For almost 100 years, Tilaknagar Industries (TI) has been closely associated with brandy in India. Founded in 1933, the company’s journey actually began with sugar manufacturing during the Swadeshi movement, before gradually moving into alcohol by distilling ethanol from molasses.
That early shift laid the foundation for what would become one of India’s most influential liquor companies.
From sugar to spirits
TI’s defining moment came in the 1980s with the launch of Mansion House Brandy. Today, Mansion House is the largest-selling brandy in India and the second-largest in the world, firmly establishing TI as a brandy powerhouse.
“Brandy has a strong market share in India, but very low awareness,” says Sanaya Dahanukar, Marketing Manager at Tilaknagar Industries. “Many consumers don’t really understand what brandy is or how to drink it, especially when compared to whisky, which is seen as aspirational.”
Why brandy alone wasn’t enough
Brandy is India’s second most-consumed spirit after whisky, but its popularity is largely limited to southern states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala. Over time, TI noticed a clear trend: as consumers’ incomes and aspirations grew, many brandy drinkers shifted to whisky because premium brandy options were limited.
To address this, TI began expanding its brandy portfolio:
Courier Napoleon Brandy, launched in 1996, became the company’s second major success.
Mansion House Flandy, Asia’s first flavoured brandy, was introduced to attract younger consumers.
The biggest shift came with Monarch Legacy Edition, a luxury grape brandy made without neutral alcohol and positioned to rival global cognac brands.
Monarch quickly gained recognition, winning multiple international awards and changing perceptions around Indian premium brandy.
Birth of House of TI
These learnings led to the creation of House of TI in 2025 — a dedicated luxury vertical. Monarch became its flagship brand, soon followed by Seven Islands Pure Malt Whisky, marking TI’s serious entry into whisky, India’s largest and most aspirational spirits category.
Seven Islands is an Indo-Scottish pure malt, blending single malts from India and Scotland and aged in American and French oak casks. Inspired by Mumbai’s seven islands, the whisky reflects the city’s layered history and diversity.
Launched in Maharashtra at ₹5,200 per bottle, the brand is expected to expand to more states this year and move towards near pan-India presence.
A major acquisition reshapes the company
TI’s luxury push is happening alongside a transformational acquisition. The company recently bought the Imperial Blue whisky portfolio from Pernod Ricard, one of the biggest deals in India’s alco-bev sector.
This acquisition:
Reduces TI’s dependence on southern markets
Cuts brandy’s share in its portfolio from nearly 90% to about 30%
Gives TI strong nationwide distribution and visibility
“Imperial Blue gives us the scale and reach to build a multi-category spirits company,” says Dahanukar.
Investing beyond in-house brands
TI has also invested in premium craft players aligned with changing consumer tastes:
Bartisans (cocktail mixers)
Spaceman Spirits Lab, makers of Samsara Gin, Sitara Rum, and Amara Vodka
Together, these moves give TI a presence across brandy, whisky, gin, rum, and vodka in the premium segment.
Strong numbers, bigger ambitions
In FY25, TI reported ₹1,434 crore in net revenue, with brandy still accounting for most volumes. The company continues to expand production capacity, including a major upgrade to its Andhra Pradesh distillery.
But the long-term vision is clear.
“Over the next decade, we want to build TI into a diversified spirits powerhouse,” says Amit Dahanukar, Chairman and Managing Director. “Brandy gave us leadership. House of TI is about where Indian consumers — and our company — are headed next.”
The Aabkari(Abkari) Times magazine occupies a unique niche in the Indian media landscape. As the only Hindi monthly magazine dedicated to alcohol, liquor, excise, and allied industries, it caters to a specific audience with a specialized knowledge base.
