Latest news with #WilliamGrant&Sons
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
India set to join top William Grant markets with Balvenie Fifty launch
India is a high priority market for the leading Scotch whisky and premium spirits maker William Grant & Sons, with potential to become one of its top five markets globally in the coming years, a top company official has said. The family-owned premium spirits company, which owns various brands, including Glenfiddich, Monkey Shoulder, Balvenie and Hendrick's Gin, entered India 10 years ago. And the growth in the country has been very promising, William Grant & Sons India Managing Director Sachin Mehta told PTI. The Scotland-based premium spirits maker has unveiled 'The Balvenie Fifty', a 50-year-old ultra-rare Speyside single malt scotch whisky in the Indian market. Only one bottle of The Balvenie Fifty First Edition' aged in a European oak refill cask, filled in 1973, has been made available in India, offering a unique opportunity for collectors and connoisseurs to own a piece of whisky history. When asked about its price, Mehta said: "Balvenie Fifty is probably going to be in the range of Rs 70 lakh thereabouts". William Grant & Sons India operates in the premium alcoholic beverage segment, where its portfolio includes Glenfiddich, Monkey Shoulder, Balvenie, Grant's and Hendrick's Gin. "And our latest addition is a brand called The Famous Grouse," which has been added since July, he noted. According to Mehta, India is among the top ten markets for William Grant & Sons and one of the few markets where it has established its own distribution company. "It is one of the top priority markets within the global network of William Grant & Sons," he said. India is the largest whisky market globally, where the market is witnessing premiumisation, supported by various factors, like a growing economy, rising middle-class income, growing numbers of millennials and white collar professionals. When asked whether India has the potential to become one of the top 5 markets for William Grant & Sons, Mehta said: "India certainly has a very large potential. The story of the potential that India has is not hidden, and everybody knows about it. And that is true across all categories. And so much so, even for the single malts and Balvenie. So surely, it can be one of the top markets". Moreover, factors like the recent free trade agreement between the governments of India and the UK, which, according to Mehta, is an "achievement" and the policies of the state governments in India are becoming "more and more progressive and consumer-friendly", with an increasing ease of doing business. India is already a leading market for major global spirits makers. It is now the largest market for French spirit maker Pernod Ricard by volume and the second largest by value. It is also a key contributor to the British premium spirits maker Diageo. On its single malt brand Glenfiddich, Mehta said, "It's one of the top-selling single malts in the country". "Similarly, India is one of the top priority markets for that brand (Glenfiddich) as well, like it is for the Balvenie and it is for the rest of our portfolio," he added. Besides, Mehta also expects growth from Balvenie, which operates in the premium side of single-malt whisky. "India is a large whisky market, and there has been a lot of premiumisation. It really goes on to give us the confidence that our Indian consumer is now really looking for great value, and that value comes from aspirational brands like the Balvenie," he said. Earlier, Balvenie was available in selected cities only, as it is an allocated product to specific markets. However, with increased allocation, it is now available in more cities across India. "We are able to increase the stock availability in India, and we are looking to make it available in more and more cities," he said. Besides, 50-year-old single malt scotch whisky, it has also amplified its play in the super premium segment - The Balvenie Thirty and The Balvenie Twenty-Five, both of which are available in a highly exclusive and limited release.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
William Grant, maker of Glenfiddich and Monkey Shoulder, launches Balvenie Fifty in India at Rs 70 lakh
India is a high priority market for the leading Scotch whisky and premium spirits maker William Grant & Sons, with potential to become one of its top five markets globally in the coming years, a top company official has said. The family-owned premium spirits company, which owns various brands, including Glenfiddich , Monkey Shoulder , Balvenie and Hendrick's Gin , entered India 10 years ago. And the growth in the country has been very promising, William Grant & Sons India Managing Director Sachin Mehta told PTI. