The fourth edition is based on a survey of 155 bars across 18 cities, with participation up 24% from last year, representing bar owners, head bartenders and beverage leads.
Respondents mentioned 527 brands across 21 categories, of which 166 were Indian homegrown brands
Picante takes the #1 spot in the new national cocktail ranking, accounting for 40% of votes, ahead of Negroni
NEW DELHI, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 30BestBarsIndia, in partnership with The Outlier, have released the 2026 edition of What India Is Drinking (WIID): India’s most comprehensive snapshot of consumer brand preferences across the country’s leading bars. Now in its fourth year, the report maps how drinking behaviour continues to evolve across categories, cocktails, and cities, reflecting both steady favourites and shifting trends.
The 2026 edition is based on a survey of 155 premium bars across 18 cities, a 24% increase in participating bars from last year, with respondents including bar owners, head bartenders, and beverage leads. Collectively, respondents mentioned 527 brands across 21 categories of alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks and mixers. 166 were Indian homegrown brands.
This year’s findings point to a market where established global brands continue to hold strong positions, while more Indian brands are entering the top 10 across categories. Cocktail preferences are showing a growing appetite for bold, distinctive flavours, with Picante emerging as India’s most popular cocktail in the new national cocktail ranking. It is the top-selling cocktail in most surveyed cities.
Appended are one key insight from each category:
|
Category |
One Standout Insight |
|
Gin |
Hapusa has risen to #5, leading a strong Indian contingent that also |
|
Agave |
Don Julio retains the #1 position, while Indian agave brand Pistola ranks #6 |
|
Vodka |
Grey Goose remains India’s #1 vodka, while Smoke Lab enters the top 10, |
|
Liqueurs & Other |
Six Brothers Mahura enters the top 10, placing another Indian heritage |
|
Amaro & Aperitifs |
Davana Vermouth Indica and Paapi Absinthe enter the top 10, marking |
|
Rum |
Camikara is now India’s #3 rum, ahead of Diplomatico, Flor de Caña and |
|
Brandy & Cognac |
Hennessy, Martell and Rémy Martin continue to dominate the top of the |
|
Indian Single Malt |
Godawan rises to #2, ahead of Paul John and Amrut, one of the year’s |
|
Indian Premium |
Woodburns takes #1, displacing Oaksmith and signalling a changing guard |
|
Blended Scotch & |
Johnnie Walker and Chivas Regal remain firmly #1 and #2, proof that |
|
International Single |
Yamazaki holds #1, with Japanese labels dominating the category— |
|
Scottish Single Malt |
Glenfiddich remains #1, but The Macallan rises to #3, reflecting increasing |
|
International |
Jim Beam moves ahead of Jack Daniel’s to #2, suggesting that American |
|
Indian Still Wine |
Sula and Fratelli remain almost neck-and-neck at the top, making Indian |
|
International Still |
Jacob’s Creek retains #1, while producers and regions—not just individual |
|
Sparkling Wine |
Chandon takes #1, underlining how sparkling wine is becoming a more |
|
Champagne |
Moët & Chandon remains #1, while Billecart-Salmon’s rise into the top five |
|
Indian Beer & |
Goa Brewing Co. rises to #2, reinforcing the growing relevance of regional |
|
International Beer |
Corona remains #1, holding its position as India’s most enduring |
|
Water |
Vedica rises to #2, ahead of Himalayan—evidence that premium Indian |
|
Mixers |
Coca-Cola is #1, but Malaki’s climb into the top five reflects a growing |
Category Breakdown
Spirit category stalwarts Bombay Sapphire, Don Julio, Grey Goose, Jagermeister, Campari, Bacardi, Hennessy, Indri, Johnnie Walker, Yamazaki, Glenfiddich, Kingfisher and Corona retain the top positions from last year in their respective categories. The only significant change is in the Indian Premium Whisky category, where Woodburns replaces Oaksmith as the leader.
Among the Wine categories, Sula, Jacob’s Creek and Moët & Chandon continue to champion their categories, while we see Chandon overtake Cinzano as India’s most popular Sparkling Wine.
Indian brands aren’t far behind, across categories. In Gin, Hapusa, Greater Than, Jaisalmer and Stranger & Sons retain their positions in the Top 10. Brands are highlighting more Indian botanicals and local produce, while flavoured gins continue to broaden consumer choice and bring new drinkers into the category, including from Tier II and Tier III markets.
