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{{short description|Indian alcoholic beverages company}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| Owner =
| name = United Spirits
| logo = United-spirits-logo_2.png
| caption =
| trading_name =
| former type =
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{Bse|532432}}<br /> {{NSE|UNITDSPR}}
| industry = [[Drink industry]]
| fate =
| predecessor = McDowell and Company
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1826}}<br />[[Fort St. George, India|Fort St. George]], [[Chennai|Madras]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| founder = Angus McDowell
| location_city = UB Tower, No. 24, Vittal Mallya Road, [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]]
| location_country = India
| locations = 
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Praveen Someshwar (MD & CEO)<br>Prathamesh Mishra (MD of Diageo Korea & Japan)
| products = [[Alcoholic beverage]]s: [[Distilled beverage|spirits]], [[beer]] and [[wine]]
| production =
| revenue = {{increase}} {{INRConvert|12069|c}} (2025)
| operating_income = {{increase}} {{INRConvert|2243|c}} (2025)
| net_income = {{increase}} {{INRConvert|1582|c}} (2025)
| assets = {{increase}} {{INRConvert|13248|c}} (2025)
| equity = {{increase}} {{INRConvert|8104|c}} (2025)
| num_employees = 3,200 (2022)
| parent = [[Diageo]] (54.8%)<ref name=AboutUs/>
| divisions =
| subsid =
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.diageoindia.com/}}
| footnotes = Financials {{as of|2025|03|31|lc=y|df=yes}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Audited financial results for the quarter and financial year ended 31 March 2025 |url=https://www.diageoindia.com/~/media/Files/D/Diageo-V2/Diageo-India/news-and-media/press-release/2025/audited-financial-results-for-the-quarter-and-financial-year-ended-31-march-2025.pdf |publisher=United Spirits Limited |access-date=28 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Audited financial results for the quarter and financial ended 31st March 2025 |url=https://www.diageoindia.com/~/media/Files/D/Diageo-V2/Diageo-India/investors/financials/results-reports-and-presentations/results-fy2025.pdf |publisher=United Spirits Limited |access-date=28 May 2025}}</ref>
| bodystyle =
}}

'''United Spirits Limited''' is an Indian [[alcoholic beverage]]s company, and the world's second-largest [[liquor|spirits]] company by volume.<ref>{{cite news|author=M Padmakshan |agency=ET Bureau |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-01-25/news/28421797_1_usl-diageo-united-spirits |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025061810/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-01-25/news/28421797_1_usl-diageo-united-spirits |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 October 2013 |title=USL's now world's No 2 spirit co, replaces Pernod |newspaper=[[The Economic Times]] |date=25 January 2010 |access-date=27 July 2013}}</ref> It is a subsidiary of [[Diageo]], and headquartered at UB Tower in [[Bangalore]], Karnataka. USL exports its products to over 37 countries.<ref name=AboutUs>{{cite web |url=http://unitedspirits.in/aboutus.aspx |title=About Us > USL at a Glance |publisher=Unitedspirits.in |access-date=27 July 2013 |archive-date=7 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807131113/http://unitedspirits.in/aboutus.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

According to the official website of the company, as of March 2013, USL has more than 140 liquor brands, of which 15 brands each sell more than one million cases annually while 3 brands each sell more than 10 million cases annually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://unitedspirits.in/aboutus.aspx |title=United Spirits Limited (USL) - Who We Are | About Us |publisher=Unitedspirits.in |date=31 March 2013 |access-date=7 August 2015 |archive-date=7 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807131113/http://unitedspirits.in/aboutus.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==
The company originated as a trading company called McDowell and Company (also known as McDowell & Co, McDowell or McDowell's), founded in India in 1826 by Angus McDowell, a Scot.<ref name="telegraphindia3">{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1121110/jsp/frontpage/story_16181340.jsp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130727143725/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1121110/jsp/frontpage/story_16181340.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 July 2013 |title=Diageo bottles Mallya genie |publisher=Telegraphindia.com |date=10 November 2012 |access-date=27 July 2013}}</ref> He set up a [[warehouse]] near [[Fort St. George, India|Fort St. George]], Madras (now [[Chennai]]).<ref name="ambrosiaindia1">{{cite journal |url=http://www.ambrosiaindia.com/2011/april/ub-groups.pdf |title=UB Group supplement with April 2011 issue |publisher=Ambrosia |date=April 2011 |access-date=27 July 2013 |archive-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003020055/http://www.ambrosiaindia.com/2011/april/ub-groups.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The company imported liquor, tobacco products, and other consumer goods into India to serve the needs of British people stationed there.<ref name="ambrosiaindia1"/> McDowell & Company Limited was incorporated as a company in 1898, with an initial capital of {{INRConvert|8|l|year=1898}} as 4,000 [[preferred shares]] and 4,000 [[common shares]] of {{INRConvert|100|year=1898}} each. The company's principal shareholders were A.M. Hooper, G.D. Coleman, and G.A. Ruppell.<ref name="ambrosiaindia1"/>

