Survey Overview

The fourth edition of the What India Is Drinking (WIID) 2026 report, compiled by 30BestBarsIndia in partnership with The Outlier, surveyed 155 premium bars across 18 Indian cities. Participation rose 24% compared with the 2025 edition. Respondents comprised bar owners, head bartenders and beverage leads, each bar having operated for at least six months. Across the sample, 527 distinct brands spanning 21 categories of alcoholic and non‑alcoholic drinks were mentioned, of which 166 were Indian home‑grown brands.

National Cocktail Ranking

The national cocktail ranking identified Picante as the most popular cocktail, capturing 40% of the votes. It edged out Negroni (rank 2) and Espresso Martini (rank 3). The top‑10 list also featured Old Fashioned, Gin & Tonic, Long Island Iced Tea, Martini, Gimlet, Margarita and Paloma. The report notes a clear consumer tilt toward white‑spirit‑led cocktails with bold, assertive flavours.

Category‑Wise Brand Highlights

  • Gin: Bombay Sapphire retained the #1 spot nationally, while Hapusa rose to #5, marking a strong Indian presence alongside Greater Than, Jaisalmer and Stranger & Sons.
  • Agave: Don Julio remained #1; the sole Indian entrant, Pistola, secured #6, indicating expanding interest beyond Mexican labels.
  • Vodka: Grey Goose stayed #1; Smoke Lab entered the top‑10 at #9, the only Indian brand in a globally led segment.
  • Liqueurs & Other Spirits: Six Brothers Mahura broke into the top‑10, joining established global names.
  • Amaro & Aperitifs: Indian brands Davana Vermouth Indica and Paapi Absinthe both reached the top‑10, a first for the category.
  • Rum: Camikara climbed to #3, surpassing Diplomatico, Flor de Caña and Havana Club.
  • Brandy & Cognac: French houses Hennessy, Martell and Rémy Martin continued to dominate, while Monarch Legacy Edition entered the top‑10, signalling space for premium Indian brandy.
  • Indian Single Malt: Godawan surged to #2, overtaking Paul John and Amrut.
  • Indian Premium Whisky: Woodburns displaced Oaksmith to claim the #1 position, the only category shift year‑on‑year.
  • Blended Scotch & Malt: Johnnie Walker and Chivas Regal held the top two slots, underscoring the weight of heritage.
  • International Single Malt: Japanese whisky Yamazaki retained #1, with other Japanese labels filling the upper ranks.
  • Scottish Single Malt: Glenfiddich stayed #1; The Macallan rose to #3, reflecting collector‑style interest.
  • International Whisky: Jim Beam moved ahead of Jack Daniel's to #2, showing broader American whiskey appeal.
  • Indian Still Wine: Sula and Fratelli remained neck‑and‑neck at the top, creating a competitive two‑brand market.
  • International Still Wine: Jacob's Creek held the #1 spot, with producers and regions gaining visibility.
  • Sparkling Wine: Chandon overtook Cinzano to become the most popular sparkling wine.
  • Champagne: Moët & Chandon stayed #1; Billecart‑Salmon entered the top‑5, indicating growing producer‑led discovery.
  • Indian Beer & Adjacencies: Goa Brewing Co. rose to #2 behind Kingfisher, highlighting the rise of regional craft breweries.
  • International Beer: Corona remained the top international brand.
  • Water: Vedica moved to #2 ahead of Himalayan, pointing to premium Indian water gaining bar‑table relevance.
  • Mixers: Coca‑Cola stayed #1; Malaki entered the top‑5, reflecting a shift toward flavour‑focused mixers.

Notable Market Movements

The report emphasizes that while global giants continue to dominate most categories, Indian brands are increasingly breaking into top‑10 rankings, especially in gin, agave, vodka, amaro, premium whisky, single malt, brandy, water and mixers. The only category with a change at the very top was Indian Premium Whisky, where Woodburns replaced Oaksmith.

City‑Level Insights

Eight metropolitan markets were examined. Hennessy led the brandy category uniformly across all cities. In gin, Bombay Sapphire led nationally, but Hendrick's topped Gurgaon and Roku led Pune. Such variations illustrate that Indian bar culture is developing distinct local preferences rather than a single national pattern.

Executive Comments

  • Radhakrishnan Nair, Co‑Founder of 30BestBarsIndia, observed that 2026 shows a settling of long‑term consumer behaviour with pockets of sharp change, noting the accelerating consolidation of Indian brands across categories.
  • Vikram Achanta, Co‑Founder of 30BestBarsIndia, highlighted that brands investing in on‑trade advocacy and bartender‑centric community initiatives are gaining loyalty and recommendation advantages, especially as FTAs bring more international entrants.

Access to Full Report

The full WIID 2026 report, including detailed city‑wise rankings and comparative tables with the 2025 edition, is available via the 30BestBarsIndia website.

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