One of the biggest movements this year has been in the Amaro & Aperitif category, where we have two Indian brands in the Top 10: Davana Vermouth Indica and Paapi Absinthe. Maya Pistola Agavepura holds its own in the Agave category, as the only Indian brand in the Top 10; similar to Smoke Lab in the Vodka category.
India’s Most Popular Cocktails
|
Most Popular Cocktails New Category |
# |
2026 |
|
1 |
Picante |
|
|
2 |
Negroni |
|
|
3 |
Espresso Martini |
|
|
4 |
Old Fashioned |
|
|
5 |
Gin & Tonic |
|
|
6 |
Long Island Iced Tea |
|
|
7 |
Martini |
|
|
8 |
Gimlet |
|
|
9 |
Margarita |
|
|
10 |
Paloma |
Nationally, the Picante takes the crown as the country’s most popular cocktail in 2026, with the Negroni and Espresso Martini close behind; a lineup that points to a clear trend: drinkers are gravitating toward white spirit-led cocktails built on bold, assertive flavours, whether it’s the heat of spice or the bite of bitterness.
The category breakdowns show the Negroni, Picante, Espresso Martini and Daiquiri all holding onto their respective crowns, signalling a market where preferences have settled rather than shifted. The one notable reversal comes in whisky, where the Whisky Sour reclaims the top spot from the Old Fashioned; a return to form for 2024’s favourite.
Radhakrishnan Nair, Co-Founder of 30BestBarsIndia, notes: “2026 shows a settling of long-term consumer behaviour alongside pockets of sharp change. Categories like Gin, Scotch, Aperitifs and Agave continue to be led by global giants, but the pace at which Indian brands are consolidating their presence is significant. The city-level variations are sharper this year; what sells in a Bengaluru cocktail bar looks different from what leads in Jaipur or Kolkata. WIID 2026 captures these shifts clearly and offers a realistic view of what customers are choosing at the bar.”
Vikram Achanta, Co-Founder of 30BestBarsIndia, adds: “We’re seeing that brands that are most consistent in terms of their advocacy initiatives with the on-trade as well as community-building initiatives such as bartending competitions are seeing that pay off in the trade via bartender loyalty when it comes to cocktail creation as well as recommendations to a guest. With the expected influx of both international brands due to FTAs (Free Trade Agreements) that have been drawn up or are under negotiation, as well as more and more Indian brands joining the mix, such advocacy-based initiatives will go a long way to building entry barriers for savvy brands.“
City Insights
2026 shows a market where some drinking preferences are becoming firmly established, while others remain distinctly shaped by the city. Categories like Brandy continue to show strong national consensus, with Hennessy leading across all eight markets, while Gin tells a different story: Bombay Sapphire leads nationally, but Hendrick’s takes Gurgaon, and Roku leads in Pune.
These differences show that India’s bar culture isn’t moving toward one uniform drinking pattern but is developing its own local nuances.
All bars surveyed have been operational for at least six months. Click here to access the full WIID 2026 report and explore category-wise rankings.
