8 PM whisky review (2026) — radico khaitan's budget workhorse, honestly reviewed

tldr: 8 PM is the budget whisky that UP built. radico khaitan’s volume seller sits at rs 400-700, making it one of the cheapest branded whiskies in india. it’s harsh neat, grain-forward, and strictly a mixer. but it has something going for it: at its price, it’s marginally better than officer’s choice and comparable to imperial blue. the bermuda reserve variant actually tries to be decent. 8 PM exists because radico khaitan needs a volume brand to fund their premium ambitions (jaisalmer, rampur), and millions of budget whisky drinkers keep it alive. rating: 5/10, based on extensive research.

---

full disclosure: i haven’t tried 8 PM personally. this review is based on extensive research, reviews from people whose palates i trust, and cross-referencing multiple sources. i’ll be clear about what’s from reviewers versus my own analysis.

8 PM is one of those whisky brands where the name recognition doesn’t match the volume. radico khaitan moves millions of cases annually, but if you ask whisky enthusiasts to name india’s budget brands, they’ll rattle off imperial blue, mcdowell’s, officer’s choice, and probably forget about 8 PM. the brand flies under the radar because it’s concentrated in specific markets, particularly UP and north india, where radico khaitan’s distribution is strongest.

radico khaitan is an interesting company. on one end, they make premium products like jaisalmer gin and rampur single malt, which have earned international recognition. on the other end, they make 8 PM, a budget whisky for price-sensitive volume drinking. it’s the classic liquor industry model: the volume brands fund the premium experiments. without 8 PM’s cash flow, there might not be a jaisalmer or a rampur.

8 PM launched in 1999 and quickly became one of india’s fastest-growing whisky brands by targeting the gap between unbranded country liquor and the established budget brands. the name “8 PM” is marketing brilliance for the indian market: it’s the time when drinking typically begins, and it’s easy to remember and order. “ek 8 PM dena” rolls off the tongue at any liquor shop counter.

this review is part of liquor india, where i review every major alcohol brand available in india. no sponsors, no affiliate links.

---

8 PM at a glance

detail	info
brand	8 PM
type	indian grain whisky
ABV	42.8%
maker	radico khaitan
price (750ml)	rs 400-700
variants	regular, premium black, bermuda reserve
best for	soda/cola mixing on a budget
rating	5/10

radico khaitan, headquartered in rampur, UP, is one of india’s oldest liquor companies. they’ve been making spirits since the 1940s and have built a distribution network across india that’s particularly strong in the northern states. 8 PM is their biggest-selling brand by volume, and it’s the foundation on which their entire business is built.

the whisky itself is a standard indian grain whisky. grain spirit, some flavoring, minimal aging if any. it’s the same formula that every budget indian whisky follows. what differentiates 8 PM from its competitors is not the liquid but the distribution: radico khaitan’s ability to get it onto every shelf in UP, rajasthan, haryana, and surrounding states.

---

8 PM variants: all three compared

8 PM regular

price: rs 400-700 (750ml) | 42.8% ABV | the volume seller

the original 8 PM is radico khaitan’s most-sold product. it’s a simple grain whisky with no pretensions. reviewers describe it as mild on the sweet side with a noticeable grain burn. it’s comparable to imperial blue in character, with some reviewers giving 8 PM a slight edge on sweetness and imperial blue a slight edge on smoothness.

the quarter bottle (180ml) is reportedly the most popular format, costing rs 90-180 depending on state. this is how most 8 PM is consumed: one or two quarters after work, mixed with soda or water, drunk quickly. it’s utilitarian drinking at its most honest.

8 PM premium black

price: rs 500-800 (750ml) | 42.8% ABV | the marginal upgrade

premium black adds “premium” and “black” to the label, and claims smoother blending. in practice, the difference between regular and premium black is subtle. reviewers report slightly less harshness, a marginally smoother finish, and a hint more sweetness. the grain character is still dominant, and it’s still firmly a mixing whisky.

the rs 50-100 premium over regular 8 PM is a questionable value proposition. at this price, you’re edging into royal stag territory in some states, and royal stag is a step up in quality and brand perception.

