India’s food safety regulator has banned the sale of select variants of Old Monk, Royal Challenge, Antiquity Blue, McDowell’s No. 1 Rum and other liquor brands, citing the use of flavour additives and misleading labelling
India’s top food safety regulator has ordered a crackdown on several popular whisky and rum brands, including Old Monk, Royal Challenge, Antiquity Blue, Bagpiper and McDowell’s No. 1 Rum, over alleged use of flavouring additives and misleading labelling practices.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has barred the sale of select variants after inspections found that some products contained artificial or nature-identical flavouring substances that, according to the regulator, were being used to replicate the natural taste and aroma of whisky and rum.
The move has put some of the country’s most widely consumed liquor brands under scrutiny and triggered a broader debate over how India’s spirits are manufactured and labelled.
What triggered the action?
According to FSSAI, laboratory tests and inspections across multiple manufacturing units revealed that certain products were not relying solely on traditional distillation and ageing processes to develop flavour.
Instead, the regulator found that some manufacturers were using neutral alcohol and then adding flavouring agents to recreate the expected taste of whisky or rum.
The affected products include United Spirits’ Antiquity Blue Whisky and Royal Challenge Whisky from its Madhya Pradesh unit, McDowell’s No. 1 Rum from the Baramati plant, Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky and Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum manufactured by Inbrew Beverages in Madhya Pradesh, as well as three Old Monk variants produced by Mohan Rocky Springwater at its Khopoli facility in Maharashtra.
More from BusinessFSSAI has classified these products as “substandard” under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Why FSSAI says this is a violation
The regulator has taken a strict view of the use of flavouring substances that mimic the identity of the spirit itself.
Under the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, manufacturers are not allowed to use artificial or nature-identical flavours to imitate the natural aroma and taste of whisky, rum or similar spirits.
“There is no internationally recognised manufacturing practice whereby rum flavour is added to rum or whisky flavour is added to whisky,” FSSAI said.
The regulator emphasised that the taste and aroma of spirits should come naturally from fermentation, distillation, maturation and raw materials, rather than from added flavouring agents.
While certain generic flavours such as vanilla or coffee are permitted in some categories, FSSAI clarified that using flavour profiles that directly replicate whisky or rum is not allowed.
If such additives are used, the product must be clearly labelled as a “whisky-flavoured spirit” or “rum-flavoured spirit” instead of being sold as standard whisky or rum.
Old Monk also under lens for ageing claims
Apart from flavouring concerns, FSSAI has also flagged labelling issues in some Old Monk rum variants.
The regulator said three variants — The Legend, Gold Reserve and XXX Matured Rum — carried claims such as “7 years blended”, even though matured rum made up less than 5 per cent of the blend.
The rest, according to FSSAI, consisted of neutral, unmatured spirit.
Under existing rules, age statements must reflect the youngest spirit used in the blend. FSSAI said the current labelling could mislead consumers into believing the product contains a higher proportion of aged rum than it actually does.
Companies under scrutiny
Along with United Spirits, FSSAI has also issued orders or notices to Mohan Rocky Springwater, Inbrew Beverages and Associated Alcohol & Breweries.
Other products flagged include Central Province Whisky and McDowell’s Celebration Rum.
The regulator has also inspected additional facilities, including Goa-based Mandexi Distilleries & Breweries, and issued notices to six more manufacturers in Maharashtra. Further action is expected after their responses are reviewed.
United Spirits moves court
United Spirits, part of global alcohol major Diageo, has challenged FSSAI’s order in the Bombay High Court.
In a regulatory filing, the company said the case relates to the June 29 directive concerning McDowell’s No. 1 Rum manufactured at its Baramati facility.
The company maintains that its labelling practices are compliant with Indian regulations and consistent with long-standing industry standards.
It also said the order has not had any material financial or operational impact so far and declined further comment as the matter is now sub judice.
Limited relief for existing stock
FSSAI has allowed two companies that challenged the order to continue selling existing stock, but only with revised front-of-pack disclosures.
While the regulator has not specified the exact wording required, it said the additional labelling is intended to ensure consumers are fully aware of the product composition while legal proceedings continue.
What this means for India’s liquor industry
The affected products fall under the Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) category, which dominates India’s alcohol market.
Industry experts say the move could have a wider ripple effect, as FSSAI appears to be tightening scrutiny on the use of flavouring agents in spirits, age and maturity claims, and overall labelling transparency.
If strictly enforced, companies may be required to clearly label such products as flavoured spirits rather than standard whisky or rum.
The crackdown is being seen as one of the most significant regulatory interventions in India’s liquor industry in recent years.
With several leading brands under the scanner, the case is likely to push manufacturers into a fresh round of compliance checks and could reshape how India’s most popular spirits are produced and marketed.
