India Drinks Retail Awards (IDRA) has made a striking debut as the newest entrant on India’s alcoholic beverages (alcobev) landscape. In a sector where over 80% of alcohol sales take place through retail, the time was ripe for an initiative that recognises the unsung heroes of the trade—our retailers. That moment arrived on April 29, 2025, when the inaugural IDRA took centre stage at Le Méridien, Gurgaon, celebrating 100 of the country’s most outstanding alcohol retail outlets. What is IDRA? IDRA is a pioneering initiative from the creators of 30BestBarsIndia and the What India is Drinking Report, helmed by two distinguished figures of
Drinks
The timing perhaps couldn’t have been better. An inspiring range of Craft Spirits was showcased this October (2022) by the British High Commission in New Delhi and the Department for International Trade (DIT), even as hectic parleys resumed for the much-awaited India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). 16 Craft Distillers from across the UK, showcased their fine spirits across categories like Whisky, Rum, Gin & Non-alcoholic spirits for the first time in India in the cities of Delhi and Mumbai. The event was supported by Tulleeho, India's prominent drinks consultancy. H.E. Mr Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India sharing his