In our previous (and first) article in the Indian packaging design deep dive series, we explored food and beverage brands that are raising the bar with thoughtful, memorable packaging design. (If you haven’t read it yet, you can check it out here.)

Now, let’s head into the more spirited side of the shelf.

Home-grown alcoholic beverages brands have been thriving in India. Whether it’s whisky, gin, or beer, these brands are now investing in packaging that’s just as crafted as what goes inside the bottle.

Here are 11 Indian Alco-Bev brands with packaging designs that are fresh, bold, and hard to resist:

1. Indri

Indri is a single malt whiskey brand named after a village in India. The brand stays true to its roots, combining the ideas of young people and traditional values in the making of malt.

Why the packaging design stands out

The sharp, architectural silhouette is paired with a minimalist label that lets the bold Devanagari-inspired logotype take center stage. Indri’s use of a culturally resonant yet highly legible logomark builds recall without cluttering the layout. You can get inspiration from them if you’re aiming to balance storytelling and shelf clarity through your packaging design.  

The black capsule with gold typography adds a refined edge, while the use of off-white paper and restrained layout reinforces its premium positioning. You can also clearly view the alcohol content right on the front of the pack.  

2. Goenchi Feni

This Goan based craft Feni brand celebrates traditional Goan spirit by blending modernity for consumers across the world. Founded by a sister-brother duo, the brand name translates to ‘of/from Goa’ in Konkani, the native language, paying tribute to their ancestral roots.

Why the packaging design stands out

Goenchi Feni's packaging design represents a fusion of cultural storytelling, artisanal craftsmanship, and visual drama. If you look at their label, it beautifully narrates the legacy of the Goan spirit through a triptych layout that honors both the process and the people behind the making.  

The intricate label embellishment is complemented by bold typography, ensuring the text is readable.

3. Bira 91

The brand positions itself as modern beer, brewed in India, that’s favorable for the current generation that takes its beer flavors seriously. Bira has always led with design, and its visual identity continues to evolve without losing its core appeal.

Why the packaging design stands out

Bira 91 uses bright colors, bold graphics, and its iconic monkey mascot to create a look that’s fun and easy to spot. Each variant has its own strong color and style, but they all still feel like one brand whether it’s a can or a bottle.  

On top of that, the clean layouts and simple fonts make each label easy to read, even from a distance.

Bira’s visual system is designed to scale across cans, bottles, limited editions, and merch. So, building a robust design system that works across formats and flavors helps you launch new variants faster while keeping the brand look consistent and recognizable.

4. Bandarful Himmaleh

Bandarful is a cold brew coffee liqueur crafted using single-origin Indian coffee. It’s playful in spirit but serious about ingredients — combining real cold brew with fine Indian grain spirit and just a hint of sweetness.

Why the packaging design stands out
The Bandarful bottle is a beautiful riot of visuals. What stands out to me is the pair of playful langurs, surrounded by coffee plants and tropical details that reflect the brand name and ethos. It’s wild, but well-composed. The dark glass gives it a premium look, while the gold foil on the logo adds a classic touch. It’s a fitting example of how maximalist design can still feel premium when done right.

When it comes to storytelling, the label is alive, fresh, and deeply connected to the region, which makes it stand out on a shelf or bar. If your brand's tone is unconventional, your packaging can (and should) reflect that.  

5. Early dark wines  

Hailing from Bengaluru, Early Dark is a wine brand by Tetrad Beverages that brings high-quality wines produced in France to younger Indian audience. The wines blend classic French grapes with a bold, playful personality, offering a unique, un-snobbish wine experience. The founders have carefully crafted it in a way that it pairs well with Indian food.

Why the packaging design stands out

Early Dark’s design is instantly striking. The matte black bottle, red accents, and mysterious illustrated cat give it a bold, edgy look that breaks away from traditional wine aesthetics. It’s dark, modern, and different — a perfect fit for its name.

The label keeps text to a minimum and uses contrast smartly: the bright eyes of the cat, the deep red bar at the base, and the clean white typography, all pop against the black background. It’s understated but elegant, breaking away from the usual visuals common in Indian wine bottle.  

The takeaway here is that challenging category norms can pay off, especially when your design tells the same story as your product. Early Dark’s packaging makes it clear this wine is bold, youthful, and not afraid to be different.

6. Woodburns whiskey  

Woodburns is a premium Indian whisky by Fullarton Distilleries. It’s a bold, oak-forward blend that aims to redefine what Indian whisky can be — made without shortcuts, and proudly local.

Why the packaging design stands out

The bottle has a vintage-inspired look that still feels fresh. The diamond-shaped label uses ornate typography and gold accents to give it a crafted, premium feel. But the clear, bold “Woodburns” name in the center keeps it grounded and easy to spot on the shelf. The bottle itself is short and stout, with clean lines. The black neck band with gold lettering adds a final touch of polish.  

Woodburns is an example of an alcohol packaging design that nails the balance between old-school charm and modern confidence. Every element, from the bottle shape to the label detail, works together to communicate quality, craft, and character. It's proof that premium packaging doesn’t have to be flashy to be effective.

7. Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer Gin is a premium Indian craft spirit inspired by the regal legacy of Rajasthan. Produced by the renowned whisky distillery Radico Khaitan, this luxurious gin is crafted with 11 carefully selected botanicals, including herbs, spices, flowers, and plants.

Why do we love the packaging design?

