Double Gold at SIP Awards and both variants win bronze at the London Spirits Competition for its blends.
India’s first International Blended Whisky ‘Oaksmith® Gold’ was recently recognized at two of world’s most prestigious awards in alco-beverages. At the 13th Annual SIP Awards at California, USA, ‘Oaksmith® Gold’ and its blend variant ‘Oaksmith® International’ won Gold and Double Gold - a testament to the Finest Japanese Craftsmanship and world-class quality the blend delivers given its commitment to purity, precision, and finest ingredients. As world’s only internationally recognized spirits competition that uses real consumers as judging panel, both blend variants  competed with more than 1,000 brands from 49 countries, judged on the basis of aroma, taste, and finish.
Additionally, at the 4th London Spirits Competition - ultimate seal of approval in spirits industry globally, both variants won bronze for quality, value & packaging. Judging panel consisted of spirits industry experts, with commercial buying responsibility, to ensure competition winners were exactly the types of spirits preferred by trade as well as end consumer.

Neeraj Kumar, Managing Director, Beam Suntory India said, “It is a moment of great pride for our whisky brands ‘Oaksmith® Gold’ and ‘Oaksmith® International’ to receive a grand recognition at both SIP Awards and London Spirits Competition. Oaksmith® is a premium Indian whisky crafted by Suntory’s Chief Blender, Shinji Fukuyo, and combines the finest Scotch Malts and smoothest American Bourbons using unmatched Japanese blending techniques, bringing best of East and West. These awards are a true honor and testament to the very reason Oaksmith® was launched in India - to be a brand of choice for all, while continuing to offer a premium experience to our Indian consumers. We are extremely delighted that both blend variants ‘Oaksmith® Gold’ and ‘Oaksmith® International’ performed so well at these global award platforms.”
After a successful launch in India in December 2019, the brand is rapidly expanding its geographies across the country while it continues to receive immense appreciation from consumers.  The brand has already sold 100,000 cases in a few months since its launch in India.
(Excerpt from a release)

Asia's 50 Best Bars unveiled it list of top bars ranking 51-100 a week ahead of its finale. This list included bars from 12 countries and 22 cities and the only amongst them from India was Hoots' an erstwhile speakeasy located within the Perch wine and coffee bar in New Delhi. 
The virtual ceremony for the top 50 is slated for 6th May and all eyes certainly would be on Sidecar from New Delhi which emerged victorious at number 40 in 2020 and put India on the cocktail map. 
Here are the others from the 51-100 list with Japan leading with 14 bars followed by Singapore and Thailand with 6 each. 

Mumbai, India
The Happy High, one of the leading wine & spirit education co  now has a category called shopping where we have hand picked recommendations from Amazon for your home bar namely; glassware, bar accessories, wine accessories, cocktail and wine books and also added some interesting syrups and mixers.
An average consumer in India is surely in for a confusing ride when s/he browses an online store showing hundreds of pages for a certain product,at The Happy High they are attempting to bring in convenience with a shortlist basis their experience and a little bit of research. They have mostly listed value for money or budget recommendations which work beautifully but in certain categories like glassware, they have showcased luxury wine decanters, high end whisky decanters, crystal wine glasses etc too. The list is concise and to the point.
" We have created this barware, glassware and wine accessory section to make home bar shopping easy for our consumers who want to pick bartender certified or recommended equipment and tools. The whole idea is to empower consumers and make them a cocktail party or a wine evening ready host." says Ajit Balgi, Chief at The Happy High. 
They plan to keep editing the list on an ongoing basis by taking customer feedback, suggestions and requests. Home Bar Shopping  now looks easy! You can see them in the links below:
Glassware for the home bar
​- Luxury Crystal lead free wine glasses
- Cocktail glasses
- Value for money, premium wine glasses 
- Wine and whisky Decanters
- Whisky, cognac,liqueur glasses 
Bar accessories for the home bar
-Cocktail shaker, Boston, Japanese
- Bar Spoons, Jiggers, Muddler
-Cocktail Strainer
- Pourer 30 ml
-Steel reusable straws
Wine accessories for the home bar
- Vacuum wine pumps
- Wine openers
- Electric wine openers
- Coravin for wine preservation
- Wine pourers & aerators
Syrups and Mixers for the home bar
- Cocktail Syrups, flavoured, maple etc
- Tonic Waters, Ginger Beer
- Nolo Beers, wheat and lager
- No alcohol wines
Cocktail and wine books for consumers

