Jagatjit Industries, a manufacturer, distributer and seller of India Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), has purchased two Scotch whiskey brands - King Henry VIII and Clan Sinclair - from George Sinclair & Sons.
The company has also partnered with Scottish distiller Inver House to produce the acquired brands in India.
Jagatjit Industries president Deepankar Barat told The Times of India that among the purchased brands, the first brand - King Henry VIII - is being introduced in select markets now.
"This will be followed by Clan Sinclair. But we cannot disclose specific details at the moment," Barat added.
King Henry is a blended Scotch whiskey with a price tag of INR1,000 ($18.17) per quart in Delhi. The company plans to import the whiskey and then bottle in India to avoid tariffs on imported liquor bottles. The second product - Clan Sinclair - is a single malt whiskey that is matured for 16 years.
Spiritual Luxury founder and Scotch whiskey consultant Sandeep Arora was quoted by website as saying that Scotch whiskey has reported growing demand in Indian states like Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh.
"These are markets beyond Chivas Regal and Johnnie Walker consumers in the bigger metros. Many smaller Scotch brands are open to strategic investments by Indian investors to tap this potential," he added.
