Getting the home bar ready for Diwali? These are the best new spirits for the festive season

Radico Khaitan’s Rampur Jugalbandi #3 whisky, GBP 400; Mohulo Gin, Rs 5,000 (Mumbai); and Chandon Aurva wine, Rs 4,250 (Mumbai).

From Japanese whisky that costs Rs 3 lakh to a gin made from mahua flowers, there’s a lot to choose from this festive season. And if wine’s your thing, you’ll want to take a close look at Chandon India’s latest launch.

Mohulo Gin

Is mahua having a moment? Barely a month after we wrote about the launch of Mond, the first mahua spirit to be distilled by indigenous tribes in Madhya Pradesh, we have Mohulo, which counts the dried flowers of the Mahua tree among its 12 botanicals. The gin comes from the house of Smoke Lab, which also makes an imminently sippable and eponymous vodka. Like with the vodka, the base spirit is made from basmati rice and the other botanicals that go into the recipe include bay leaf, orange blossom, coriander, and honey. The limited-edition gin has been created by Wales-based master distiller Jamie Baxter, and India will get about 200 of the 2,000 cases that will be released this month. Rs 5,000 (Mumbai)

Also read: Indian single malts could turn the table on Scotch: Bobby Ghosh

Yamazaki 18-Year-Old Mizunara

To mark the 100th anniversary of its founding, the House of Suntory recently released the limited-edition Yamazaki 18 YO Mizunara. The Japanese whisky maker has been experimenting with mizunara wood as far back as the 1940s. Mizunara is a type of oak tree native to Japan, and the oak is said to impart flavours of sandalwood and coconut to the spirit. According to Suntory, the 18YO is ‘subtly spiced’ with Japanese incense and exhibits a lingering finish, with hints of dried coconut.

Yamazaki 18-Year-Old Mizunara

PS: If you are hunting for a gift for someone who takes their whisky seriously, you could also consider the Hibiki Japanese Harmony, which comes in a new 24-faceted bottle that incorporates motifs representing Japan’s changing seasons. Rs 3 lakh (Yamazaki 18YO Mizunara)/Rs 40,000 (Hibiki Japanese Harmony)

Hibiki Japanese Harmony

Paul John Christmas Edition 2023

The Christmas whisky has been a festive tradition at Paul John since 2018. The sixth edition features an unpeated single malt that has been matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in a single vintage Colheita Tawny Port Cask. Imbibers can expect “aromas of creamy vanilla custard and dark chocolate… that lead to deep flavours of sweet oak, velvety mocha, and warm caramel on the palate.” The whisky is bottled at 46% ABV and about 8,000 bottles will be available globally. Rs 7,700 (Karnataka), Rs 7,000 (Maharashtra & Goa)

Paul John Christmas Edition 2023

Rampur Jugalbandi #3 & #4

If you’ve got people flying in from abroad, ask them to pick up a bottle — or two — of Radico Khaitan’s Rampur Jugalbandi #3 and #4 whiskies that were recently launched in the USA, EU, and Singapore, among other markets. The Jugalbandi series, inspired by the vocal or instrumental duet in Indian classical music, consists of cask strength expressions of eight single malt whiskies. Jugalbandi #3 is matured in American bourbon barrels and port wine casks, and is said to offer “a smooth, velvety mouthfeel with hints of plum cake,” courtesy the port wine casks. The #4 expression, matured in bourbon barrels and pale ale casks, blends fruity floral notes from the bourbon barrels and spicy malt from the pale ale casks. “On the palate, the first fill bourbon barrels offer notes of sweet vanilla that evolve into the deep depths of the malt, green apple and spice from the hops,” says Radico Khaitan. Jugalbandi #3 is bottled at 54.8% ABV, while #4 at 52.4%. GBP 400

Radico Khaitan’s Rampur Jugalbandi #3 and #4 whiskies

Chandon Aurva

Sparkling wine brand Chandon recently launched its first still wine in the form of Aurva, a red Shiraz. Aurva (Sanskrit for ‘from the earth’) is made at the LVMH-backed Moet Hennessy India’s winery in Nashik, which also makes the Chandon bubblies. The wine is a collaboration between Kaushal Khairnar, Chandon India’s head winemaker, and Chandon Australia’s Dan Buckle. The locally sourced, hand-harvested Shiraz grapes are aged in French oak barrels for ten months and Chandon promises a “symphony of rich aromas, velvety smoothness and flavours of cherry, blueberry, and plum”. Rs 4,250 (Mumbai)