Allied Blenders plans US$11.9M investment to enter India’s single malt whisky market
The Mumbai-based spirits company will establish a malt distillery and maturation warehouse in Maharashtra as it expands its premium spirits portfolio.
INDIA – Allied Blenders and Distillers Ltd (ABDL) has announced plans to enter India’s single malt whisky segment with an investment of up to Rs 115 crore (US$11.99M).
The company’s Management Committee has approved the additional capital infusion into its subsidiary, Minakshi Agro Industries LLP (MAILLP), for a malt distillery-cum-maturation warehouse in Aurangabad, Maharashtra.
The proposed facility will have annual production capacity of around 3 million bulk litres and is targeted for commissioning by the third quarter of FY28. It will support ABDL’s planned entry into the provenance-led single malt whisky category as part of its strategy to expand its premium spirits portfolio.
“The proposed investment is aligned with the Company’s long-term strategic vision of expanding and strengthening its premium spirits portfolio through entry into the provenance-led Single Malt Whisky segment,” ABDL said.
The investment comes as Indian consumers show growing interest in premium and luxury spirits, while domestic single malt brands have gained visibility in recent years. ABDL currently has a portfolio spanning whisky and other spirits.
Alongside the Rs 115 crore (US$11.99M) investment, ABDL has approved an additional capital contribution of up to Rs 10 crore (US$1.04M) for previously approved projects under MAILLP.
The additional funding will address cost overruns associated with a bottling unit and a distillery. ABDL said higher prices of key metals contributed to the increase in project costs.
The company also plans a marginal expansion of the bottling hall and mezzanine area to accommodate longer automated bottling lines.
Expanding International operations
The Aurangabad facility will add manufacturing capacity for single malt whisky once commissioned and provide dedicated infrastructure for production and maturation.
In August, ABDL entered Malaysia through a co-bottling partnership to manufacture and distribute Officer’s Choice Blue, marking its first overseas local production arrangement.
Under the partnership, Officer’s Choice Blue will be available in 750ml, 180ml and 90ml variants. ABDL will work with an established local partner while retaining control over raw materials, packaging, quality standards and brand stewardship.
ABDL reported standalone net profit of Rs 68.19 crore (US$7.11M) for the first quarter ended June 30, 2026, representing an 11.95% increase from the prior-year period.
The planned investment will add single malt whisky to ABDL’s existing spirits portfolio.
The Aurangabad project is expected to be commissioned in the third quarter of FY28.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