Mumbai, India
The Happy High is proud to announce another service, Cognac tastings for the Indian market. They Cognac masterclasses will cover nuggets from the history of Cognac, the making of Cognac and of course will end with tasting of different Cognacs and the nuances. The Cognac tastings will be conducted by Ajit Balgi a BNIC Cognac educator who is one of the 90 in the world certified by the Cognac association to speak on Cognac. 'Cognac for now is very popular in the southern states of India but has potential across the country because of the fruit and sweeter notes the world's best known brandy has to exude." said Ajit Balgi, a BNIC Cognac educator.
​The workshops will work best in luxury events and HNI engagement activities by luxury real estate cos, entrepreneurial associations  like Young President's association (YPO) , Entrepreneurial Organizations (EO),  wealth management cos and more. 

Mumbai, India
A spirited soiree at The Leela Mumbai saw the launch of two iconic brands from the same distillery tucked away in the islands of Scotland.  The single malt Bruichladdich Classic; an unpeated outlier from the land and the Botanist a dry gin flavoured with 22 botanicals were launched by famed Mixologist Yangdup Lama in the presence of whisky lovers and specialists from the beverages industry. 
Bruichladdich the outlier also shows its wild side with the Octomore ,a 160 ppm peat monster but is yet to launch in the country.  The non-chill filtered malt was best enjoyed with a few drops of water and went well with the range of appetizers showcased by the hotel. The evening started with G&T's and sushis and ended with  old-fashioned, drams of the laddie and chocolates. 
The Bruichladdich and the Botanist are imported and distributed by Sula Selections the import arm of Sula are now available in Maharashtra 

 Having successfully ventured into premium grape brandies with JANUS and J in 2016 Sula Vineyards takes a step further into the world of spirits as they launch their first whisky – Eclipse.
 
Cognac cask aged Eclipse embodies the exceptional French spirit making heritage and the expertise of Sula in selecting the best Indian grapes. Premium quality peated Scotch and then of course premium grains goes in to the produce of this all new whisky too. Eclipse from the House of Sula, is made with a touch of grape spirit which is double distilled using a traditional French distillation process. The liquor is aged in ‘Limousine Oak Cask’ under the supervision of Sula’s Master Blender Yogesh Mathur. The result is a whisky of exceptional smoothness with character of dried fruit, spices and vanilla.
 
Yogesh Mathur, Master Blender, Artisan Spirits Pvt. Ltd said, "It has been a meticulous task but was worth all the efforts! Our blending team has worked together to create a blend which gives a sweetness and ease on the palate accompanied by a fruity and smoky smooth finish that is traditional yet modern at the same time”
 
Eclips is priced at INR 1395 in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, INR 1250 in Delhi and INR 790 in Pondicherry. In Goa, Daman and Silvassa, Eclipse retails at INR 750 and is available across leading outlets.
(Excerpt from a press release)

Mumbai, India
Aspri Spirits has launched Patrón XO Cafe Incendio an intense, fiery hot chile chocolate liqueur handcrafted with the same attention to quality as ultra-premium Patrón tequilas and Patrón XO Cafe coffee liqueurs. Patrón XO Cafe Incendio combines the spicy, distinctive flavor of Mexican arbol chile with the rich, decadent essence of Criollo chocolate, brought together with the crisp, smooth taste of Patrón Silver tequila. It is best served either chilled over ice, or used to add a spicy kick to your cocktails.

