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{{short description|Type of distilled liquor produced in India}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
[[Image:Bagpiper whisky advertisement in Pondicherry.jpg|thumb|right|250px|An advertisement for [[Bagpiper (whisky)|Bagpiper whisky]] on a building in Pondicherry]]
Most [[distilled spirits]] that are labelled as "[[whisky]]" in India are a form of [[Indian-made foreign liquor]], commonly [[blended whisky|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]].<ref name=WSJRum>[https://www.wsj.com/article/SB115653128082145738-search.html "Where 'Whisky' Can Be Rum"], from ''The Wall Street Journal'', 26 August 2006, accessed 27 January 2012.</ref><ref name=Battle>{{cite web|url=http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=265802&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__business/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080601194459/http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=265802&area=%2Fbreaking_news%2Fbreaking_news__business%2F |archive-date=1 June 2008 |title=Battle for the world's largest whisky market – India |publisher=South Africa [[Mail & Guardian]] |author=Paul Peachey |date=3 March 2006 |access-date=14 May 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> According to the [[Scotch Whisky Association]]'s 2013 annual report, unlike 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."<ref name="indiatimes2">{{cite news|agency=[[Press Trust of India|PTI]] |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/liquor/scotch-whisky-group-threat-legal-action-against-indian-blends/articleshow/35020865.cms |title=Scotch whisky group threat legal action against Indian blends |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=12 May 2014 |access-date=12 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="hindustantimes1">{{cite news|agency=PTI |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/europe-cries-foul-on-indian-whisky/article1-1218193.aspx |title=Europe cries foul on Indian whisky |newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=12 May 2014 |access-date=12 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="business-standard2">{{cite news|agency=PTI |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/scotch-whisky-makers-threaten-action-against-indian-blends-114051200796_1.html |title=Scotch whisky makers threaten action against Indian blends |newspaper=[[Business Standard]] |date=12 May 2014 |access-date=12 May 2014}}</ref> Such molasses-based blends make up 90 percent of the spirits consumed as "whisky" in India,<ref name=Stretch>[http://www.beveragedaily.com/news/ng.asp?id=48996-india-stretches-whisky "India stretches whisky market lead"], Beverage Daily, 13 January 2004, accessed 25 June 2007</ref> although whisky wholly distilled from [[malt]] and other [[Food grain|grains]], is also manufactured and sold.<ref name=Amrut>[http://www.amrutdistilleries.com/ Official web site] of [[Amrut Distilleries]], accessed 25 June 2007.</ref>

==History==
The drinking of Scotch whisky was introduced to India in the nineteenth century, during the [[British Raj]]. In the late 1820s, Edward Dyer moved from England to set up the first brewery in India at [[Kasauli]]. The brewery was soon shifted to nearby [[Solan]] (close to the British [[summer capital]] [[Shimla]]), as there was an abundant supply of fresh springwater there. The [[Kasauli Brewery]] site was converted to a [[distillery]] becoming India's first distillery, which is currently operated by [[Mohan Meakin]].<ref>[http://www.livemint.com/Companies/ny0g0a6Vo9Xz7DlB2TGcYI/Whisky-in-India.html Whisky in India]. Livemint (29 December 2011). Retrieved on 23 December 2013.</ref> Production of alcohol from grain was hampered by shortage of extra grain, due to food shortages. Allowing grains to be used for alcohol manufacture is a controversial subject in India, due to poverty and alcohol's ambivalent reputation.<ref name="articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com">[http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-03-16/news/37767273_1_indian-whisky-spirit-tequila-agave-spirit Indian liquor industry moves towards spirits made from authentic source materials – Economic Times]. Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com (16 March 2013). Retrieved on 23 December 2013.</ref> [[Economic liberalisation in India|Economic liberalisation in the 1990s]] led to the moderate reduction of [[Tariff|import duties]], to about 35%, giving distillers access to better technology.<ref name="dnaindia1"/>