8 PM bermuda reserve

price: rs 600-900 (750ml) | 42.8% ABV | the ambition

bermuda reserve is 8 PM’s attempt at the mid-range. better grain spirit, claims of scotch malt blending, and packaging that tries to look premium. reviewers describe it as noticeably smoother than regular 8 PM, with more body and a less aggressive finish. there’s a faint oakiness that the other variants lack.

the problem, again, is the price context. at rs 600-900, bermuda reserve is competing with antiquity blue and the lower end of blenders pride. both are stronger products with better brand perception. bermuda reserve makes sense if you’re an 8 PM loyalist who wants to upgrade within the brand. for everyone else, the competition is tough.

---

tasting notes: what reviewers report

neat

8 PM neat is harsh. the grain spirit dominates with a burning entry and a sharp, dry finish. there’s a mild sweetness if you push past the burn, and reviewers sometimes note a faint caramel or toffee note, but it’s buried under the alcohol heat. nobody who’s reviewed 8 PM recommends it neat.

compared to the competition: slightly better than officer’s choice (which is harsher), comparable to mcdowell’s no.1 (which is about the same level of rough), and slightly worse than imperial blue (which has a fractionally smoother entry).

with water

water reportedly mellows 8 PM into something drinkable. the grain burn drops, and a mild sweetness comes through. there’s not much complexity. reviewers describe it as “water with a whisky flavor” rather than “whisky with water.” it’s functional. it works for people who want a mild alcoholic drink without spending money on mixers.

with soda or cola

this is 8 PM’s intended serve. with cola, the grain harshness disappears behind the sweetness and you get a standard whisky-cola that’s indistinguishable from imperial blue with cola or mcdowell’s with cola. the ratio that works: 1:3 or 1:4 (whisky to cola).

with soda and lime, 8 PM reportedly fares slightly better than with cola. the lime adds freshness, the soda adds fizz without masking everything, and there’s a mildly pleasant drink in there somewhere. several reviewers note that soda-lime is the serve that makes 8 PM taste closest to “decent.”

---

8 PM price across india (2026)

state	price (750ml)
goa	rs 350-450
uttar pradesh	rs 400-500
punjab	rs 420-520
delhi	rs 450-550
haryana	rs 430-530
rajasthan	rs 500-650
maharashtra	rs 550-700
west bengal	rs 500-600
karnataka	rs 550-700
tamil nadu	rs 500-650

prices are approximate and vary by store. always check locally before purchasing.

cheapest states: goa is cheapest as always. UP is notably competitive because radico khaitan’s home base advantage means strong pricing. punjab and haryana also offer good prices.

most expensive states: karnataka and maharashtra push 8 PM toward rs 700, which is awkward because that’s deep into royal stag territory. at rs 650+, 8 PM’s value proposition completely breaks down.

the quarter bottle: 8 PM 180ml costs rs 90-180 depending on state. this is the format that drives most of 8 PM’s volume. two quarters with soda, and you have an evening covered for rs 200-350.

---

how to drink 8 PM

with soda and lime (the best option)

60ml 8 PM, soda water, squeeze of fresh lime, 3-4 ice cubes. this is reportedly the serve that makes 8 PM work best. the lime brightness and soda fizz lift the whisky above its station. it’s not a great drink, but it’s an acceptable one, and at the per-peg cost, it’s hard to argue with.

with cola (the popular option)

60ml 8 PM, fill with cola, ice. the classic budget whisky serve. cola masks everything, and you get a sweet fizzy drink with an alcohol kick. works the same as any budget whisky with cola. nothing more to say.

with water (the functional option)

60ml 8 PM with water. the no-frills serve for people who don’t want to buy mixers. water mellows the burn. the result is a mild, slightly sweet drink that gets the job done without fanfare. this is how 8 PM is consumed at most budget drinking spots.

neat (educational purposes only)

try it once so you know what your whisky tastes like underneath the mixer. you’ll understand immediately why mixers exist. one sip, then add your soda. lesson learned.