 It is available in 750ml size and packaged in the eye-catching handmade Patrón XO Cafe glass bottle, a frosted version of the iconic cork-closed Patrón tequila bottle. The red, yellow and black label features imagery evocative of smoke and fire.  

Price: Mumbai : INR – Rs 7495
( Excerpt from a press release) 

Janus by Sula Vineyards created waves when it was launched last year, it was India’s first premier 100% grape brandy and this year it brings accolades to the country by winning a bronze medal in the tasting category at the International spirits Challenge. ISC is the most authoritative, respected and influential spirits competition in the world. In the blind tasting JANUS took home a bronze from an impressive line-up of spirits.

“We are thrilled to receive this prestigious recognition,” said Rajeev Samant, CEO, Sula Vineyards “This acknowledgement further validates JANUS’ groundbreaking project to create India’s first 100% premium grape brandy. Winners are determined in part by experts in the industry. We are pleased that they have recognized our efforts to lead the industry in terms of innovation and quality.”

Janus derives its name from the ancient Roman deity with two faces, JANUS embodies the exceptional French Cognac making heritage and the expertise of Sula in selecting the best Indian grapes. JANUS is made from carefully selected grapes from the best Indian vineyards which are then double distilled in small batches using traditional French alembic pot stills before being aged in oak.
​
It is currently available in 750 ml and 180 ml. A 750 ml in Karnataka is priced at 1900 INR, Andhra Pradesh INR 2390, Telangana INR 2265. In Goa, Pondicherry, Daman and Silvassa JANUS is retailed at INR 1500. Maharashtra where it is produced awaits its share! 

Mumbai, India
Sula Vineyards, India's #1 premium wine company announced the launch of JANUS – India’s first 100% premium grape brandy. Deriving its name from the ancient Roman deity with two faces, JANUS embodies the exceptional French cognac making heritage and the expertise of Sula in selecting the best Indian grapes. JANUS is made from carefully selected grapes from the best Indian vineyards which are then double distilled in small batches using traditional French alembic pot stills, to produce a liquor of exceptional smoothness and character.

JANUS is aged in small French oak barrels under the supervision of French Master Blender Yonael Bernard, imparting a smooth and distinctive taste, exceptional aromas and a complex character of a cognac - style brandy with a long finish. Keeping up with the tradition of French cognac making, the master blender has developed a unique recipe guaranteeing excellence in every drop.

Founder - CEO of Sula Vineyards, Rajeev Samant said, “With this launch Sula takes its first step into the world of spirits with a superbly crafted high end offering. We are confident that JANUS will win accolades and significantly raise the bar for brandy making in India. JANUS is India‘s first handcrafted cognac - style brandy for connoisseurs - from the House of Sula”.

JANUS comes in premium packaging with a bottle design inspired from the Mid-19th century, a style known as ‘standard fifth’ or ‘lettered brandy’ with embossing. JANUS will be available initially in two SKUs of 750 ml and 180 ml at INR 1500 and INR 395 respectively across all leading outlets in Goa and will launch in other cities soon.

(Excerpt from a press release)