The [[Vittal Mallya]]-run United Breweries Group bought McDowell and Company in 1951.<ref name="telegraphindia3"/> In 1959, Mallya established the company's first distillery at [[Cherthala]], [[Kerala]] on the banks of the [[Vembanad (lake)|Vembanad lake]]. McDowell's began bottling Bisquit Brandy and Dorville French Brandy, from imported [[concentrate]]s, becoming the first company to manufacture [[Indian Made Foreign Liquor]] (IMFL). The company opened India's first [[distillation]] plant to manufacture extra-neutral alcohol (ENA) at Cherthala in 1961. The plant began bottling products for Herbertsons Limited of the Anglo Thai Group that same year. The company launched Golden Grape Brandy, its first original product, in 1962. The company launched [[McDowell's No.1|McDowell's No.1 Brandy]] in 1963–64 when their contract with Herbertsons expired. In the early 1960s, the company acquired Carew & Co and Phipson & Co, manufacturers of rum, gin, and other hard liquors in 1963–64.<ref name="ambrosiaindia1"/>

The company launched [[McDowell's No.1]] whisky in 1968, and commissioned new distilleries in [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], [[Ponda, Goa|Ponda]] ([[Goa]]), and Hathidah ([[Bihar]]) over the next few years. In the late 1970s, distilleries were acquired in [[Udaipur]], [[Alwar]], Mirganj, and [[Serampore]], and a plant was built in [[Puducherry (city)|Pondicherry]]. The company bought out Herbertsons in 1973. Mallya's son, [[Vijay Mallya]], took over as director of McDowell's the same year and assumed chairmanship of UB Group and McDowell's after Vittal Mallya died in 1983. McDowell's moved its headquarters from Madras to [[Bangalore]] in 1987. The company established a technical center for product and process development research in Bangalore in 1989. [[McDowell's No.1 Rum]] was launched in 1990. McDowell's acquired the spirits business and manufacturing facility of Forbes Campbell & Company Limited. McDowell's formed United Distillers India Limited, India's first joint venture in the alcoholic beverages industry, with [[United Distillers]] of the United Kingdom in 1991–92. McDowell's [[Signature (whisky)|Signature whisky]] was launched in 1994. In 1995, Carew Phipson Limited, Consolidated Distilleries Ltd, and several other companies were merged into McDowell's, as S.S. Gandhi handed the reigns of the company to Vijay Rekhi.<ref name="ambrosiaindia1"/> The company was incorporated as McDowell Spirits Ltd in 1999. The name was changed to McDowell & Company Ltd on 1 April 2000. McDowell Alcobev became a wholly owned subsidiary of McDowell & Company in 2002. In the same year, the company acquired Phipson Distillery, McDowell International Brands Ltd, and most of Triumph Distilleries & Vinters Pvt Ltd. McDowell launched Derby Special Whisky in 2003 and Old Cask rum in 2004.<ref>[http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/Company/Background/Company-Profile/United-Spirits-Ltd/532432 United Spirits Ltd Background details about Company Profile]. Indiainfoline.com. Retrieved on 23 December 2013.</ref>

On 21 March 2005, McDowell & Company entered into an agreement with Jumbo World Holdings Limited (JWHL) in [[Dubai]] to acquire [[Shaw Wallace]].<ref name="telegraphindia1">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050322/asp/business/story_4522815.asp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130712061013/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050322/asp/business/story_4522815.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 July 2013 |title=Mallya bottles Shaw Wallace |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] |date=22 March 2005 |access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref><ref name="telegraphindia2">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080425/jsp/business/story_9185627.jsp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130712061151/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080425/jsp/business/story_9185627.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 July 2013 |title=Shaw Wallace braces for final battle |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] |date=25 April 2008 |access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref> The board of Shaw Wallace approved the merger of the company with USL and fixed the appointed date of the merger as 1 April 2008 subject to approvals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/30/stories/2007113057352000.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071202131538/http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/30/stories/2007113057352000.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 December 2007 |title=Shaw Wallace board okays merger with USL |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=30 November 2007 |access-date=9 June 2013}}</ref> In 2006, McDowell & Co Limited, Herbertsons Limited, Triumph Distillers and Vintners Private Limited, Baramati Grape Industries India Limited, Shaw Wallace Distilleries Limited and four other companies are merged to form United Spirits Limited. Bouvet Ladubay, a subsidiary of France-based [[Taittinger]] was acquired the same year.<ref name="ambrosiaindia1"/>

The UB Group purchased [[Whyte & Mackay]] in May 2007 for £595 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6659779.stm |title=Whisky giant sold to billionaire |work=BBC News |date=16 May 2007 |access-date=27 July 2013}}</ref> USL also acquired Liquidity Inc., makers of [[Pinky Vodka]], in 2007. USL launched Black Dog 18 YO and Four Seasons Barrique Reserve in 2009–10, and McDowell's No 1 Platinum, 100% grain-based whisky, in 2011.<ref name="ambrosiaindia1" />

In 2011, eclipsed Diageo as the world's largest spirits company by volume sold. Later that year, then President and MD Vijay Rekhi stepped down.