---

the radico khaitan story: budget to premium

understanding 8 PM means understanding radico khaitan’s business model.

radico khaitan is one of india’s most interesting liquor companies because of the extreme range in their portfolio. at one end, you have 8 PM: a budget grain whisky sold in quarter bottles at highway dhabas. at the other end, you have jaisalmer gin, which has won international awards and is sold in upscale bars from mumbai to london. and in between, you have rampur single malt, which competes with imported scotch single malts at rs 4000+.

this kind of range is unusual. most indian liquor companies either focus on volume (ABD with officer’s choice) or premium (amrut with their single malts). radico khaitan does both, and 8 PM is the brand that makes the premium side possible. the cash flow from millions of 8 PM quarters sold every month funds the research, aging, and marketing for jaisalmer and rampur.

there’s a strange kind of poetry in that: every quarter of 8 PM consumed by a truck driver at a UP highway dhaba is helping fund the maturation of single malt whisky in himalayan casks. the budget and the premium are connected by the same balance sheet.

this context matters for the 8 PM drinker because it means the company has the capability and expertise to make quality spirits. they choose to make 8 PM cheap because that’s what the market demands at that price point. the quality ceiling is set by economics, not by incompetence.

---

the hangover problem

8 PM hangovers are rough. consistent with the budget whisky category, multiple reviewers report headaches, nausea, and fatigue after 3-4 pegs. the grain spirit quality at this price means your body works harder to process the congeners.

the comparison with other budget whiskies: 8 PM hangovers are roughly equivalent to imperial blue and mcdowell’s. neither better nor worse. the jump to royal stag reportedly provides some relief. the jump to blenders pride provides more. this is the pattern across all budget indian whiskies: you pay for cheap drinking with rougher mornings.

one thing multiple UP-based reviewers note: the soda-lime serve (rather than cola) reportedly leads to better mornings. the theory is that the lack of sugar and the hydrating effect of soda water counteract some of the hangover-causing dehydration. whether this holds up scientifically is debatable, but it’s consistent advice from experienced 8 PM drinkers.

---

8 PM vs the budget competition

8 PM vs imperial blue

imperial blue is slightly smoother and has stronger brand recognition thanks to the “men will be men” campaign. 8 PM is slightly sweeter and sometimes cheaper depending on the state. the quality difference is negligible. pick whichever is cheaper. both are mixing-only whiskies that serve the same purpose.

8 PM vs mcdowell’s no.1

mcdowell’s no.1 is typically rs 50-100 cheaper than 8 PM and is rougher. if saving rs 50-100 matters, mcdowell’s does the same job. if you want the marginally better option, 8 PM has a slight edge in smoothness. the difference is small enough that most people won’t notice in a mixed drink.

8 PM vs officer’s choice

officer’s choice is cheaper and harsher. 8 PM is a noticeable step up from officer’s choice in terms of smoothness and drinkability. if you’ve been drinking officer’s choice and want something slightly better without breaking the budget, 8 PM is the natural upgrade.

8 PM vs royal stag

royal stag is genuinely better. smoother, more balanced, and better brand perception. the price gap is rs 50-150 depending on state. if you can afford royal stag, buy royal stag. the quality jump from 8 PM to royal stag is more noticeable than the jump from officer’s choice to 8 PM.

---

who should buy 8 PM?

buy 8 PM if:

• your budget is under rs 500 for a 750ml bottle
• you’re mixing with soda or cola and need cheap, branded whisky
• you’re in UP where 8 PM is widely available and competitively priced
• you want something slightly better than officer’s choice without spending much more

skip 8 PM if:

• royal stag is within your budget (it’s a meaningful upgrade)
• you want to sip whisky with water or neat (save up for blenders pride)
• you’re in a state where 8 PM costs rs 600+ (at that price, the competition is better)
• you care about your next morning (budget grain whiskies are rough on hangovers)

---

verdict: 8 PM whisky review

rating: 5/10 (based on reviewer consensus)

8 PM gets a 5 because it’s a baseline budget whisky. it does the minimum: it’s branded, it’s consistent, it mixes without tasting terrible, and it’s cheap. the 5 rather than a 4 acknowledges that 8 PM is slightly better than officer’s choice and has a mild sweetness that makes it marginally more pleasant than the absolute bottom tier.

the 5 rather than a 6 reflects that 8 PM doesn’t do anything to distinguish itself from imperial blue or mcdowell’s. it’s interchangeable with both. the bermuda reserve variant pushes toward 6/10 territory, but the regular and premium black are squarely average for the budget segment.

