We see Indian single malts as a stepping stone to luxury malts: William Grant & Sons’ Sachin Mehta and Brian Kinsman

Posted on:
Key Points

William Grant & Sons is the worlds third largest Scotch whisky maker as well as the largest independent whisky company in Scotland..

Its portfolio of brands includes Glenfiddich, which is among the worlds largest-selling single malts, Balvenie, another legendary Speyside whisky, and Hendricks, one of the worlds biggest selling gin brands..

In this interview with Hindustan Times, Sachin Mehta, William Grants country director for India, and Brian Kinsman, master blender (the sixth in the companys 137-year-old history), shed light on its luxury play, flavour appreciation trends across spirits, and the categories the company is keeping a close eye on..

Sachin, has the recent boom in Indian single malts made William Grant & Sons reassess its approach to the Indian market?..

So, the offerings that the Indian single malts are bringing in, are a good step on that ladder, a stepping stone to Scotch and premium malts that we have to offer...

You might be interested in

India's love of homegrown single malts shakes up Pernod, Diageo

17, Dec, 23

Sugarcane and mustard fields, not peat bogs, ring the distillery, where the two-year-old Indian brand's owner Piccadily is ramping up production and building a three-hole golf course to lure connoisseurs and tipplers in the whisky-loving nation.

Indian single malts pip foreign brands in sales, overtake global giants for 1st time

08, Jan, 24

India Business News: Indian single malts, produced by Indian-origin makers, have overtaken global giants in sales, cornering around 53% of the market share in 2023. The lo

Shuddh desi single malt: How India's GianChands outwitted Glenlivets

08, Jan, 24

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.

Whiskey makers flag Scotch imports from 3rd countries

16, Mar, 23

As per the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), India overtook France to become the UK’s largest market for Scotch in terms of volumes with a 60% increase in imports in 2022 over the previous year. India imported 219 million 70cl bottles of Scotch last year.

Amrut Distilleries to raise production capacity in Bengaluru by 30%

10, Jan, 24

Amrut Distilleries Pvt. Ltd. is looking to expand production capacity in Bengaluru by 30% in FY25 to cater to the rising demand for its premium single malts and high-end products.

Indian single malts could turn the table on scotch

04, Nov, 23

Since the early 1990s, when the restrictions were gradually lifted, Indians have taken enthusiastically to the real thing — whats more, growing affluence and exposure to high quality whisky have encouraged many to explore more and more expensive brands.

Define single-malt whiskies afresh, says alcobev industry

13, Jul, 23

Consumption of single malt whiskey in India is about 475,000 cases (9 ltr each). One fourth of this is of Indian brands

Royal, rich, Rajputi—Indian single malt whisky now global cool. A new culture being distilled

24, Jan, 24

Radico Khaitan’s Rampur and Piccadily’s Indri are new breed of single malts—internationally acclaimed and Indian-made, exuding foreigner-friendly notions of the ‘Indian summer’.