The black matte bottle with muted gold embossing steals the show. This combination symbolizes the golden sands of the Thar Desert against the pitch-black night, capturing the mystery of Jaisalmer's desert landscape.  

At the heart of the design is the black buck, a symbol of nobility and grace from the Jaisalmer royal flag. It is paired with elegant typography and metallic accents; the bottle exudes a royal charm.  

Again, the combination of stunning visuals and powerful storytelling turns any product into an experience.  

8. Siqera  

Siqera is a homegrown Indian brand crafting artisanal apple and mango ciders using local fruits. The brand is all about quality, simplicity, and refreshing new flavors for a growing audience of modern drinkers.

Why the packaging design stands out

Siqera’s bottles are minimal and elegant, with a clear label design printed directly onto the glass in gold. The geometric patterns and fruit illustrations give the label a hand-crafted feel, without cluttering the look. The gold-on-glass finish adds a premium touch while keeping things subtle.

Siqera’s packaging design teaches us that less can truly be more. There’s no loud branding or oversized graphics — just a thoughtful design that lets the liquid and quality speak for itself.  

9. GianChand

GianChand is a single malt whisky from DeVANS, one of India’s oldest distillers. It’s named after Dewan Gian Chand, the founder, and pays tribute to a legacy of craftsmanship with over 60 years of heritage in spirits.

Why the packaging design stands out

The design feels distinctly premium and heritage-forward. The bottle has a tall, elegant silhouette with a soft-shouldered profile. Its label is cream-toned and text-heavy, reminiscent of traditional Scotch whiskies, lending it an old-world, classic appeal. Illustrations of the distillery and copper still add authenticity, while the red signature adds a personal, human touch.

The cylindrical outer packaging box mirrors this vintage aesthetic with clean lines, minimal color, and serif typography. The angled red signature streak across both the label and box adds a dynamic, modern contrast.
GianChand is a great reference for heritage brands that want to communicate legacy, craft, and purity without appearing dated.

10. Geist  

Geist is one of the pioneers of the Indian craft beer scene, based in Bengaluru. They’re known for creative brews and a fresh, contemporary voice.  

Why the packaging design stands out

The can is instantly eye-catching with hand-drawn illustrations that look straight out of a comic book. It features a fictional, mad-scientist-like character— “—“Uncle Dunkel”) sitting on a robotic spider-legged stool, holding a beer and cigar. The art is playful, packed with sci-fi references and layered detail, encouraging the drinker to engage visually.

The label doesn't take itself too seriously. It feels young, indie, and imaginative, perfectly capturing the vibe of urban, experimental craft beer drinkers. The Geist logo adds credibility and recall, anchoring chaos with a recognizable brand mark.
This is a masterclass in personality-driven packaging. The can tells a story, invites curiosity, and visually entertains. For brands looking to build character and cult appeal in the craft beer space, Geist’s design system is a standout reference.

11. Makazai Rum

Makazai is the first premium craft rum housed by Stilldistilling Spirits. Rooted in Goa but built for a national (and global) audience, the brand positions itself as a modern, sophisticated rum with Indian soul. “Makazai” means “I want” in Konkani, a nod to its playful yet indulgent vibe.

Why the packaging design stands out

The bottle is wide-set and elegant, giving it a strong presence on a shelf or bar. Its label is oval-shaped and artfully illustrated, featuring a golden olive ridley sea turtle swimming against a deep green sea—a visual homage to its Goan coastal origins.

The typography is bold and serifed, with Makazai arched proudly across the label, while copper, green, and subtle blush tones communicate warmth and sophistication. The label feels vintage-meets-contemporary, making it feel timeless rather than trend-driven.

The overall design is tactile and thoughtfully layered. Makazai is a powerful case study in how an elevated minimalism with local storytelling alcohol brand can stay globally competitive while remaining rooted in place.

What we noticed across these Alco-Bev brands’ packaging design

Across all the brands we analyzed, a few clear packaging trends stood out:

• Bold storytelling: Whether it's heritage, culture, or a fun twist, each brand uses packaging to reflect its unique identity.

• Attention to detail: From label textures to color palettes, the finishes feel premium and purposeful.

• Design meets compliance: Mandatory elements like ABV, health warnings, and barcodes are thoughtfully integrated, not just added on.

• Consistency across SKUs: Visual systems carry variants across, helping build strong shelf recognition.

It shows how the right design choices can elevate your brand while still ticking every regulatory and design box.

How packaging & NPD teams build stronger labels, faster, with Artwork Flow

Creating packaging in the Alco-Bev space involves more than just creativity. It’s a cross-functional process where compliance, speed, and consistency matter just as much as good alcohol packaging design. Here’s how Artwork Flow helps leading alcoholic beverages brands such as Sutter Homes and Diageo stay ahead:

1. Seamless label registration: Run the label registration process across regions with automated custom workflows and checklists, simplifying compliance and accelerating approvals among stakeholders.

2. Collaborate across teams: Designers, marketers, and legal teams can all review the same artwork in one place. It also makes the process easier by helping you track comments, label versions, and approvals automatically.

3. Automated label compliance checks: Our smart compliance tool can detect missing elements like TTB-mandated health warnings, barcode placements, ABV details, and back-of-pack info, reducing the risk of costly recalls or reprints.

4. Compare label versions: Instantly identify changes between label versions using different compare modes, reducing errors.

5. SKU & ABV management: Centralize management of critical product data within the system, ensuring accuracy and consistency across all labels.

So, is your label ready for FSSAI approval? Book a demo with Artwork Flow to find out!