Tag Archives: Innovation in Spirits

Tilaknagar Industries Debuting Seven Islands Pure Malt Whisky

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  • Launch marks entry into whisky for India’s largest brandy producer 
  • Seven Islands is an Indo-Scottish 100% Pure Malt Whisky, made with four distinct single malts 

Tilaknagar Industries Ltd. (TI) has recently enterd into the premium whisky category with the launch of Seven Islands Pure Malt Whisky. Crafted from select Indian and Scottish malts, it is a distinct 100% pure malt expression.  

The launch marks a significant strategic expansion for TI, best known for building India’s brandy market with icons like Mansion House and more recently, Monarch Legacy Edition, and comes on the heels of its announcement of the acquisition of Imperial Blue, the world’s third largest-selling whisky brand. With this, the 90-year-old company establishes whisky as its second major growth pillar alongside its long-standing leadership in brandy. 

“India’s whisky story is evolving faster than ever, with growing consumer demand for premium and luxury expressions. Seven Islands marks TI’s entry into this dynamic category, bringing together Indian craftsmanship and global expertise to create a whisky that is both distinctly Indian and globally competitive. With whisky commanding over 60% of India’s spirits market, expanding into this category was the next natural step for us,” said Amit Dahanukar, Chairman and Managing Director, Tilaknagar Industries.

A New Style of Whisky 

Seven Islands introduces a style that moves beyond the single-malt focus that has shaped recent conversations around Indian whisky. As a pure malt, it blends four single malts—two from India and two from Scotland, allowing it to draw unique characteristics from multiple distilleries, regions and maturation styles. 

The Indian malts are sourced from the Himalayan foothills and the Vindhyan ranges, bringing the influence of high-altitude and tropical ageing. These are paired with malts from Speyside and the Lowlands, two of Scotland’s most recognised whisky regions. This Indo-Scottish duality creates a profile not possible through a single-region malt. With single malts driving recent premium growth, Seven Islands offers a new direction: a pure malt style shaped by two climates, two traditions, and a more complex blending philosophy. 

A Tribute to Mumbai’s Seven Islands 

Seven Islands takes its name from the archipelago of seven islands that once formed the city of Mumbai—the long-time home of Tilaknagar Industries and the backdrop to much of its growth. This connection is built into the bottle design. Two converging lines create the V-cut neck, hinting at the Indian and Scottish malts coming together, while fine cartographic lines reference the contours of the original islands. At the centre sits an anchor motif, a nod to Mumbai’s maritime heritage. The palette of sage, cream and gold keeps the design crisp, contemporary and quietly premium. 

“Seven Islands reflects our vision for House of TI, our new vertical which includes our premium portfolio and investments arm. House of TI was created to shape our premium and craft-led portfolio, beginning with Monarch Legacy Edition. With Seven Islands, we wanted to bring a new perspective and style to Indian whisky. It felt like the right way to introduce something distinctive, and a meaningful step forward for us as we expand into the whisky category,” said Sanaya Dahanukar, Marketing Manager, Tilaknagar Industries. 

 The Whisky Opportunity in India 

Whisky remains India’s most loved and aspirational spirits category, accounting for about 66% of total consumption in 2024 according to IWSR. By volume, Indian whisky grew 7% year-on-year in H1 2025, crossing 130 million cases and showing continued premiumisation. Exports are expanding as well, signalling rising global interest in Indian-made whiskies and premium expressions. For TI, a company that has built scale and expertise through long-standing leadership in brandy, the opportunity in whisky presents a clear and timely growth avenue. 

Tasting notes:   

  • Colour: Natural, brilliant, golden yellow.  
  • Aroma: Smooth and inviting, with tropical fruits, dried nuts, and hints of French and American oak layered with Indian spice.  
  • Taste: Full-bodied and balanced, with sweet, dried fruits, soft spice, creamy texture, and a touch of smoke.  
  • Finish: Long, smooth, and warm, with lingering notes of oak, spice, and dried fruits.

Product Details:

  • Size: 750 ml  
  • ABV: 42.8% 
  • Price & Availability: `5,200 (Maharashtra) 

Radico Khaitan launches New Luxury Vodka – The Spirit of Kashmyr

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Radico Khaitan has announced its entry into the luxury vodka segment with the launch of ‘The Spirit of Kashmyr’. Having established itself in the premium whisky segment, Radico Khaitan now broadens its focus with an entry into high-end vodka.

Drawing inspiration from the cultural richness and natural heritage of Kashmir, the new vodka positions itself in the top-end of the Indian vodka category. The Spirit of Kashmyr is a small-batch, grain-based vodka distilled five times and charcoal-filtered for clarity. According to Radico -what sets it apart is its visual and vibrant packaging, a floral motif rendered in papier-mâché style, influenced by the artisanal legacy of Kashmir.

Available in two variants — Natural (Classic) and Saffron — the vodka is currently being introduced in select markets including Goa, followed by other key states in the coming months. Priced at ₹2,500 for a 750 ml bottle in Goa, the brand will be competing in the luxury tier, where vodka consumption in India has seen growing interest among urban consumers.This launch is in line with a broader trend of Indian players tapping into the country’s own cultural narratives to build globally relevant premium brands. With The Spirit of Kashmyr, Rooted in Indian heritage, the launch reflects a growing focus on blending premium craft with cultural authenticity.

spiritsEUROPE launches ‘Objective 2030’

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spiritsEUROPE has launched its ‘Objective 2030’, a detailed roadmap for an EU open trade policy to support competitiveness, resilience and growth for the coming years.

spiritsEUROPE President Ian McLernon said, “Trade and exports have been at the heart of our sector for centuries. Often seen as iconic products and symbols of European culture, EU spirits remain a powerhouse for EU exports, supporting countless jobs in rural communities. However, this success should not be taken for granted. We face significant challenges, from the global economic slowdown impacting consumer purchasing power to growing geopolitical tensions and the increasing weaponisation of trade. To overcome these challenges, we need an open trade policy that fosters competitiveness, resilience, and growth.”

The success of the European spirits sector lies in its ability to balance long-standing traditions and quality passed down through generations with innovation to meet evolving consumer preferences. As a high-value, export-driven sector, the spirit drinks producers showcase how external trade can strengthen EU agri-food production, benefitting both the farmers who supply key ingredients and the rural communities where most production takes place.

The ‘Objective 2030’ roadmap published by spiritsEUROPE at its SUMMIT 2024 calls on the EU to prioritise three key areas. First, the EU must foster a stable and open trade environment for EU spirits by protecting them from unrelated trade disputes, prioritising multilateral solutions, and strengthening public-private cooperation. Second, the EU should deepen regulatory cooperation with third countries to remove and prevent trade barriers. Thirdly, the EU must expand market access and support diversification by concluding ambitious trade agreements with key growth regions, backed by economic diplomacy and promotional activities.

“Delivering significant results on these three calls for action will provide us with more options, greater resilience, and the ability to continue innovating and investing in sustainable practices. This is our vision for an open trade policy agenda that promotes competitiveness, security, and sustainability – one that allows us to keep contributing to the EU agri-food success story, the EU’s trade balance, and rural communities,” concluded Pauline Bastidon, External Trade Director at spiritsEUROPE.