On 27 May 2013, [[Diageo]] acquired a 10% stake in United Spirits at a cost of {{INRConvert|20927196000}}. It also separately acquired an additional 58,668 shares for {{INR}} 85,778,082.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stockmarketwire.com/article/4626872/Diageo-increases-stake-in-United-Spirits.html |title=Diageo increases stake in United Spirits |publisher=Stock Market Wire |date=4 July 2013 |access-date=27 July 2013}}</ref> On 4 July 2013, Diageo bought an additional 14.98% of the company for {{INRConvert|31.35|b}}. Diageo acquired an additional 21.77 million shares at a cost of {{INRConvert|1440}} per share in an off-market deal from United Spirits' promoters, raising its holdings to 25.02 percent of the company.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/united-spirits-hits-record-high-on-change-of-guard-113070500225_1.html |title=United Spirits hits record high on change of guard |newspaper=[[Business Standard]] |date=5 July 2013 |access-date=27 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/diageo-unitedspirits-idINWLB003V220130704 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514041307/http://in.reuters.com/article/diageo-unitedspirits-idINWLB003V220130704 |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 May 2016 |title=Diageo winds up with 25 pct stake in United Spirits |work=Reuters |date=4 July 2013 |access-date=27 July 2013}}</ref> Following that purchase, Diageo held 36.3 million shares in USL, acquired at a cost of {{INRConvert|52358.5|m}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130705/jsp/business/story_17083393.jsp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130727143731/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130705/jsp/business/story_17083393.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 July 2013 |title=Diageo ends with 25% in United Spirits |publisher=Telegraphindia.com |date=5 July 2013 |access-date=27 July 2013}}</ref> making it the largest shareholder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/index.php/sid/215630410 |title=Diageo completes stake acquisition in United Spirits |publisher=Big News Network |date=4 July 2013 |access-date=27 July 2013}}</ref> Under pressure from Diageo, some substantial changes to the management structure of the firm began to take place in 2013.<ref>Kurian, B., and Dhamija, A., [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Mallya-rejigs-executive-payrolls-as-Diageo-tightens-leash/articleshow/21792773.cms Mallya rejigs executive payrolls as Diageo tightens leash], [[Times of India]], 13 August 2013.</ref>

In 2014, Diageo's shareholdings rose to 54.8% of USL.<ref name=AboutUs/>

In early 2014, Whyte & Mackay, which had been purchased by UB Group in 2007, was sold to [[Philippines]]-based [[Emperador Inc.|Emperador]] for £430 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-27340535|title=BBC News – Philippines firm Emperador buys Whyte & Mackay for £430m|work=BBC News|date=9 May 2014}}</ref>

On 5 November 2017, the [[Paradise Papers]], a set of confidential [[electronic document]]s relating to [[offshore investment]], revealed that United Spirits with three other subsidiaries based in the UK were allegedly involved with diverting funds amounting to $1.5 billion.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tandon|first1=Suneera|title=The Indian superstars of tax haven leaks: Amitabh Bachchan and Vijay Mallya|url=https://qz.com/1121170/from-paradise-papers-to-the-panama-leaks-amitabh-bachchan-and-vijay-mallya-are-never-missing/|access-date=9 November 2017|work=[[Quartz India]]|date=7 November 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107103322/https://qz.com/1121170/from-paradise-papers-to-the-panama-leaks-amitabh-bachchan-and-vijay-mallya-are-never-missing|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Technical centre==
The USL technical centre was opened in 1989 in Bangalore, and is recognised by the [[Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (India)|Department of Scientific & Industrial Research]] (DSIR) as an in-house [[Research & development|Research & Development]] laboratory.<ref>{{cite web|title=About us > Technical Center|url=http://unitedspirits.in/aboutus.aspx|work=United Spirits Limited|access-date=27 July 2013|archive-date=7 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807131113/http://unitedspirits.in/aboutus.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==United Spirits brands==
USL manufactures [[Indian whisky]], [[Scotch whisky]], [[brandy]], [[rum]], [[vodka]], [[gin]] and [[wine]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Brands |url=http://unitedspirits.in/usl-brands.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920224309/http://unitedspirits.in/usl-brands.aspx |archive-date=2012-09-20 |access-date=27 July 2013 |work=United Spirits Limited}}</ref>

