Is this Indian drinks giant about to acquire a Scottish whisky distillery?

Indian drinks producer Radico Khaitan, known for Rampur whisky, is gearing up for an expansion into Scotland. After a strong year, the company announced plans to acquire a Scottish distillery. Which one remains unclear.

The Indian drinks maker finished last year on a high. From October to December, it reported a 16.7% increase in sales in India, with over 9 million cases sold—an impressive figure in a period when global alcohol sales are generally down.

On the back of these results, the maker of Sangam World Malt Whisky has decided to pursue a bold expansion into an unexpected destination: Scotland.

Radico Khaitan isn’t just exploring a move into Scotland; it’s actively planning to acquire a Scottish distillery. A new company is currently being set up under the name Radico Khaitan Scotland.

Through this vehicle, the Indian producer intends to invest in Scottish businesses. Ultimately, this would include a distillery complete with stills and warehousing.

It’s not yet known which distillery the company wants to acquire, only that it will be a fully operational site already producing spirit. Given the number of distilleries in Scotland currently struggling or underperforming, there are plenty of possibilities.

Dinesh Kumar Gupta, legal and company secretary at Radico Khaitan, has confirmed the move. The investment amount hasn’t been disclosed, but the company will start with a minimal outlay as it begins its expansion.

The exact timing of the acquisition and the location remain unspecified. It’s also unclear when the company expects to proceed with a full takeover of a Scottish whisky producer and if the whiskymaker will keep producing under the same name after the take over. Those details will become clear when the whiskymaker is officially taken over.

What distillery do you think will be taken over by Radico Khaitan? Let us know in the comments below.