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program The Scotland-based premium spirits maker has unveiled 'The Balvenie Fifty ', a 50-year-old ultra-rare Speyside single malt scotch whisky in the Indian market. Only one bottle of 'The Balvenie Fifty First Edition' aged in a European oak refill cask, filled in 1973, has been made available in India, offering a unique opportunity for collectors and connoisseurs to own a piece of whisky history. When asked about its price, Mehta said: "Balvenie Fifty is probably going to be in the range of Rs 70 lakh thereabouts". Live Events William Grant & Sons India operates in the premium alcoholic beverage segment, where its portfolio includes Glenfiddich, Monkey Shoulder, Balvenie, Grant's and Hendrick's Gin. "And our latest addition is a brand called The Famous Grouse," which has been added since July, he noted. According to Mehta, India is among the top ten markets for William Grant & Sons and one of the few markets where it has established its own distribution company. "It is one of the top priority markets within the global network of William Grant & Sons," he said. India is the largest whisky market globally, where the market is witnessing premiumisation, supported by various factors, like a growing economy, rising middle-class income, growing numbers of millennials and white collar professionals. When asked whether India has the potential to become one of the top 5 markets for William Grant & Sons, Mehta said: "India certainly has a very large potential. The story of the potential that India has is not hidden, and everybody knows about it. And that is true across all categories. And so much so, even for the single malts and Balvenie. So surely, it can be one of the top markets". Moreover, factors like the recent free trade agreement between the governments of India and the UK, which, according to Mehta, is an "achievement" and the policies of the state governments in India are becoming "more and more progressive and consumer-friendly", with an increasing ease of doing business. India is already a leading market for major global spirits makers. It is now the largest market for French spirit maker Pernod Ricard by volume and the second largest by value. It is also a key contributor to the British premium spirits maker Diageo. On its single malt brand Glenfiddich, Mehta said, "It's one of the top-selling single malts in the country". "Similarly, India is one of the top priority markets for that brand (Glenfiddich) as well, like it is for the Balvenie and it is for the rest of our portfolio," he added. Besides, Mehta also expects growth from Balvenie, which operates in the premium side of single-malt whisky. "India is a large whisky market, and there has been a lot of premiumisation. It really goes on to give us the confidence that our Indian consumer is now really looking for great value, and that value comes from aspirational brands like the Balvenie," he said. Earlier, Balvenie was available in selected cities only, as it is an allocated product to specific markets. However, with increased allocation, it is now available in more cities across India. "We are able to increase the stock availability in India, and we are looking to make it available in more and more cities," he said. Besides, 50-year-old single malt scotch whisky, it has also amplified its play in the super premium segment - The Balvenie Thirty and The Balvenie Twenty-Five, both of which are available in a highly exclusive and limited release. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
How much would you pay for the only bottle of a 50-year-old, single-cask-aged Balvenie whisky in India?
In 1973, on the moors of the world's malt whisky capital — Dufftown in Scotland's Speyside region — William Grant & Sons had assigned a special task to European oak cask number 8720 at The Balvenie distillery. It was destined to patiently house a potion for 50 long years. Though this time, the elixir, comprising just barley, yeast and water, mutated into a potent potion; it absorbed the oaky interactions with the cask that honed its texture, tone and taste. Some of it evaporated, but what remained has stood the test of time and has been titled the 125-year-old brand's rarest whisky offerings: The Balvenie Fifty – First Edition, limited to just 125 bottles. Only one out of them is available in India. At the whisky's unveiling in Perbacco at The Lodhi, New Delhi, the global brand ambassador of The Balvenie, Charles Metcalfe, says, 'This whisky has been aged in a European oak sherry cask. This cask was used previously to mature sherry in Spain. We then brought it over and used it to mature Balvenie.' Charles suggests that casks are fundamental to old whiskies as their building blocks of flavour. 'So everything has to be in balance to create truly exceptional old whisky. And that's our malt master, Kelsey McKechnie's job,' he adds. The key to maintaining this balance, he says, is to not allow the oak to take over completely. Detailing the process, he explains, 'We have to pull a very small sample out of the cask and it will be nosed; it will be assessed. We'll check a number of things — the flavour on the nose and the palate and we'll make sure that the ABV (alcohol by volume) of the whisky is still at a point that we're happy with. If it goes too close to 40%, or below 40%, it's now no longer legally considered a Scotch whisky. We have to keep it above 40. This is one of the things that the stars need to align to create a whisky like this. The only thing we can do is make sure that it's coopered and stored well. The rest is up to the whisky gods.' The Balvenie made its way to India in 2018. Prior to that, the brand was available only via the global travel retail channel at select Duty Free shops. Sachin Mehta, managing director at William Grant & Sons, India & Subcontinent, says that the brand, which also makes the famous Glenfiddich, is testing the waters in India. It has also launched nine bottles each of The Balvenie 25 and The Balvenie 30. 