New Delhi, India
     Blue Eyes Pure Grain premium vodka is the latest entrant in the fastest growing white spirits segment in India. Launched this month in Delhi NCR, Blue Eyes Vodka is produced with the ultimate Russian filtration technology that will cast its magic much as the spirit of the popular album – the magic of blue eyes. Tripled Distilled to perfection, Blue Eyes premium vodka is available in classic and green apple blended variants. The pure grain spirit gives it the extra smoothness and a crisp, refreshing after-taste.​​
     According to Arundeep Singla, MD, Rock & Storm Distilleries, "India is the big opportunity for beverage alcohol. We will ramp up our presence to cater to large consumption States in India. Currently, we are heavily focused on the markets in the North. Blue Eyes in the premium vodka segments. We firmly believe that our product is one of the best in terms of quality and will stand out against historically consumed brands by competition. Consumers have been able to tell a perceptible difference between the quality of Rock and Storm brands and some of the brands that they have been consuming so far in the semi premium and premium segment. This is a validation of our mission."
      Available in three pack sizes, 750 ML( Rs 400) , 375 ML and 180 ML, Blue Eyes Vodka is the first premium white spirits offering from Rock and Storm Distilleries. The company has a robust portfolio of brands in brown and white spirits segment. Blue Eyes Premium Vodka is available at all stores in Delhi NCR.
About Rock and Storm Distilleries: Rock and Storm Distilleries is the outcome of a first generation entrepreneur and visionary, Arundeep Singla. Rock and Storm Distilleries was launched in 2010 and has since then made its mark in whisky, rum, vodka and gin categories with premium and semi premium brands to cater to the price and value sensitive Indian market. Rock and Storm Distilleries is headquartered in Punjab, with a state of the art bottling line.
Excerpt from a press release)

P.S: Please do let us know your thoughts on Blue Eyes!

Mumbai, India

This holiday season, Belvedere finds you the perfect gift to give. Belvedere Vodka, the world’s first super premium vodka continues its partnership with (RED)TM and BELVEDERE(PRODUCT)RED - a Special Edition bottle that raises proceeds for the Global Fund, the world’s leading financier of programs to fight HIV/AIDS.
Since its launch in late 2011, contributions from the global sale of (BELVEDERE)RED have provided funding for more than 6.25 million days of life-saving HIV/AIDS medicine; enough to support more than 12,500 HIV positive pregnant women to help ensure their babies were born HIV-free. Working with (RED) TM, Belvedere is helping to achieve the first AIDS-free generation – meaning the virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.  
Gaurav Bhatia, Marketing Director Moët Hennessy India says, “Our passion for philanthropy led Belvedere Vodka to create (BELVEDERE)RED in 2011 and commit to helping (RED) and the global health community achieve an AIDS-free generation by 2015. Our Special Edition bottle is symbolic of our dedication to (RED) TM. Collectively as a global community, we can put an end to mother-to-child transmission of this deadly disease.”

It’s available at select duty free and retail outlets across India. 

(Excerpt from a Press release)

Panjim, Goa

Agave India is proud to announce the Goa launch of its latest game-changing premium brown spirit product – DesmondJi 51% Agave Gold (Oak Finish) – it joins the current set of DesmondJi products available in Goa: three white spirits - 100% Agave, 51% Agave and Pure Cane, two liqueurs based on Nagpur oranges - Blue Curaçao and Orange Liqueur, along with two affordable easy-to-make alcoholic margarita blends - classic Margarita and Blue Margarita.   

DesmondJi has a signature line of products, with the rare distinction of being the first alcohol brand in India to offer premium international spirits, liqueurs and innovative easy-to-use cocktail blends. DesmondJi products are unique in the Indian alcobev space because they have a ‘proudly Indian’ twist, while adhering to international standards and processes - DesmondJi is ‘home-grown’ in every aspect from raw materials to distilling, to signature bottle design, and labelling. But the taste and quality have an international edge, comparable to a variety of premium imported liquors presently available in India.  

Agave India and its products under the brand name of DesmondJi are the brainchild of Goa-based Desmond Nazareth, who came up with the concept in the year 2000, while searching for affordable options for cocktail aficionados like himself in India. Now getting recognized internationally, DesmondJi ‘India pride’ products have been put through countless rounds of taste tests, all of which they have aced. Give DesmondJi a ‘shot’, to see what thousands of excited customers are raving about. DesmondJi premium spirits, liqueurs and innovative easy-to-use cocktail blends are currently available at major retail stores around Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Goa, Daman and Pondicherry. 

DesmondJi 51% Agave Gold (Oak Finish), is available in Goa for an introductory price of Rs 570 per 750 ml bottle

(Excerpt from a press release)