The category-wise rankings and comparison to last year is appended below:
|
Gin |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Bombay Sapphire |
Bombay Sapphire |
|
|
2 |
Tanqueray |
Tanqueray |
|
|
3 |
Hendrick’s |
Hendrick’s |
|
|
4 |
Roku |
Roku |
|
|
5 |
Hapusa |
Beefeater |
|
|
6 |
Beefeater |
Greater Than |
|
|
7 |
Monkey 47 |
Hapusa |
|
|
8 |
Greater Than |
Stranger & Sons |
|
|
9 |
Jaisalmer |
Monkey 47 |
|
|
10 |
Stranger & Sons |
Jaisalmer |
|
Agave |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Don Julio |
Don Julio |
|
|
2 |
Patrón |
Patrón |
|
|
3 |
1800 |
1800 |
|
|
4 |
Jose Cuervo |
Jose Cuervo |
|
|
5 |
Creyente |
Camino |
|
|
6 |
Pistola |
Maya Pistola |
|
|
7 |
Camino |
Creyente |
|
|
8 |
Codigo |
Codigo |
|
|
9 |
Don Angel |
Clase Azul |
|
|
10 |
Corralejo |
DesmondJi |
|
Vodka |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Grey Goose |
Grey Goose |
|
|
2 |
Absolut |
Absolut |
|
|
3 |
Belvedere |
Belvedere |
|
|
4 |
Ketel One |
Ketel One |
|
|
5 |
Ciroc |
Haku |
|
|
6 |
Haku |
Ciroc |
|
|
7 |
Beluga |
Beluga |
|
|
8 |
Skyy |
Skyy |
|
|
9 |
Smoke Lab |
Smirnoff |
|
|
10 |
Belenkaya & Stoli (Tied) |
Short Story |
|
Liqueurs & Other |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Jägermeister |
Jägermeister |
|
|
2 |
Baileys Irish Cream |
Baileys Irish Cream |
|
|
3 |
Cointreau |
Kahlúa |
|
|
4 |
Kahlúa |
Cointreau |
|
|
5 |
Quaffine |
Choya Umeshu |
|
|
6 |
Choya Umeshu & Amarula (Tied) |
Quaffine |
|
|
7 |
Six Brothers Mahura |
Tabernero Pisco |
|
|
8 |
Malibu & Mikiamo Limoncello (Tied) |
Cazulo Feni |
|
|
9 |
Luxardo Maraschino |
Luxardo |
|
|
10 |
Cazulo Feni |
Amarula |
|
Amaro & Aperitifs |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Campari |
Campari |
|
|
2 |
Aperol |
Aperol |
|
|
3 |
Cinzano |
Amaro Montenegro |
|
|
4 |
Amaro Montenegro |
Cinzano |
|
|
5 |
Lillet |
Martini |
|
|
6 |
Martini |
Lillet |
|
|
7 |
Fernet-Branca |
Fernet-Branca |
|
|
8 |
Cocchi |
Select Aperitivo |
|
|
9 |
Xenta Absinthe |
Ricard |
|
|
10 |
Select Aperitivo & Davana Vermouth |
Cocchi |
|
Rum |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Bacardi |
Bacardi |
|
|
2 |
Old Monk |
Old Monk |
|
|
3 |
Camikara |
Camikara & Diplomatico (Tied) |
|
|
4 |
Diplomatico |
Flor de Caña |
|
|
5 |
Flor de Caña |
Havana Club |
|
|
6 |
Havana Club |
Plantation |
|
|
7 |
Appleton Estate |
Appleton Estate |
|
|
8 |
Captain Morgan |
Captain Morgan |
|
|
9 |
Amrut |
Short Story |
|
|
10 |
Kraken & Mount Gay (Tied) |
Amrut |
|
Brandy (including |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Hennessy |
Hennessy |
|
|
2 |
Martell |
Martell |
|
|
3 |
Remy Martin |
Remy Martin |
|
|
4 |
St. Remy |
St. Remy |
|
|
5 |
Morpheus |
Morpheus |
|
|
6 |
Honey Bee |
Mansion House |
|
|
7 |
Meukow & Louis XIII (Tied) |
Honey Bee |
|
|
8 |
Monarch |
Bisquit & Dubouché |
|
|
9 |
Godet |
Godet |
|
|
10 |
Bisquit & Dubouché |
Metaxa |
|
Indian Single Malt |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Indri |
Indri |
|
|
2 |
Godawan |
Paul John |
|
|
3 |
Paul John |
Godawan |
|
|
4 |
Amrut |
Amrut |
|
|
5 |
Rampur |
Rampur |
|
|
6 |
Longitude 77 |
Longitude 77 |
|
|
7 |
Crazy Cock |
Crazy Cock |
|
|
8 |
GianChand |
Kamet |
|
|
9 |
Kamet |
GianChand |
|
