India’s food safety regulator has banned the sale of several popular whisky and rum brands produced by Diageo India, Inbrew Beverages, and Mohan Rocky Springwater after finding they contained artificial flavouring instead of relying on traditional ageing and approved natural ingredients.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said inspections found some manufacturers added whisky or rum flavouring directly into their products, a practice the regulator said is not recognised under international manufacturing standards and could bypass proper maturation processes. The affected products include Royal Challenge Whisky, Antiquity Blue Whisky, Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky, Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum, and selected Old Monk rum variants produced in specific Indian states.
FSSAI described the products as “sub-standard” and said only natural flavouring substances are permitted under Indian regulations. The regulator added that using artificial flavours could replace traditional ingredients such as molasses, malt, or grapes that normally develop the drinks’ taste and aroma during ageing.
Neither Diageo India, Inbrew Beverages, nor Mohan Rocky Springwater immediately responded to requests for comment. Industry executives familiar with the matter argued the companies believed their production methods complied with Indian rules.
The crackdown comes as Indian authorities tighten oversight of the food and beverage industry, following recent regulatory actions targeting the marketing of high caffeine drinks as “energy drinks.”
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