[[File:Amrut singlemalt whisky 2013-06-11 18-39.jpg|thumb|Amrut single malt whisky.]]
The manufacture of whisky from malted grains in India was pioneered by [[Amrut Distilleries]] in 1982.<ref name="business-standard1"/> Amrut Distilleries began procuring barley from farmers in [[Haryana]],<ref name="business-standard1"/> [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] and [[Rajasthan]], in addition to molasses,<ref name="livemint1">{{cite web|author=Poornima Mohandas |url=http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/gr38dzdMdPmjGGrpfEMnSJ/Blend-it-like-Amrut.html |title=Blend it like Amrut |publisher=Livemint |date=5 March 2010 |access-date=21 June 2013}}</ref> and launched Prestige Blended Malt Whisky in the [[Canteen Stores Department (India)|Canteen Stores Department]] in 1986.<ref name="outlookindia1">{{cite web |url=http://business.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?279968 |title=High Spirits |work=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |date=18 February 2012 |access-date=21 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308050149/http://business.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?279968 |archive-date=8 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The first batch of [[single malt whisky]] was ready within 18 months. Because India had no culture of consuming single malts at the time, the company did not consider bottling it as a single malt. Instead, the whisky was blended with alcohol distilled from sugarcane to produce MaQintosh Premium Whisky.<ref name="amrutdistilleries3">{{cite web |url=http://www.amrutdistilleries.com/validated/pages/outlookbusiness.html |title=High Spirits; Amrut Fusion is the only Indian brand to find global acceptance in the rarefied world of single malt whiskies |first=Kripa |last=Mahalingan |work=Outlook Business |publisher=Amrut Distilleries |date=18 February 2012 |access-date=21 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714040315/http://www.amrutdistilleries.com/validated/pages/outlookbusiness.html |archive-date=14 July 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> According to Neelakanta Jagdale, "The alcoholic beverages industry was not a priority in the country. Although we received help to a certain extent from the [[Central Food Technological Research Institute]] (CFTRI), we had to find our own ways to learn about improved distilling methods".<ref name="dnaindia1">{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/1700807/report-bangalore-s-amrut-distilleries-hhigh-on-success |title=Bangalore's Amrut Distilleries high on success |work=Daily News and Analysis |access-date=21 June 2013}}</ref> Amrut Distilleries launched [[Amrut (whisky)|Amrut]], the first single malt whisky to be made in India, on 24 August 2004.<ref name="indiatimes1">{{cite web|author=Ishani Duttagupta |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-04-29/news/31477540_1_amrut-distilleries-whisky-bible-rakshit-jagdale |title=How India's first single malt brand Amrut Distilleries cracked luxury market in West |work=[[The Economic Times]] | date=29 April 2012 |access-date=21 June 2013}}</ref> The production of Amrut single malt whisky was the result of the distillery having malt that was [[Barrel aging|ageing]] far in excess of what was needed for its medium range Prestige Malt Whisky.<ref name="business-standard1">{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/the-malt-of-india-112021800056_1.html |title=The malt of India |work=[[Business Standard]] |date=18 February 2012 |access-date=21 June 2013}}</ref> Initially, Amrut aged malt whisky for around a year before blending it. However, due to changing customer preferences, less malt whisky was being added into blended variants.<ref name="outlookindia1"/> Surinder Kumar, the [[master blender]] at Amrut Distilleries, has estimated that because of climate differences, one year of barrel ageing in India is equal to three years of ageing in Scotland.<ref name="business-standard1"/>

[[John Distilleries]] had been making blended whisky since its foundation, but decided to manufacture [[single malt whisky]] in 2008 in an attempt to enter the premium end of the market. The first bottling of [[Paul John (whisky)|Paul John whisky]], branded "Paul John Single Cask 161 Whisky", was launched on 4 October 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drinksint.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/3342/Indian_whisky_in_scotch_92s_back_yard__.html |title=Indian whisky in scotch's back yard |publisher=Drinks International |date=5 October 2012 |access-date=4 July 2013}}</ref>

Economic liberalisation also lead to the entry of foreign companies to the market, whose brands were seen as more authentic and attractive by affluent Indian consumers. This led several Indian manufacturers to acquire foreign liquor companies.<ref name="articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com"/> Under [[Vijay Mallya]]'s direction, the Indian company [[United Spirits Limited]] acquired a number of noted whisky brands and distilleries in Scotland, including [[Dalmore Single Malt|Dalmore]], [[Isle of Jura Single Malt|Isle of Jura]], and [[Whyte & Mackay]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6659779.stm "Whisky giant sold to billionaire"], [[BBC News]], 16 May 2007, accessed 25 June 2007</ref> (In 2012, [[Diageo]] acquired a 55% stake in United Spirits.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/819cb09c-dbe0-11e5-9ba8-3abc1e7247e4|title=Diageo pays $75m to Vijay Mallya to step down from United Spirits|first=Amy|last=Kazmin|date=25 February 2016|website=www.ft.com}}</ref>) Some of the Scotch whisky produced is used in Indian blends.<ref name=Rebellion>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1630540,00.html "The Whisky Rebellion"], [[Time Magazine|''Time'' magazine]], 7 June 2007, accessed 25 June 2007</ref> Whyte & Mackay has since been sold as of 2014 to Emperador a company based in the Philippines.

==Domestic market==
In terms of volume, India is the biggest consumer of whisky in the world.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160818201744/http://www1.m.businessinsider.in/indians-drink-way-way-more-whiskey-than-americans/articleshow/47802798.cms]</ref> It has a complex tax structure with taxes levelled by both [[Central government of India|Central]] and [[State governments of India|State Governments]]. Import taxes are applied by the Central Government on imported spirits. State level taxes are levied by each individual State, with taxation levels and methods varying significantly.<ref name="doc.research-and-analytics.csfb.com">{{cite web|url=https://doc.research-and-analytics.csfb.com/docView?language=ENG&source=emfromsendlink&format=PDF&document_id=1000473291&extdocid=1000473291_1_eng_pdf&serialid=oun6%2bKXvmqM8LPKFz5bkTilydCe08R2p1Spo3jV5TOw%3d |title=Indian Spirits Market |publisher=[[Credit Suisse]] |date=27 September 2012 |access-date=12 May 2014}}</ref> The sale of alcohol is also [[Prohibition in India|prohibited in some States]].

