WHISKY DRINKS
After world domination, a smooth shift: Long single, rare malt finds love back home
Indian single malts like The Godawan 100 and Rampur Signature Reserve are gaining popularity domestically and internationally among affluent buyers. New editions and high-profile endorsements drive this trend, with figures like Vikram Damodaran and Siddhartha Sharma emphasizing demand. High net-worth individuals contribute to rising prices, with some whiskies doubling in value.
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.
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.
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).
Hic! Hic! Hurray: How Indian single malt whiskies are increasingly finding global cheer
Once an unheard-of category in international markets, Indian single malts are now commanding a premium for their artisanal and limited-edition whiskies. What has led to the turn of the tide in this fiercely competitive segment?
Spirits market in India is surging at a record pace: Main factors and trends
After the low during the pandemic when the spirits market shrank to 311 million cases in FY21, it recovered swiftly to add about 100 million cases in annual sales in just three years, reaching 412 million cases in FY24, industry executives said, citing latest excise department data.
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After crossing 1 lakh cases mark, Indri emerges as fastest growing single malt whisky in the world
Indri by Piccadily Distilleries aims for global dominance, reflecting Indian pride. Indian single malts surge in popularity, capturing 53% of the market. ICRA foresees revenue growth for IMFL companies, signaling a positive trend in the industry.
Brief 'happy hours' at the Supreme Court
Supreme Court discusses taxing industrial alcohol as whisky, highlighting India's taboo on official events with wine or champagne. Influence of Porbandar barrister on alcohol perception is noted.
Bhang for the buck, make it a Holi drink
Bhang, a traditional Holi element, blends tradition with modernity. Marketing bhang-infused products like lassi and thandai is suggested. Embracing moderation and HB (Holi Bhang) can change societal perceptions for this festive tradition.
Goa based Kadamba single-malt whisky clinches 'Best Indian Single-Malt Whisky' title
Kadamba, a single-malt whisky from Goa, has been named the "Best Indian Single-Malt Whisky" at the Icons of Whisky awards. This recognition marks a significant milestone for Kadamba, elevating its status among global whisky brands. The winning expression, Kadamba's Signature Expression, is aged in a blend of bourbon, sherry, and virgin American oak casks, resulting in a complex flavor profile. Priced at ₹2,200 for a 750ml bottle, Kadamba whisky is available in select stores and bars in Goa, adding to its exclusivity.
Indians' experiments with spirits giving Jameson whiskey maker Irish Distillers a high
Irish Distillers chairman Nodjame Fouad anticipates India becoming their second-largest market globally due to increased premiumization and consumer experimentation post-COVID-19. India has swiftly risen to become their third-largest market, surpassing more than a dozen countries in three years, showing significant growth potential for the future.
Indians less drunk on liquor love after hike in taxes
Liquor mimicked the overall consumer discretionary segment, where sales of products such as apparel, footwear and beauty slowed in India in 2023 after two years of pandemic-induced runway growth. The spirits segment had also seen a record surge in the prices of raw materials such as extra neutral alcohol, glass and packaging material a year ago, which have softened now. Grain prices, however, have surged over the past two quarters, squeezing margins.
Shuddh desi single malt: How India's GianChands outwitted Glenlivets
Of the total sales of around 6,75,000 cases (of nine litres each) of single malts in India last year, around 3,45,000 cases were retailed by Indian-origin makers, while the remaining 3,30,000 were by Scottish and others.
ET Awards for Corporate Excellence: Patiala peg or not, than Diageo's Hina Nagarajan for the toast India raising is premium
Under her, the company renovated Signature and Royal Challenge Whisky, launched Royal Challenge American Pride Whisky, entered Indian malt with Godawan and invested in Nao Spirits, the makers of Hapusa and Greater Than Gin. It also seeded Guinness, Diageo’s iconic beer brand, in line with the potential of the premium beer segment. These initiatives accelerated USL’s growth to double-digit levels at nearly 20%, three times higher than the historical rates of growth.
Pernod Ricard bets India will bottoms up to the top
The company controls about a fourth of the overall whisky market in India despite a negligible presence in the mass segment and gets a significant chunk from premium and semi-premium brands, mainly Blenders Pride, Royal Stag and Imperial Blue. The distiller also owns India's highest selling Scotch 100 Pipers with sales of over 1.5 million cases annually. The company, however, has been increasingly facing competition from Diageo, Beam Suntory and homegrown players such as Amrut and John Distillers in the pricier segments.