'India is new to The Balvenie, which is why we have only one bottle of The Balvenie Fifty for sale here and it is as exclusive and rare as it gets,' he shares. Talking about all that makes India a favourable market for high-end whisky brands, he admits to the population's changing perception of luxury. 'When it comes to alcohol preference, the scales have always tilted towards whisky and with exposure, knowledge and accessibility, more and more Indians are warming up to an ultra-luxe segment of handcrafted whisky. It is not just the product, but also the story behind it that dictates their choices,' he says. The Balvenie Fifty delivers aromas of cassis, candied apricots, cedar, and warm spice, followed by a rich palate of caramelised fruits, soft vanilla, and a delicate ginger finish — all anchored by The Balvenie's signature honeyed profile. This complexity of flavours, says Charles, is the defining curve of any good whisky. 'Certainly age is one of the deciding factors of a fine whisky, but a lot depends on how deep and complex the flavours are. Organoleptically, the honey-sweet flavour of Balvenie stands out, for me,' he says. To get these flavours, Charles stresses on coopering, coppersmithing, farming, whisky making, nosing of the whisky and storage. The barley, he says is sourced from a 100-acre farm that surrounds the distillery. 'Also, Balvenie uses only two casks: American oak ex-bourbon cask and European oak ex-sherry casks. We have our own team for cooperage. For storage, a lovely, cold, damp Scottish warehouse would be ideal,' he quips. The Balvenie Fifty comes in a bottle packaged and crafted in collaboration with Croglin workshop, Cumbria, known for its handcrafted, detailed woodwork. The most striking feature has to be the helix structure of layered wood with tolerances below one-tenth of a millimetre, and a 14-carat gold-plated brass display, making the bottle as remarkable as the liquid it holds. The only bottle of The Balvenie Fifty in India is now available in Gurugram and is priced between ₹60lakh and ₹75lakh
The Herald Scotland
26-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish billionaire whisky family posts plunge in profits
William Grant & Sons posted profit before tax of £388 million, down 30 per cent, and turnover of £1.834 billion for the year ending December 31, 2024. The company said: 'In a year marked by industry-wide challenges, the decline in revenue compared to 2023 is in line with market trends, including the continuation of significant destocking. 'The reduction in profit reflects both these market conditions but also continued investment in the Company's brands and infrastructure, demonstrating confidence in the future of the spirits industry.' READ MORE: The company also said: 'Despite these significant headwinds, William Grant & Sons maintained its commitment to quality and innovation. 'This was demonstrated by the announcement of Glenfiddich's multi-year partnership with the Aston Martin Formula One team in November 2024, bringing together two brands renowned for their heritage, innovation, and pursuit of excellence. In addition, the Company reached an agreement to purchase The Famous Grouse and Naked Malt brands, the completion of which was finalised this month. Søren Hagh, chief executive of William Grant & Sons, said that "2024 was a challenging year for the spirits industry, with both global economic conditions and continued destocking weighing heavily on performance in comparison to 2023", adding: "That being said, profits were broadly in line with 2022 and our confidence in the future of spirits means we have continued to invest in both our brands and distilleries for the long-term." William Grant & Sons is a sixth-generation independent family-owned distiller headquartered in North Lanarkshire and founded by William Grant in 1887. The company distils, bottles, and distributes some of the world's leading brands of Scotch whisky and other spirits, including the world's 'most-awarded single malt Scotch whisky' Glenfiddich, The Balvenie range of handcrafted single malts, Monkey Shoulder blended malt Scotch and super-premium Hendrick's Gin. Other spirits in the portfolio include Grant's and The Famous Grouse blended Scotch whiskies, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish whiskey, Sailor Jerry spiced rum, Drambuie whisky liqueur, Milagro tequila, Reyka vodka, Discarded Spirits Co. and ultra-premium Silent Pool Gin. Last September, William Grant & Sons reported a turnover of £1,962m, with a profit of £444m after tax for the year ending December 31, 2023.