Whisky accounts for nearly 60% of the [[Indian-made foreign liquor]] market. India accounted for nearly half the global whisky market by volume in 2010.<ref name="doc.research-and-analytics.csfb.com"/> The market is generally divided into segments based on price.<ref>[http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-02-10/news/37008258_1_scotch-whisky-officer-s-choice-bagpiper Modi Illva plays smart in launching premium whisky, but Rockford Reserve faces challenges ahead – Economic Times]. Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com (10 February 2013). Retrieved on 23 December 2013.</ref>

==Trade controversy==
The consumption of native-distilled, molasses-based whisky in India is encouraged by [[tariff]] barriers of up to 150%<ref name="bbc.co.uk">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16625585 BBC News – Scotching the trade protection racket]. Bbc.co.uk (19 January 2012). Retrieved on 23 December 2013.</ref> that impose a significant markup on imported whiskies in India. Imported Scotch whisky bottled under its own brand names makes up only 1% of the total market share. The substantial tax markup on imported whiskies has been categorised by the [[Scotch Whisky Association]] (SWA) as "pure protectionism".<ref name=Rebellion/> Indian distillers accuse the [[European Union]] of erecting its own sort of trade barriers by means of rules that forbid the marketing of molasses-based spirits as "whisky". Mallya has objected to the EU's refusal of entry to molasses-based whiskies, claiming that the "imposition of British imperialism is unacceptable".<ref name=Rebellion/> In a lawsuit brought in India by the SWA, the [[Delhi High Court]] in April 2006 enjoined Indian whisky manufacturers from labelling their product with the words "Scot" or "Scotch".<ref>[https://archive.today/20140514162507/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/archive_news_detail.asp?pp_cat=17&art_id=17241&sid=7640835&con_type=1&archive_d_str=20060425 "If it's Indian it can't be Scotch, court tells India's whiskey makers"], ''The Standard'', 25 April 2006, accessed 28 June 2007.</ref> However, on 27 May 2008, the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] ruled in favour of distiller [[Khoday Group|Khoday India Limited]], allowing the company to keep its [[Peter Scot]] whisky brand trademark.<ref>{{cite news|author=Dhananjay Mahapatra |agency=TNN | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-05-28/india/27741832_1_peter-scot-scot-or-scotch-sc-bench | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716051621/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-05-28/india/27741832_1_peter-scot-scot-or-scotch-sc-bench | url-status=dead | archive-date=16 July 2013 |title=Scotch or not, 'Peter Scot' won't be banned: SC |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=28 May 2008 |access-date=11 August 2013}}</ref>

In 2019, India was the world's second largest Scotch whisky market by volume (131 million 70cl bottles consumed) and 7th largest by value ([[Pound sign|£]]166 million).<ref>{{cite web |title=International Trade |url=https://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/insights/international-trade/ |website=Scotch Whisky Association |access-date=22 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

==Manufacturers==
{{see also|List of whisky brands#Indian whisky}}
Following is a list of whisky producers in India in alphabetical order. The location of the company headquarters is given in brackets.
* [[ADS Spirits]] (Jhajjar, Harayana)
* [[Amrut Distilleries]] (Bangalore, Karnataka)
* [[Diageo]] India Pvt Ltd. (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
* [[John Distilleries]] (Bangalore, Karnataka)
* [[Khoday Group|Khoday India Limited]] (Bangalore, Karnataka)
* [[Pincon Spirit Limited]], ([[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]])
* [[Mohan Meakin]] (Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh)
* [[Radico Khaitan]] (Rampur, Uttar Pradesh)
* [[Seagram]] Manufacturing Ltd, owned by [[Pernod Ricard]]
* Suntory Jim Beam India Ltd, owned by [[Beam Suntory]]
* [[United Spirits Limited]] (Bangalore, Karnataka)

===Defunct===
The following manufacturers have ceased operations.

* [[Shaw Wallace]] (Kolkata, West Bengal) – Merged with United Spirits Ltd

==See also==
* [[Outline of whisky]]
* [[Desi daru]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070818090944/http://www.gourmetindia.com/pgview.php?id=234 The Anomalies of Drinking in India], Sharad Bailur, Mumbai, India
*[http://www.premierdistilleries.com/ India Distillery], Premier Distilleries Pvt. Ltd. India

{{Whisky |state=collapsed}}
{{Indian beverages}}
{{Portal bar|Liquor|India}}

[[Category:Indian whisky| ]]

Indian whisky - Revision history

Ronny14Z58: general reworked structure for accuracy and improved wording based on references

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