Liquor
Japanese alcoholic beverage maker Suntory sets up India subsidiary
Suntory India, led by Tak Niinami, expands its iconic beverage brands like Yamazaki and Jim Beam in India. With a revenue of USD 20.9 billion, Suntory aims to cater to India's growing market through a wide range of offerings including spirits, wines, and beers.
Goa to have liquor sales near educational institutions and regional places
Although the relaxation does not give the excise agency complete authority to grant licenses in these previously restricted locations, the move has startled many. Apart from the applicant needing to pay twice the licence price, the excise commissioner must obtain government clearance before granting such an application.
Alcohol price in Gurugram rise: New price, why it increased, excise policy
Good days are over for Gurugram alcohol lovers as increased liquor prices have come into effect as part of Haryana's new excise policy. Gurugram, which was an alcohol haven for locals and residents in neighbouring Delhi and Noida, is not too cheap anymore when it comes to booze prices. The prices have gone up by up tp 20%, as the new excise policy came into effect on June 12.
Odisha govt planning to ban liquor like Gujarat and Bihar, says minister
The newly-elected BJP government in Odisha is exploring a phased liquor ban to tackle alcohol addiction, according to Social Security Minister Nityananda Gond. He highlighted plans to follow other states like Gujarat and Bihar in gradually reducing liquor sales, aiming for a liquor-free Odisha in the future. The government also intends to combat drug use to promote public health, amidst recent debunking of rumors regarding an imminent statewide liquor ban.
Amrut Distilleries wins "World's Best Whiskey" title at 2024 International Spirits Challenge
Amrut Distilleries from Bengaluru has made headlines by winning the esteemed title of "World's Best Whiskey" at the 2024 International Spirits Challenge in London. This accolade, part of a prestigious competition featuring top global whiskey brands, highlights Amrut's exceptional performance with five gold medals in the competitive "World Whisky Category." Led by its flagship single malt, Amrut Fusion, the distillery's success underscores India's growing prominence in the international spirits arena and its commitment to crafting whiskies of unparalleled quality and taste.
Delhi airport will soon cheer up domestic flyers with two new liquor vends
This initiative aims to help Delhi regain share of domestic liquor sales following the closure of the private-operated premium liquor stores due to the rescission of Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 in September 2022, the report (by Atul Mathur) said.
MP distillery, where children were found working, sealed; manufacturing licence suspended
A distillery linked to Som Group in Raisen, MP, was sealed for alleged child labor violations. The plant, part of Som Distilleries & Breweries, an ISO-certified group, had its license suspended after 58 children were found working there illegally.
A third of the 30 fastest growing spirits brands in the world are Indian, says new report
While Iconiq White Whisky by Allied Blenders and Distillers sold 1.6 million cases in 2023 to top the list, it's not just whisky brands that are performing well. Three brandy brands - Courier Napoleon and Mansion House brandy by Tilaknagar Industries, Radico Khaitan's brandy Morpheus, vodka brand Magic Moments and rum 1965 – are from India, indicating that spirits trends are diverse.
India to impound liquor firm Som's distillery over child labour
Police launched an investigation into Som after the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) last week found 39 boys and 20 girls working at the factory. The agency also released photos of children's hands it said showed burns due to contact with chemicals. "We have sent the police force to ensure there are no issues during the sealing process," Vikas Kumar Shahwal, a senior Madhya Pradesh police official, told Reuters.
Police investigate Som Distilleries over allegations of employing children; company issues clarification
Police are investigating Som Distilleries and Breweries Ltd after allegations surfaced that over 50 children, including 20 girls, were found working at a distillery in Madhya Pradesh. The National Commission for Protection Of Child Rights initiated the probe, prompting serious concern from authorities. Som Distilleries clarified the issue pertains to an associate company dealing with country liquor and terminated the contractor responsible for labor supply.
Tequila’s flexibility in building tongue-popping cocktails makes it the darling of distillers and bartenders
Though the lineage of tequila goes back to 1000 BCE, to the land of Aztecs (Mexico), where it was once popular as pulque, modern-day master distillers and crafty bartenders think they haven’t reached anywhere in exploring and chiselling out the mindblowing facets locked away inside this ancient drink. New cocktails and RTDs (ready-to-drink) based on tequila continue to emerge, throwing the market into a tizzy. (One can see the veteran whisky, nodding with its nostalgic I-have-been-thereonce smile, as tequila and its myriad avatars rage across the world, hitting every shore, blasting every impediment, drowning every myth that hangs on like barnacles around the drink).
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Amrut wins five gold medals at International Spirits Challenge in London
Amrut Distilleries won five Gold medals at the 2024 International Spirits Challenge (ISC) in London, setting a record for Indian distilleries. Competing with top brands from Scotland, Ireland, and Japan, Amrut's total international awards now reach 350. The standout was Amrut Fusion, acclaimed as the "Crown Jewel" of Indian single malts.
5 signs your bartender isn't crafting cocktails properly: A guide to quality drinks
You're queued at the bar, only to observe your bartender eschewing measuring tools and instead pouring alcohol with a flourish, as though staging a performance. While this display may exude flair, precise measurements are vital in cocktail crafting. If you notice your bartender merely guessing quantities, the flavors of your cocktails may be thrown off, resulting in a taste that doesn't align with your expectations.
UBL, AB-InBev, Carlsberg jointly form Brewers' Association of India
The Brewers' Association of India (BAI) was officially launched by the country's leading beer manufacturers, United Breweries (UBL), AB-InBev, and Carlsberg, in partnership with the World Brewing Alliance (WBA). This new industry body aims to drive innovation, moderation, and sustainability in the Indian beer market. UBL, AB-InBev, and Carlsberg together hold about 85 per cent of the beer sales in India, with UBL leading the market with brands like Kingfisher and Heineken.
Top beer companies launch a new brewers association in India, backed by World Brewing Alliance
Brewers Association of India (BAI) is being established in partnership with the World Brewing Alliance (WBA), the global industry body consisting of brewers and brewing trade associations from Australia, Canada, the UK, the USA, Europe, Japan, Korea, Latin America, Brazil, New Zealand, Nigeria and now India. The goal of WBA is to exchange knowledge and best practices among brewers and other stakeholders.
Liquor demand still dull, could pick up soon: United Spirits
"On the demand front, the growth has moderated from two years ago. And at the lower end, we continue to see some pressure. Moderation was there during the wedding season, and so growth is continuing to be slower," the company's managing director and chief executive Hina Nagarajan told analysts during an earnings call.