Pernod Ricard aims to triple net sales in India by next decade
French Spirits maker Pernod Ricard expects a threefold jump in its sales in the Indian market by next decade, led by macroeconomic tailwinds, favourable demographic dividend and growing premiumisation in IMFL and imported brands here. According to Pernod Ricard India MD Jean Touboul, the Indian market, currently ranked at number two globally, has the potential to become a leader in the next 10-15 years, replacing the US market, for the company.
Japanese whisky celebrates 100 years of tradition as craft distilleries reshape industry
The surge in craft whisky follows a boom and bust period, with Japanese whiskies gaining international acclaim after 2008.
Drinks giant Diageo slides 14% after warning about sales in Caribbean and Latin America
That was a surprise for investors as the company, which counts Johnnie Walker whisky, Captain Morgan rum and Guinness among its stable of brands, had previously indicated a "gradual improvement" in sales growth
India's whisky takes on Scottish peers, boosting this tiny stock 290%
Piccadily Agro Industries Ltd. has surged by its daily limit in two sessions this week after its single-malt Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition won top prize at the Whiskies of the World Awards. The stock is now up 292% so far in 2023 with the push from the result of the annual US-based competition.
Asia is taking over the world’s whisky market despite hurdles
Scotch whisky sales are booming in Asia, with the region surpassing the European Union as the largest buyer of the spirit. This growth comes as sales in established markets such as the US and Europe slow down. Major whiskey producers like Pernod Ricard and Diageo have invested in marketing and promotional events to educate and attract Asian consumers to premium spirits. The strategy has paid off, with Asia becoming the world's biggest consumer of all whiskies. However, potential hurdles like alcohol bans in India or government crackdowns on conspicuous consumption in China could hinder future growth.
Removal of non-tariff barriers in G20 nations to boost India's alcoholic beverages exports: CIABC
Removal of non-tariff barriers in G20 nations such as minimum maturation condition for whisky will help in increasing exports of alcoholic beverages from India, CIABC said. India has a miniscule share of that pie, accounting for just 0.1 per cent of their imports.
UK-India FTA will increase investments: Chivas Brothers
Chivas Brothers, a leading Scotch whiskey manufacturer, expects the proposed free trade agreement between the UK and India to create a fair and level playing field for liquor companies. The tax on Scotch whiskey imported from the UK to India is around 150%, while Indian whiskey brands sold in the UK have zero tariffs.
Japan's oldest distillery turns 100: World's most sought-after whisky Yamazaki starts at Rs 65K
Yamazaki, Japan-based distillery, Suntory, celebrates its 100th year milestone as Japanese whiskies increase in demand, leading to extremely high prices. The Suntory distillery has seen a dramatic rise in its production volume over the past 20 years despite struggling to keep up with demand.
Sanjay Dutt expands his empire with 'The Glenwalk' scotch whisky brand
When asked about his foray into the alcobev business, Dutt revealed to a leading daily that he decided to invest in 'The Glenwalk' because India boasts the largest whisky consumer base in the world. With the country's alcobev industry experiencing rapid growth, this presented a golden opportunity for Dutt to capitalize on this expanding market. Furthermore, his personal affinity for drinking Scotch whisky made this venture a natural fit for him.
Spirits Up! Indians raise a toast to local whisky
With 100 million people expected to enter the legal age for alcohol consumption in the next 5 years, most global firms including Diageo & Pernod Ricard count India among their top 3 markets.
Desi versus imported: India has a whisky problem with the UK
The deal is stuck on whisky and a few other issues. India and the UK have been negotiating an FTA since January last year, when they had set the Diwali deadline to seal the deal. Both the countries have recently concluded the ninth round of FTA negotiations with detailed discussions across a range of policy areas.
Why India should lower import tariffs on Scotch whisky
There is a misconception that the India-UK FTA is being misused to import Scotch whisky into India and that it hampers the growth of domestic whisky-makers. Provisional 2022 consumption data show Scotch comprising only 2.8% of the market, a 0.04% increase from 2021. Indian whisky's market share remains at 97% (as in 2021). Thus a tariff reduction for Scotch will not have a significant impact on its retail price. It would remain a high-end premium product.
India topples France to become UK’s largest Scotch whisky market
The data revealed that India imported 219 million bottles of Scotch compared to France's 205 million last year, growing more than 200% in the past decade. However, despite the double-digit volume growth, Scotch whisky still only comprises 2% of the Indian whisky market. The SWA attributed the reason to high tariffs.
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