{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
;Indian whisky
* [[Antiquity (whisky)|Antiquity]]
* [[Bagpiper (whisky)|Bagpiper]]
* [[McDowell's No.1]]
* McDowell's No.1 Platinum
* McDowell's Single Malt<ref>[http://www.ub-global.com/mcdowells_single_malt.html UB Global] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214120904/http://www.ub-global.com/mcdowells_single_malt.html |date=14 December 2013 }}. UB Global. Retrieved on 23 December 2013.</ref>
* [[Royal Challenge]]
* Royal Challenge American Pride
* [[Signature (whisky)|Signature]]
;Scotch whisky
* [[Black Dog (whisky)|Black Dog]]

{{col-break}}
;Wine
* Bouvet Ladubay
* [[Four Seasons Wines|Four Seasons]]
;Vodka
* [[Pinky Vodka|Pinky]]
* [[Romanov (vodka)|Romanov]]
* [[White Mischief (liquor)|White Mischief]]
{{col-break}}
; Brandy
* Honey Bee
* McDowell's VSOP

;Rum
* [[McDowell's No.1 Celebration]]

;Gin
* Blue Riband

{{col-end}}

==Distillery locations==
USL owns several distilleries throughout India, and also owns one unit in Nepal. Besides these, USL also has several contract and associate distilleries in India, and one in Nepal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://unitedspirits.in/aboutus.aspx#seventh |title=About Us > Distilleries |publisher=Unitedspirits.in |access-date=27 July 2013 |archive-date=7 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807131113/http://unitedspirits.in/aboutus.aspx#seventh |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Operational USL owned units
* Malkajgiri, [[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]]
* Nacharam, [[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]]
* Bethora-[[Ponda, Goa|Ponda]], Goa
* Kumbalgodu, [[Bangalore]], Karnataka
* Aurangabad, [[Maharashtra]]
* [[Baramati]], Maharashtra
* [[Nasik]], Maharashtra
* [[Alwar]], [[Rajasthan]]
* [[Nimapara]], [[Odisha]]
* Pioneer Distillery, [[Nanded]], [[Maharashtra]]
* [[Asansol]], [[West Bengal]]
{{col-break}}
;Contract and associate units
* Rhizome Distilleries Pvt. Ltd ([[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]])
* Esveear Dist (Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh)
* Continental Distillery ([[Vijayawada]], Andhra Pradesh)
* North East Distilleries Pvt Ltd ([[Guwahati]], [[Assam]])
* Surma Distillery Pvt Ltd ([[Silchar]], Assam)
* M T M Wines & Bottlers Pvt Limited (Naharlagun, [[Arunachal Pradesh]])
* Aegis Beverages (P) Ltd ([[Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh|Bilaspur]], Chhattisgarh)
* Khemani Distilleries Pvt Ltd ([[Daman, Daman and Diu|Daman]])
* Saraya Industries Ltd ([[New Delhi]])
* Mandovi Distilleries & Breweries Pvt Ltd (Goa)
* A B Sugars Ltd (Haryana)
* Sir Shadilal Distillery & Chemical Works (Haryana)
* Trishul Bottlers ([[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]])
* Ajantha Bottlers & Blenders Pvt Ltd (Ranchi, Jharkhand)
* Ambient Liquors Pvt Ltd (Jharkhand)
* Karnataka Breweries & Distilleries Ltd (Bangalore, Karnataka)
* Seven Seas Distillery Pvt Ltd ([[Mannuthy]], [[Thrissur]], Kerala)
* Ajantha Distilleries ([[Nagpur]], Maharashtra)
* Rainbow Distilleries Pvt Ltd (Nagpur, Maharashtra)
* Jubilant Organosys Limited (Pune, Maharashtra)
* Ravi-Kumar Distillery (Pondicherry)
* Vinbros Dist (Pondicherry)
* Mount Distillery ([[Sikkim]])
* Golden Midas Dist ([[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]])
* Shiva Distillery ([[Coimbatore]], Tamil Nadu)
* Gemini Distilleries (Tripura) Pvt Ltd ([[Tripura]])
* United Brothers Distilleries Private Limited (Naharlagun, [[Arunachal Pradesh]]) k
* Himalayan Distillery Pvt Ltd (Nepal)
{{col-end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website|http://www.diageoindia.com/}}

{{portalbar|Liquor}}
{{United Spirits}}
{{Nifty 200 companies}}
[[Category:Diageo]]
[[Category:United Spirits]]
[[Category:United Breweries Group]]
[[Category:Distilleries in India]]
[[Category:Drink companies of India]]
[[Category:Alcoholic drink companies]]
[[Category:Food and drink companies established in 1826]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 1999]]
[[Category:1826 establishments in British India]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 1826]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the National Stock Exchange of India]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Women's Premier League (cricket) franchise owners]]

United Spirits - Revision history

FosterDevito009: starting first pg added tags