The most fun liquor launches of 2026
Not every spirit launch has to take itself too seriously. This year, brands threw it out of the park and gave us everything – from India’s first ever popcorn-flavoured vodka to a ruby-red Italian bitter inspired by the legendary she-wolf of Rome. There was a gin getting its blush from four different berries, a cream liqueur drawing on India’s fragrant pantry, and even a single malt that fooled whisky drinkers into thinking it had spent time in a sherry cask.
Let’s make a toast to the launches that brought a little more imagination and fun to the bar.
Palāsā
Born in India and blended and bottled in the Netherlands, Palāsā is a new luxury cream liqueur that brings together saffron, rose, cardamom, black pepper, fennel, mace, pistachio, almond, dates and apricot. At 17% ABV, it’s smooth, aromatic and gently spiced, giving off floral, nutty, fruity and a creamy, rounded texture. The name Palāsā draws from the Palash tree and its striking red flowers, while the brand’s visual identity takes cues from Kāma, the Indian God of Love. His five flower-tipped arrows, traditionally associated with awakening the senses, beautifully convey the brand’s focus on aroma, flavour, texture, colour and the ritual of sipping.
Smoke Lab Popcorn Flavoured Vodka
Smoke Lab and AABBCC – one of Delhi’s favourite cocktail bars, have come up to introduce India’s first-ever Popcorn Flavoured Vodka. The expression draws on the familiar magic of childhood indulgences and the simple pleasure of a box of popcorn, and carries it into the world of vodka. It’s housed in a bottle featuring the rich visual palette of deep reds and golden hues, and works chilled over ice or as a base for inventive cocktails.
Mikiamo Amaro Rosso
From Nuvola Spirits’ Italian liqueur portfolio, Mikiamo Amaro Rosso is a ruby-red bitter liqueur inspired by Lupa, the legendary she-wolf associated with the founding of Rome. Crafted using a blend of 16 Italian herbs and botanicals, including gentian root, rhubarb, cinchona bark, orange peel and cardamom, it opens with bright citrus aromas before revealing a more complex, bittersweet herbal palate with hints of spice and a lingering finish. It’s bottled at 25% ABV and could be enjoyed chilled over ice, topped with soda or tonic, or mixed into a Spritz with Prosecco.
ZOYA Pink Mix Berries Gin
The latest addition to ABD Maestro’s premium gin portfolio, this small-batch expression pairs a classic juniper-led base with four berries – strawberry, cranberry, blackberry and raspberry for a vibrant, blush-hued spirit with a smooth, fruit-forward finish. Its botanical profile also has hints of rosemary, coriander, cardamom, clove, cinnamon, vanilla and citrus notes, adding layers of herbaceous freshness and gentle spice to the berry sweetness.
The Doppelgänger by Paul John x SMAC India
The fourth single-cask collaboration between Paul John Indian Single Malt Whisky and SMAC India, this expression is drawn from Cask #24194 and has spent close to nine years maturing in an American White Oak Sazerac Rye cask, previously used to age Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey. What’s particularly interesting is that SMAC members selected the cask through a blind tasting, without knowing its age or maturation history. Its rich, dark-fruit and dessert-like character initially led many to mistake it for a sherry-cask whisky, hence the rather fitting name. Expect dried cherry, apricot and liquorice on the nose, followed by spiced chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla and caramel custard on the palate, with a lingering caramel-toffee finish. Limited to just 156 bottles, the September 2026 release is priced at ₹8,200 and available in Goa and Karnataka.
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