World of Wines, Tonique, The Liquor Fort, Hedonne, and House of Spirits are the top beverage retailers in 2026, according to IDRA
IDRA is a dedicated platform to rank and celebrate India's best drinks retailers. The second edition saw retail outlets ranked across 12 states and cities, with 25 new entrants making their mark across multiple markets
The Gala Night and Awards Ceremony was held on March 16, 2026, at Le Méridien, Gurgaon
GURGAON, India, March 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The India Drinks Retail Awards (IDRA) returned for its second edition, continuing its mission to spotlight excellence in India's rapidly evolving beverage retail sector. The awards ceremony was held on March 16, 2026, at Le Méridien, Gurgaon, bringing together leading retailers, industry stakeholders, and brand partners from across the country. Created by Vikram Achanta and Radhakrishnan Nair, the duo behind 30 Best Bars India, the country's most influential bar ranking platform, the initiative aims to bring similar recognition to India's drinks retail landscape.
Winners of IDRA 2026
With off-trade responsible for 80% of alcohol sales in the country, retail remains the primary touchpoint between consumers and the drinks industry, and the sector continues to evolve. More and more retailers across the country are moving beyond traditional storefront formats, investing in modern walk-in stores, broader product selections with appropriate displays and storage, and a stronger focus on customer experience. Through IDRA, the platform aims to highlight the stores driving this shift and elevating the standards of drinks retail. The awards honoured the Top 95 retail outlets and their owners across 12 cities in states that allow the private sale of alcohol.
IDRA ranks the Top 10 or Top 5 drink retailers in each city. The number was based on the number of stores in the city that met basic modern alcohol retail standards. In addition, two special awards celebrated outstanding contributions to the alcohol retail industry. Prashant Shokhanda of The Liquor Warehouse, Gurgaon, was named 'Innovator of The Year for setting a new benchmark for alcohol retail in Gurgaon, while Vaz Enterprises, Goa, consisting of Wilson Vaz and his sons Clinton, Hansel and Donovan, received the 'Industry Icon' award for their role in shaping the alcohol retail landscape in Goa over the last 50 years.
The rankings were determined through a multi-stage evaluation process that combined industry nominations with on-ground assessments. Nominations were sourced from distributors, industry insiders, and retail experts in each city, after which the IDRA core team visited and evaluated the shortlisted outlets. Final scores were assigned through anonymous mystery visits conducted by an independent jury.
Each store was judged against a uniform set of 25 parameters developed with help from retail industry experts. These include product curation and availability across all alcohol categories, store layout, ease of navigation, lighting, ambience, ambient temperature for heat- and light-sensitive products, merchandising, product display, staff grooming, knowledge and service quality, hygiene, cleanliness, and overall consumer experience.
Several leading retailers retain their top ranking for a second year. World of Wines, Nariman Point, Mumbai; The Whiskey Company, Guwahati; Hedonne, Kolkata; Tonique, Kalyani Nagar, Pune; and The Liquor Mart, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur, were among those that continued to hold their ground. Tonique, MG Road also continued to lead in Bengaluru, while World of Wines topped the Mumbai rankings and ranked No. 1 in Goa. Other city leaders included House of Spirits in Hyderabad and The Liquor Fort in Gurgaon, while new entrant The Malt Room debuted at No. 1 in Shillong.
Commenting on the awards, Vikram Achanta, Co-founder, India Drinks Retail Awards and 30 Best Bars India, said, "What really struck us this year was seeing veteran retailers hold their ground even as the competition heated up. That said, the handful of new entrants who broke into the rankings prove that the bar for alcohol retail is being raised incredibly fast across the country."
Radhakrishnan Nair, Co-founder, India Drinks Retail Awards and 30 Best Bars India, adds, "Alcohol retail in India operates in a uniquely complex environment, with every state following its own regulatory framework and market dynamics. What we are beginning to see now is retailers across different cities investing more seriously in store formats, product range, and the overall consumer experience. With IDRA, our aim is to recognise those efforts and encourage a broader shift towards more modern and consumer-focused alcohol retail in the country."
Vinay Golikeri, Managing Director, Bacardi India & Southeast Asia, said: "India's alcohol retail landscape is at an inflection point of growth, driven by premiumisation and a new generation of consumers eager to explore and experience spirits in more immersive ways. Retail today plays a fundamental role as the gateway through which consumers discover brands, categories, and new