Indian Premium |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Woodburns |
Oaksmith |
|
|
2 |
Oaksmith |
Blenders Pride |
|
|
3 |
Blenders Pride |
Otherside |
|
|
4 |
Royal Ranthambore |
Royal Ranthambore |
|
|
5 |
Antiquity |
Antiquity |
|
|
6 |
Royal Challenge |
Signature |
|
|
7 |
Sangam |
Royal Challenge |
|
|
8 |
Otherside & Signature (Tied) |
Roulette |
|
|
9 |
Cotombi Reserve |
Cotombi Reserve |
|
|
10 |
Roulette |
Highbury |
|
Blended Scotch & Malt |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Johnnie Walker |
Johnnie Walker |
|
|
2 |
Chivas Regal |
Chivas Regal |
|
|
3 |
Dewar’s |
Monkey Shoulder |
|
|
4 |
Monkey Shoulder |
Dewar’s |
|
|
5 |
Ballantine’s |
Ballantine’s |
|
|
6 |
Teacher’s |
Black & White |
|
|
7 |
J&B Rare |
Teacher’s |
|
|
8 |
Black & White |
100 Pipers |
|
|
9 |
100 Pipers |
J&B Rare |
|
|
10 |
ARTHAUS |
Black Dog |
|
International Single |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Yamazaki |
Yamazaki |
|
|
2 |
Bushmills |
Bushmills |
|
|
3 |
Kavalan |
Hakushu |
|
|
4 |
Hakushu |
Kavalan |
|
|
5 |
Komagatake Mars |
Nikka Coffey Malt |
|
|
6 |
Coffey Malt |
Tsunuki |
|
|
7 |
Yoichi |
Komagatake Mars |
|
|
8 |
Tsunuki |
Yoichi |
|
|
9 |
Super Nikka |
|
Scottish Single Malt
|
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Glenfiddich |
Glenfiddich |
|
|
2 |
The Glenlivet |
The Glenlivet |
|
|
3 |
The Macallan |
Glenmorangie |
|
|
4 |
Laphroaig |
Laphroaig |
|
|
5 |
Talisker |
The Singleton |
|
|
6 |
Glenmorangie |
Aberfeldy |
|
|
7 |
The Singleton |
Talisker |
|
|
8 |
Aberfeldy & Lagavaulin (Tied) |
The Macallan |
|
|
9 |
The Balvenie |
Caol Ila |
|
|
10 |
Caol Ila |
Lagavaulin |
|
International Whisky |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Jameson |
Jameson |
|
|
2 |
Jim Beam |
Jack Daniel’s |
|
|
3 |
Jack Daniel’s |
Jim Beam |
|
|
4 |
Hibiki |
Suntory Toki |
|
|
5 |
Suntory Toki |
Hibiki |
|
|
6 |
Maker’s Mark |
Maker’s Mark |
|
|
7 |
Bushmills |
Bushmills |
|
|
8 |
Woodford Reserve |
Woodford Reserve |
|
|
9 |
Buffalo Trace |
Wild Turkey |
|
|
10 |
Wild Turkey |
Buffalo Trace |
|
Indian Still Wine |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Sula |
Sula |
|
|
2 |
Fratelli |
Fratelli |
|
|
3 |
Grover |
Grover |
|
|
4 |
KRSMA |
KRSMA |
|
|
5 |
Big Banyan |
Big Banyan |
|
|
6 |
Four Seasons |
Reveilo |
|
|
7 |
Reveilo |
Four Seasons |
|
|
8 |
Vallonne & Chateau Indage (Tied) |
Vallonne |
|
|
9 |
York & Tilt (Tied) |
Chateau Indage |
|
|
10 |
Iria |
Good Earth |
|
International Still Wine
|
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Jacob’s Creek – Winery in Australia |
Jacob’s Creek – Winery in Australia |
|
|
2 |
Campo Viejo – Winery in Spain |
Campo Viejo – Winery in Spain |
|
|
3 |
Baron Philippe de Rothschild- |
Black Tower (Riesling)- Winery in |
|
|
4 |
Black Tower (Riesling)- Winery in |
Baron Philippe de Rothschild- |
|
|
5 |
Brancott Estate – Winery in New |
Le Grand – Wine Producer from |
|
|
6 |
Alta Vista – Winery in Argentina |
AG Forty Seven – Argentine red |
|
|
7 |
19:59 – German Red Wine |
Brancott Estate – Winery in New |
|
|
8 |
Pasqua – Italian Producer, multiple |
19:59 – German Red Wine |
|
|
9 |
Yellow Tail – Australian Producer, |
Pasqua – Italian Producer, multiple |
|
|
10 |
Barton & Guestier Saint Emilion – |
