Tag Archives: Alcobev Updates

Glasgow Distillery’s Limited Release of 1770 10-Year-Old Single Malt

Glasgow Distillery has announced the release of its second limited 10-Year-Old single malt, to mark a decade of whisky production. This special edition has been bottled in collaboration with one of Scotland’s leading whisky retailers, Royal Mile Whiskies. The limited release (340 bottles) to be released at Whisky Fringe in Edinburgh, will be available on royalmilewhiskies.com from August 11.

Glasgow 1770 10-Year-Old Sauternes Cask Matured is a single cask, unpeated single malt fully matured in a re-fill French Sauternes sweet wine barrique. The result is a fruity, delicate whisky with notes of poached pear, salted caramel, honey and tropical fruit, with a hint of cinnamon spice.

The bottling follows the inaugural 10-Year-Old release, which sold out in under twenty minutes in March and July’s trio of Small Batch Series expressions also matured in wine casks.

“It’s a big year for us at The Glasgow Distillery, as we celebrate 10 years since our first casks were filled. This is a truly special 10-Year-Old release, an American white oak cask that previously held Sauternes wine. Being a refill barrique, the Sauternes influence is present but not overpowering, adding depth and flavour, resulting in a perfectly balanced single malt while still showcasing our decade-old spirit. The caramel and malty characters of the American oak are complemented by the rich poached pears and tropical fruit imparted by the Sauternes wine, creating a harmonious balance of whisky and wood,” said Mike Hayward, Founder

“We’re delighted to have collaborated with The Glasgow Distillery on this exciting release. We’ve long supported the new wave of Scottish distilleries, and The Glasgow Distillery has firmly established itself as one of the most innovative and inspiring producers right now. Their diverse core range, along with an impressive Small Batch Series, showcases great flavour quality and accessibility. It’s no wonder they’ve built such a passionate community around their whiskies.”

“This single cask marks their first 10 years of whisky making and is one of the most interesting examples of Sauternes cask matured whiskies I’ve tried recently, showcasing a balance of fresh apricots, salted butterscotch and honey. We’re proud to be launching it exclusively at the 23rd edition of Whisky Fringe this year at Mansfield Transquair, where The Glasgow Distillery will be joining fellow established distillers in the main hall for the first time,” added Sam Brabbs, Head Spirits Buyer at Royal Mile Whiskies

Tasting Notes:
Nose: Notes of runny honey and rich vanilla with hints of floral orange blossom leading to baked apple pie, stewed pears and dried apricot.
Palate: Honeyed sweetness and notes of vanilla pods meet Seville orange marmalade, ripe mango, rich toffee and baked fruits, all underpinned by a welcome lasting minerality.
Finish: Rich, with a nutty oiliness alongside sweet butterscotch, baked banana, earthy nutmeg and a warming ginger and cinnamon spice.

Kerala to Launch Brandy

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In a strategic push to boost local liquor production and capture the evolving preferences of Kerala’s spirits market, the state government has commenced construction of a state-owned brandy production facility at Malabar Distilleries Limited, Menonpara, Palakkad. The plant—a fully automated Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) unit—broke ground on July 7, 2025, and is expected to be operational within six months.

This marks Kerala’s formal entry into premium brandy manufacturing, aimed particularly at serving the northern districts, where brandy consumption dominates. In contrast, rum remains the preferred spirit in southern Kerala—a consumer insight that shaped both the location and product strategy of the initiative.

Scaling Up with Automation

The upcoming facility will house three fully automated production lines, capable of producing 13,500 cases per day. Initially, the plant will run a single shift employing around 40 workers, with plans to scale as demand increases. This is a significant leap from the current manual production of Jawan Deluxe XXX Rum, which yields only 6,000–8,000 cases daily.

Production at the plant will cover the entire value chain—from blending and bottling to capping and packaging—enabling complete in-house control and quality assurance.

