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 the alcobev world- Vikram Achanta and Radhakrishnan Nair . While 30BestBars celebrates the finest in Indian bar culture, IDRA turns the spotlight onto alcobev retail. These awards are the first of their kind to nationally rank alcohol retail outlets for innovation, design, customer service, and overall experience.
IDRA Genesis and Methodology
Recognising the need for structured, performance-based recognition in the retail segment, IDRA was conceived to drive excellence and raise the bar for alcohol retail in India. Its mission is twofold: to set retail standards that align with global benchmarks, and to inspire retailers to elevate their offerings in an industry often challenged by fragmented regulations and policy roadblocks.
The awards were built on a solid foundation of expert evaluation and on-ground research. A team of industry professionals conducted mystery visits across retail outlets in 11 cities and the State of Goa. The evaluation process was thorough. It looked at everything from store layout and lighting to customer service, product merchandising, and even wine temperature control systems. The first edition saw 400 nominations. From these, 250 stores were shortlisted. In the end, only the top 100 made the final cut.
Our visits across the country made us appreciate just how far Indian liquor stores have come—from dusty shops to air-conditioned walk-ins with curated assortments.
— Vikram Achanta, Co-founder, IDRA
A Starry Night in Gurgaon
The awards night was nothing short of a celebration. Attended by key industry stakeholders, entrepreneurs, and beverage connoisseurs, the event paid tribute to the relentless efforts of alcohol retailers. Special recognition was given to Mokksh Sani of Mansionz, awarded ‘Innovator of the Year’, and Anith Reddy of Tonique, honoured as the ‘Industry Icon’.
The drinks menu for the evening was equally befitting, with bar counters set up by Diageo with their premium liquors and cocktails making the evening lively and “politically correct”.
Top 3 Awardees by City
(Complete list towards the end of this article)
Bangalore
| 🥇 Rank | Store Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansionz by Living Liquidz | Rajajinagar |
| 2 | Tonique | MG Road |
| 3 | Tonique | Hennur |
Hyderabad
| 🥇 Rank | Store Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Q By Tonique | Film Nagar |
| 2 | Jubilee Wine Spot | Jubilee Hills |
| 3 | House Of Spirits | HITEC City |
Greater Mumbai
| 🥇 Rank | Store Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansionz by Living Liquidz | Khar West (Joint) |
| 1 | World of Wines | Nariman Point (Joint) |
| 2 | Mansionz by Living Liquidz | Lower Parel |
| 3 | TLS (The Liquor Store) | CBD Belapur |
Pune & Lonavala
| 🥇 Rank | Store Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonique | Kalyani Nagar |
| 2 | The Liquor Vault | Magarpatta |
| 3 | Mansionz by Living Liquidz | Kalyani Nagar |
Goa
| 🥇 Rank | Store Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vaz Enterprises Liquor Supermarket | Anjuna |
| 2 | Garrafao | Panaji |
| 3 | Liquor Loft | Arpora |
Jaipur
| 🥇 Rank | Store Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Liquor Mart | Malviya Nagar |
| 2 | Wine Factory | Sirsi Road |
| 3 | The Liquor Walas | Bais Godam |
Gurgaon
| 🥇 Rank | Store Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Liquor Warehouse | Delhi Jaipur Highway |
| 2 | G-Town Wines | Sector 54 |
| 3 | Don Jon – The Liquor Fort | Sector 65 |
Noida
| 🥇 Rank | Store Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Liquor Exchange | Gardens Galleria Mall |
| 2 | The Liquor Store | DLF Mall Of India |
| 3 | Whisky Junction | Sector 38 |
Lucknow
| 🥇 Rank | Store Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vina Alkohal | Gomti Nagar |
| 2 | Vina Alkohal | Millennium Place Mall |
| 3 | Liquor Home | LuLu Mall |
Kolkata
| 🥇 Rank | Store Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hedonne | Lee Road |
| 2 | Emporio | Forum Courtyard Mall |
| 3 | Spencer’s | Axis Mall |
Guwahati
| 🥇 Rank | Store Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Whiskey Company | GS Road |
| 2 | The Spirits Library | City Center Mall |
| 3 | Touch N Feel | Ulubari |
Meghalaya
| 🥇 Rank | Store Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Barrel | Polo Road (Joint No. 1) |
| 1 | The Shillong Wine Co. | Shillong Market (Joint No. 1) |
| 1 | The Warehouse | Meghalaya-Assam Border (Joint No. 1) |
| 2 | Balahun | Polo Road |
| 3 | Samkhamti Wines | Polo Road |
Why IDRA is a great initiative
With over 88,000 licensed alcohol retailers across India, this sector is a massive contributor to employment and economic growth. Yet, these outlets rarely get the appreciation they deserve. The IDRA not only fills this gap but also acts as a catalyst for transformation.
By highlighting top performers and sharing best practices, IDRA is set to encourage others to emulate success. It can be especially meaningful for retail operators, who often work behind the scenes in challenging environments dictated by evolving excise laws and regional disparities.
We want IDRA to be a movement—one that motivates retailers to not just sell bottles, but build experiences.
– Radhakrishnan Nair, Co-founder, IDRA
In conclusion, IDRA is a great initiative to recognise the efforts of retailers who are an indispensable part of the alcobev ecosystem of India. Bringing them into the limelight will go a long way to further inspire their efforts in presentation, service, and product curation.