The Herald Scotland
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scotch whisky sector 'historic moment' as major deal done
This deal was first announced back in September 2024. While this is more than nine months ago, the timeframe over which the transaction was finalised is relatively insignificant in the context of how long these two heavyweight distillers have been around. And completion of the deal was probably, if anything, faster than some might have expected. Last week's completion of the deal, to which the Competition and Markets Authority gave the green light in early March, gave Edrington and William Grant & Sons another opportunity to flag the strategic rationale from each of their perspectives. William Grant & Sons talked about an evolution of The Famous Grouse 'into a true global icon'. Edrington, flagging the success of The Macallan single malt in which it has invested very heavily in recent years, highlighted its focus on ultra-premium spirits. Two decades ago, it would probably have been almost inconceivable that Edrington would choose to sell The Famous Grouse blended Scotch whisky, a brand famous for its quirky television adverts and at that time the shirt sponsor for the Scotland national rugby union team. However, in recent years, the prominence of The Famous Grouse in Edrington's results statements had diminished as the group, which also owns Highland Park and The Glenrothes, focused ever more on the successes achieved with its single malts and notably on The Macallan. Read more That meant, by the time the sale of The Famous Grouse was announced last September, it was not a huge surprise even if it was obviously a very major development in a sector that is so important to the Scottish economy and to the exports of both Scotland and the UK as a whole. William Grant & Sons, when the deal was completed last Tuesday, hailed the acquisition as a 'historic moment' for it. This is a company that was founded in 1887, at Dufftown in Speyside, so there is surely a high bar to what constitutes 'historic' for it. The distiller, which owns the Glenfiddich single malt, declared the completion of The Famous Grouse and Naked Malt deal 'demonstrates the company's commitment to the global Scotch whisky category and confidence in the future of the wider spirits industry'. William Grant & Sons, which also produces Hendrick's gin and has a major operation at Girvan in Ayrshire, added: 'The Famous Grouse is Scotland's best-selling whisky and one of the top-selling Scotch whisky brands worldwide, renowned for its quality and heritage.' Søren Hagh, chief executive officer of William Grant & Sons, said he was 'delighted to complete this acquisition and welcome The Famous Grouse into our portfolio'. He described it as 'a remarkable Scottish brand with rich history and a strong market position in a number of countries'. Mr Hagh added: 'Over the coming years, we will build on this strong foundation and work to evolve the brand into a true global icon. We also see a lot of potential in Naked Malt, which will be a great addition to our portfolio. Together, these brands perfectly complement our vision for growth, and we look forward to investing in their future and sharing their stories with whisky lovers around the world.' For his part, Edrington chief executive Scott McCroskie declared: 'Our focus on ultra-premium spirits has driven Edrington's growth in recent years and we have continued to execute our strategy despite the hostile trading environment. This includes further strategic investments in our sherry cask supply chain and in reducing our carbon footprint.' Read more He made these comments as Edrington reported a sharp fall in profits for the year to March. However, it is crucial to put this in context. The Scotch whisky sector has faced much tougher trading conditions in some key export markets of late. And we must not lose sight of Edrington's stellar growth over a long period. Furthermore, Edrington was able to report last week that The Macallan had 'marked a successful 200th anniversary year and recorded its second-highest year ever for sales, reinforcing its position as the world's number one single malt Scotch whisky by value'. The Glasgow-based distiller flagged The Macallan's strength in the Japanese and South Korean markets. And, providing crucial medium-term context, it highlighted the fact that its 'core contribution' measure of profits in the year to March 31 was, in spite of a 28% fall during the period, still 38% ahead of pre-pandemic levels, at £291.4m. Scotch whisky is of course, as William Grant & Sons and Edrington know fine well, a long-term business. Edrington's principal shareholder is The Robertson Trust, which has donated £396m to charitable causes in Scotland since 1961. William Grant & Sons, like Edrington, has also been able to make sizeable charitable contributions over a long period of time. During 2023 alone, the family-led William Grant Foundation awarded a record total of more than £4.7m in new grants to 114 charitable organisations. Both Edrington and William Grant & Sons make crucial contributions to Scotland's economy and provide a great deal of valuable employment. Hopefully, both will continue to prosper over the years and decades ahead as they navigate boom times and tougher periods in international markets as they always have, never losing a long-term perspective that is supported and enabled by their private ownership.