8 PM is the whisky you drink because it’s there, it’s cheap, and it does the job. no more, no less. and for radico khaitan, that’s enough. the volumes keep flowing, the cash register keeps ringing, and the profits fund the premium brands that actually win awards.

the bottom line: 8 PM is the honest budget whisky. it doesn’t pretend to be good. it pretends to be cheap, and it delivers on that promise every single time. if budget whisky is what you need, 8 PM is as good a choice as any in the under-rs-500 range.

what to read next: best whisky under rs 500 for alternatives at this price, imperial blue review for the main competitor, or cheapest alcohol in india for the broadest value picks.

---

the upgrade path: what comes after 8 PM

if you’re drinking 8 PM regularly and want to know what spending more actually gets you, here’s the upgrade map:

8 PM to royal stag (rs 500-700): the first meaningful upgrade. royal stag is noticeably smoother, has better body, and the hangover is marginally less rough. this is the jump that most 8 PM drinkers make as their income grows. it costs rs 50-150 more per bottle and delivers a real improvement. recommended as the single best upgrade from any budget whisky.

8 PM to antiquity blue (rs 600-900): a solid step up with more malt character. antiquity blue has a scotch malt component that adds depth 8 PM can’t match. at rs 200-400 more per bottle, it’s a significant price jump but a significant quality jump too.

8 PM to blenders pride (rs 650-950): the transformative upgrade. blenders pride is the first whisky in the Indian market where neat sipping becomes genuinely passable. the jump from 8 PM to blenders pride is one of the biggest quality leaps in indian whisky. if your budget can stretch this far, this is where you should land.

8 PM bermuda reserve to 100 pipers (rs 1000-1500): for bermuda reserve drinkers who want to enter blended scotch territory. 100 pipers offers genuine scotch character and a completely different drinking experience. it’s a bigger price jump, but you’re moving from indian grain whisky to actual scotch whisky.

---

the name game: why “8 PM” works

the name “8 PM” is one of the smartest brand names in indian whisky. in a category full of names like “officer’s choice,” “director’s special,” and “old tavern” that could mean anything, “8 PM” directly references the drinking occasion. 8 PM is when most working indians start their evening drinks. it’s when the shop visit happens, when the glass comes out, when the day’s work is officially done.

the name makes the product easy to order. “ek 8 PM dena” (give me one 8 PM) is simple, memorable, and universally understood at any liquor shop in north india. compare this to “director’s special black” which is a mouthful, or “imperial blue” which sounds like a paint color. “8 PM” is functional naming at its finest.

radico khaitan understood something fundamental about the budget whisky consumer: they’re not buying an aspirational product. they’re buying a routine. and naming the product after the routine itself makes it inseparable from the occasion. it’s the same logic that makes “breakfast” cereals and “evening” snacks effective: tie the product to the moment, and the moment triggers the purchase.

---

8 PM availability across india

8 PM’s availability varies significantly by region. here’s what to expect:

strongest presence: uttar pradesh, haryana, rajasthan, punjab, madhya pradesh. in these states, 8 PM is on every shelf, in every format (quarter, half, full). you’ll never struggle to find it.

moderate presence: delhi, west bengal, maharashtra, karnataka. available in most liquor shops but not as prominent as in the north. you might need to ask for it specifically rather than spotting it immediately on the shelf.

limited presence: tamil nadu, kerala, goa. brandy and beer dominate south indian consumption, and 8 PM’s distribution in these states is thinner. you can find it in larger shops and cities, but it’s not the default.

not available: bihar (prohibition), gujarat (prohibition), nagaland and mizoram (prohibition/restrictions).

if you’re traveling and want to know whether 8 PM will be at your destination, the rule of thumb is: north of the vindhyas, you’ll find it easily. south of the vindhyas, availability varies.

---

8 PM review: frequently asked questions

---

drink responsibly. must be of legal drinking age in your state.