MAN Family – Wine Producer from |
|
Sparkling Wine |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Chandon |
Cinzano |
|
|
2 |
Villa Sandi |
Chandon |
|
|
3 |
Cinzano |
Villa Sandi |
|
|
4 |
Bottega |
Bottega |
|
|
5 |
Sula |
Fratelli |
|
|
6 |
Fratelli |
Sula |
|
|
7 |
Jacob’s Creek |
Jacob’s Creek |
|
|
8 |
Belstar |
Martini |
|
|
9 |
Zonin |
Zonin |
|
|
10 |
Grover |
San Simone |
|
Champagne |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Moët & Chandon |
Moët & Chandon |
|
|
2 |
Dom Pérignon |
Dom Pérignon |
|
|
3 |
G.H.Mumm |
Laurent-Perrier |
|
|
4 |
Laurent-Perrier |
G.H.Mumm |
|
|
5 |
Billecart-Salmon |
Veuve Clicquot |
|
|
6 |
Veuve Clicquot |
Billecart-Salmon |
|
|
7 |
Louis Roederer |
Louis Roederer |
|
|
8 |
Philippe Gonet & Bollinger (Tied) |
Devaux & Bollinger (tied) |
|
|
9 |
Armand de Brignac & Devaux (Tied) |
Taittinger |
|
|
10 |
Taittinger |
Philippe Gonet |
|
Indian Beer & |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Kingfisher |
Kingfisher |
|
|
2 |
Goa Brewing Co |
Bira 91 |
|
|
3 |
Great State Ale Works |
Goa Brewing Co |
|
|
4 |
Simba & Geist Brewing Co. (Tied) |
Great State Ale Works |
|
|
5 |
Kati Patang |
Simba |
|
|
6 |
Six Fields |
Geist Brewing Co |
|
|
7 |
Toit |
Susegado |
|
|
8 |
Igloo |
Six Fields |
|
|
9 |
Medusa |
Toit |
|
|
10 |
Effingut |
Moonshine |
|
International Beer |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Corona |
Corona |
|
|
2 |
Budweiser |
Budweiser |
|
|
3 |
Hoegaarden |
Hoegaarden |
|
|
4 |
Heineken |
Heineken |
|
|
5 |
Peroni |
Peroni |
|
|
6 |
Chang |
Amstel |
|
|
7 |
Amstel |
Chang |
|
|
8 |
Carlsberg |
Kirin |
|
|
9 |
Erdinger |
Erdinger |
|
|
10 |
Birra Moretti & Singha (Tied) |
Carlsberg |
|
Water |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Perrier |
Perrier |
|
|
2 |
Vedica |
Vedica & Himalayan (tied) |
|
|
3 |
Himalayan |
Malaki |
|
|
4 |
Malaki & Bisleri (Tied) |
Veen |
|
|
5 |
Veen |
Bisleri |
|
|
6 |
Evian |
Aava |
|
|
7 |
Blue Pine |
Evocus |
|
|
8 |
Schweppes Soda Water |
Kinley |
|
|
9 |
Aava |
Evian |
|
|
10 |
Evocus |
Aquafina |
|
Mixers |
# |
2026 |
2025 |
|
1 |
Coca Cola |
Coca Cola |
|
|
2 |
Schweppes |
Schweppes |
|
|
3 |
Sepoy & Co |
Sepoy & Co |
|
|
4 |
Red Bull |
Red Bull |
|
|
5 |
Malaki |
Perrier |
|
|
6 |
Monin |
Fever Tree |
|
|
7 |
Fever Tree |
Malaki |
|
|
8 |
Pepsi |
Svami |
|
|
9 |
MTSR |
Monin |
|
|
10 |
7UP & Gunsberg (Tied) |
MTSR |
About 30BestBarsIndia: Co-founded in 2019 by Vikram Achanta and Radhakrishnan Nair of Bar 30 India LLP, 30BestBarsIndia aims to raise awareness about the rising standards of Indian bars and beverages nationally, and on international platforms. 30BestBarsIndia’s rankings of the country’s best bars in the previous six editions in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 have included well-known bars that have gone on to be part of international bar ranking lists. In addition to its rankings, 30BestBarsIndia has expanded its influence with the “What India Is Drinking” report, an annual study that provides valuable insights into consumer brand preferences across the country’s top bars. To see the report and full list of bar rankings, please visit 30bestbarsindia.in
Media Contact:
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