An award-winning contemporary Indian Whisky that starts at INR 1,500 (in select cities) for a 750ml bottle? Yes, you read that right — Woodburns, a homegrown whisky by Fullarton Distilleries (a Goa-based distillery) has taken over bars in Goa, Mumbai and Pune hoping to end India’s obsession with scotch and giving us whisky-lovers a new reason to celebrate.
Woodburns is carving itself a market in India where whisky is one of the most popular choices of alcohol but there's hardly any homegrown whisky brand that can compete in an international space. Woodburns — Contemporary Indian Whisky in fact won silver medals at International Spirits Challenge (2019) in London, New York International Spirits Competition (2020) in New York and World Spirits Competition (2019) in Singapore.
The next time you’re in Goa, Mumbai or Pune look out for their bar-takeovers (you’ll find the information on their social media pages) where they are busy showcasing their whiskey. They have also been treating people to some of their signature cocktails curated by their in house mixologist — Sussegad Secret, a comforting concoction of shitake mushroom-infused whisky and lavender, and Patrao’s Pineapple Pepper, a pineapple-infused whisky cocktail which is a perfect daytime drink, are some of their whisky cocktails that have been quite the hit among audiences.
They are available in over 50+ restaurants, and at most liquor stores in Goa, as well as Mumbai and Pune. The next time you’re at a bar in these cities, taken over or not, try and get yourself a taste. The nose of the whisky has subtle smoke and dark chocolate notes with a distinct peat underlay. Each sip is rich and sweet on the palate that lingers giving you that perfect finish.
The price for a Woodburns Whisky 750 ml bottle is INR 1,500 in Goa and INR 3,000 in Mumbai and Pune.