A Jawan-Inspired Rollout

Although the brand name of the new brandy is under wraps, officials from Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco)—the state’s liquor monopoly—hinted that the marketing strategy will mirror the successful template used for Jawan Rum, now a trusted name in Kerala’s IMFL landscape.

Kerala’s `20,000 Crore Industry

In FY 2023–24, Kerala reported liquor and beer sales worth ₹19,088.68 crore, a 3% increase from the previous year. Taxes and levies contributed a massive ₹16,609.83 crore to the state exchequer, underscoring liquor’s role as a fiscal pillar.

Kerala’s IMFL market accounts for 90% of liquor revenue, with brandy (35%), beer (33%), and rum (27%) dominating consumption. Premium liquors—priced above ₹1,000 per 750 ml—make up just 4% of the volume, highlighting a strong preference for affordable brown spirits.

Interestingly, only 20% of the liquor consumed is produced within the state, with the rest sourced externally—a gap the new facility aims to narrow.

Kerala also faces limited retail access, with just 0.8 outlets per lakh population. Bevco is working to enhance distribution by launching air-conditioned premium outlets at strategic locations like Kochi Metro stations.

The government is concurrently exploring the production of fruit-based wines and spirits—using pineapple, mango, and banana—to support farmers and diversify beyond grain-based alcohol.

The brandy project is being executed by Kerala Electrical and Allied Engineering Company Ltd., and is part of a broader blueprint approved in June 2022, with administrative sanction in July 2023, to establish five blending and bottling lines at Malabar Distilleries.

Originally set up in 2009 for IMFL production, Malabar Distilleries is now transitioning towards a premium spirits portfolio, aligning with the state’s ambitions to create a self-sustaining, publicly-led liquor ecosystem.

“The government sees liquor production as a sector that supports both employment and state revenue,” said Minister M B Rajesh. “We plan to begin production by February and ensure availability of high-quality liquor through public sector efforts.”

Maharashtra Made Liquor (MML) Guidelines Announced to Boost Local Industry

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In a move aimed at reviving underutilised liquor manufacturing units and offering consumers more affordable choices, the Maharashtra Government has formally introduced a new category of alcoholic beverage—Maharashtra Made Liquor (MML). The decision, approved by the State Cabinet in July, has now been formalised through a Government Resolution (GR) amending the Bombay Foreign Liquor Rules, 1963.

The policy positions MML as a distinct sub-category under the Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) framework. To qualify, the liquor must be grain-based and produced using rectified spirit sourced exclusively within Maharashtra.

One of the biggest attractions for producers and consumers is the reduced excise duty, 270% for MML compared to 450% for IMFL. At an assumed manufacturing cost of ₹400 per litre, IMFL retails at roughly ₹2,200 (including ₹1,800 in excise), while MML is expected to cost around ₹1,480 (with ₹1,080 excise), making it about ₹700 cheaper per litre. The government has set a minimum retail price of ₹148 for a 180 ml bottle of MML, compared to ₹205 for IMFL and ₹80 for country liquor.

Under the new guidelines, MML manufacturers must have their registered head office in Maharashtra; maintain at least 25% state-resident shareholding; avoid producing or marketing MML outside the state; and register their brands within one year. Third-party production is not allowed, though leasing of plant capacity is permitted if the facility remains dedicated to MML production. If sold outside Maharashtra or if rules are violated, the MML status will be revoked, the guidelines state.

Economic Impact

According to reports, Maharashtra currently has 48 licensed IMFL manufacturing units, but only 10 dominate production; many operate at minimal capacity just to retain their licences. The government hopes MML will revive idle plants and generate up to ₹3,000 crore in additional annual revenue. The move is part of wider excise reforms targeting ₹14,000 crore yearly collections through measures including AI-powered monitoring of production and sales; new divisional excise offices; revised duty structures, IMFL at 3× to 4.5× manufacturing cost (capped at ₹260/litre), country liquor up to ₹205 per proof litre; and higher licence fees for FL-2 (retail) and FL-3 (bars) outlets.

