Is Blenders Pride the Best Premium Indian Whisky?

The Premium blended Indian whisky segment is the most hotly contested sub-division in India with some truly extraordinary expressions constantly locked in a cutthroat competition for the loyalties of the suave, ambitious whisky lover.

The strong contenders in the premium blended Indian whisky segment happen to be some remarkable and top Indian whisky brands such as Blenders Pride, McDowell’s Signature, Antiquity Blue, Peter Scot and Rockford Reserve. All of the aforementioned brands enjoy a considerable chunk of the segment, although it is Blenders Pride that dominates this category like no other.

Not only has Blenders Pride enjoyed quantitative success, but has also performed exceedingly well on the critical front, earning numerous positive accolades from all quarters, whilst basking on a strongly positive word-of-mouth reputation.

Let us decode the determinants and the factors that have cemented Blenders Pride’s legacy and reputation as the top premium blended Indian whisky, leaving counterparts chasing its shadows.

Tasting Notes of Blender’s Pride

The layperson may never delve into the depths of understanding the inner makings of their whisky so as long as it shall deliver a taste that is utterly sublime. The very first qualities of a whisky that are judged by a drinker are its aroma, smoothness and mouthfeel.

Does Blenders Pride excel in these categories? How does it fare when put into contrast with competitor brands?

Savouring Blenders Pride acquaints the drinker with a pleasant leafy aroma, hints of Oak, fruit and gentle smoke enticing them on first contact, followed by a sweet, mellow and buttery taste that leaves behind a warming, medium length finish.

The brand’s closest rivals are McDowell’s Signature and Antiquity Blue, with Peter Scot and Rockford Reserve only commanding a slightly significant presence in certain places in the country.

Breaking up the Blend

Blenders Pride contains no artificial flavouring, a quality not many blended Indian whiskies get to flaunt. The blend is created by marrying the imported Scottish malts from the Chivas Brothers, and some of the most excellent Indian grain spirits available.

This has enabled Blenders Pride to produce a drink that is remarkably smooth, rich in aromas and flavours, with a well-rounded and pleasant finish that lacks the usual bite and harshness that most blended Indian whiskies possess. This ‘harshness’ is the result of a number of brands including McDowell’s Signature and Antiquity Blue, relying on a higher composition of molasses-based neutral spirits, a cheaper alternative that is used to make up part of the blend.

Packaging

Things are made interesting in this aspect of competition as a number of brands could lay the claim to being the most stylishly packaged premium Indian blend, and like it or not, packaging does play a significant role towards capturing the fascination of your consumers.

McDowell’s Signature is packaged within an emerald bottle with an octagonal base and a slender neck, a design that was formulated by Claessens International, a London based design-company.

Antiquity Blue, another formidable player from the premium segment, too have their bottle designed by the same London based firm. Claessens International created a sapphire bottle with a bulbous bottom tapering towards a slender neck once again. The design for Antiquity Blue is classy, and helps the brand sustain a premium identity.

Blenders Pride’s chose to encase their spirit in a clear bottle with a bulbous bottom, with a neck that tapers upwards with another smaller bulge towards the top. Seagram’s chose to emboss the brand name just below the neck of the Blenders Pride bottle for an even more refined and prestigious look.

Market Dominance

When it comes to the performance in the real world, not limited strictly on the parameters of quality and tasting notes, which brand manages to eke out a win over their rivals?

In a fittingly poetic manner, this segment is overwhelmingly dominated by Blenders Pride. Banking on the sheer merit and credentials the brand has strived to uplift since it was first introduced in India 1995, Blenders Pride has managed to capture a significant portion of the market.

Overall, Blenders Pride portrays a considerable improvement on the competition they face in the market, presenting a vastly superior product and backing it up with their success.

We believe that this has earned Blenders Pride a strong and uncontested claim to the title of the best premium blended Indian whisky in the market today.