Indian whisky

An advertisement for Bagpiper whisky on a building in Pondicherry

As of 2006 most distilled spirits labelled as "whisky" in India were a form of Indian-made foreign liquor, commonly blends based on neutral spirits that are distilled from fermented molasses with only a small portion consisting of traditional malt whisky, usually about 10 to 12 percent. Outside India, such a drink would more likely be labelled a rum.[1][2] According to the Scotch Whisky Association's 2013 annual report, unlike in the European Union (EU), "there is no compulsory definition of whisky in India, and the Indian voluntary standard does not require whisky to be distilled from cereals or to be matured. Very little Indian 'whisky' qualifies as whisky in the EU owing to the use of molasses or neutral alcohol, limited maturation (if any) and the use of flavourings. Such spirits are, of course, considerably cheaper to produce than genuine whisky."[3][4][5] Such molasses-based blends made up 90 percent of the spirits consumed as "whisky" in India in 2004,[6] although whisky wholly distilled from malt and other grains, was also manufactured and sold.[7] By 2004 shortages of wheat had been overcome and India was one of the largest producers. Amrut, the first single malt whisky produced in India, was launched in Glasgow, Scotland in 2004.[8] After expanding in Europe it was launched in India in 2010.

By 2022 India produced many whiskies both for the local market—the most lucrative market for whisky in the world—and export. Indian single malts comprised 15% of the local market in 2017, increasing to 33% in 2022. In the three years to 2022 sales of Indian malts increased by an annual average of 42%, compared with 7% for imported rivals.[9]

  1. ^ "Where 'Whisky' Can Be Rum"[permanent dead link], from The Wall Street Journal, 26 August 2006, accessed 27 January 2012.
  2. ^ Paul Peachey (3 March 2006). "Battle for the world's largest whisky market – India". South Africa Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 June 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  3. ^ "Scotch whisky group threat legal action against Indian blends". The Economic Times. PTI. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  4. ^ "Europe cries foul on Indian whisky". Hindustan Times. PTI. 12 May 2014. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  5. ^ "Scotch whisky makers threaten action against Indian blends". Business Standard. PTI. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  6. ^ "India stretches whisky market lead" Archived 15 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Beverage Daily, 13 January 2004, accessed 25 June 2007
  7. ^ Official web site Archived 5 August 2004 at the Wayback Machine of Amrut Distilleries, accessed 25 June 2007.
  8. ^ Duttagupta, Ishani (29 April 2012). "How India's first single malt brand Amrut Distilleries cracked luxury market in West". The Economic Times.
  9. ^ Charu Sudan Kasturi (4 June 2022). "How India's new taste for local whisky is shaking up the global drinks market". The Guardian.