In 2024-25, Maharashtra excise revenue stood at ₹25,467.96 crore. Of the six excise regions, Nashik region (Nashik, Nandurbar, Dhule and Jalgaon) earned ₹6,186.82 crore; followed by Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar region (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Beed, Jalna, and Dharashiv) at ₹5,995.07 crore; Pune region (Pune, Ahilyanagar and Sholapur) at ₹5,809.79 crore; Thane region (Mumbai City, Mumbai suburbs, Thane, Palghar and Raigad) at ₹4,513.02 crore; Kolhapur Greater Region (Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurga) at ₹1,265.21 crore; Nagpur region (Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli) at ₹874.43 crore; Nanded region (Parbhani, Latur, Nanded and Hingoli) at ₹592.73 crore; and Amravati region (Amravati, Buldhana, Akola, Washim and Yavatmal) at ₹230.09 crore.

Unlike IMFL’s foreign-style blends, MML will feature simple, traditional flavours such as orange, cumin and herbs. Popular varieties are expected to include Santra, Chandni and Sugandhi. Packaging is expected to be basic, in bottles or sachets and to be labelled “For sale only in Maharashtra”. Distribution will focus on rural and semi-urban markets, though MML will also be available in urban centres. Production is said to be undertaken by state-run units, cooperative sugar factories, and private distilleries.

By creating a regulated, lower-cost option, the government hopes MML will help curb illicit liquor trade and reduce consumption of illicit brews.

Indri takes ‘City Series’ Global, Launches in Dubai Duty Free

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After a successful debut in India, Indri Single Malt Indian Whisky has launched its limited edition ‘City Series’ global with the Dubai Duty Free Series. This special edition features two distinct and exclusively crafted Single Cask expressions — Sauternes Cask and Oloroso Sherry Cask — each bottled at a bold 58.5% ABV, created specifically for discerning global travellers, whisky connoisseurs and collectors at one of the world’s busiest international airports.

Adding to the exclusivity, each bottle is individually numbered with only 210 bottles of the Sauternes Cask and 348 bottles of the Oloroso Sherry Cask available worldwide. These rare expressions are a true collector’s delight, showcasing Indri’s signature craftsmanship and India’s rising prominence in the world of fine single malts.

“Crafting the City Series has been a journey of storytelling through flavour. For the Dubai editions, we wanted to capture the city’s dual essence—its deep-rooted traditions and its modern, global outlook. Both the Oloroso Sherry and Sauternes cask expressions reflect that harmony through bold character, complexity and elegance. These are not just whiskies, they are our tribute to Dubai in a bottle,” said Surrinder Kumar, Master Blender, Piccadily Distilleries.

“With the City Series, we aim to create rare experiences through our whiskies by capturing the soul of great cities around the world. Dubai, with its global flair and cultural richness, was a natural choice for our first international release,” said Madhu Kanna, Head International Business, Piccadily Distilleries.

The Indri City Series Oloroso Sherry Cask expression opens with a rich nose of sweet caramel, subtle smoke, and hints of leather, vanilla, dried fruits, and roasted nuts. On the palate, it reveals a warm, fruit-forward character with layers of toffee, gentle spices, elegant nuttiness, and earthy undertones. The finish is long, sweet, and delicately smoky, leaving a refined and lingering impression.

The Indri City Series Sauternes Cask expression offers a rich nose of dried apricot, peach, honey, and roasted nuts, with soft vanilla and a sweet, fruity cupcake-like aroma. The palate unfolds with layers of honey, butterscotch, dry apricots, and roasted nuts, enhanced by notes of pineapple, gentle oak, and warm spice. The finish is medium to long, leaving a lingering sweetness balanced by subtle oak and a vibrant fruity lift.

Following the successful Bengaluru Duty Free edition, Indri continues to make bold strides in international markets, firmly establishing itself as one of the most exciting new names in global whisky. It is priced at about USD150.