New Delhi: Premium Indian whisky is increasingly carving out its own identity in the global spirits market, and Modi Illva India Pvt. Ltd. believes the category no longer needs to rely on Scotch for validation. As the company expands into single malts and strengthens its manufacturing capabilities through the development of its own distillery, managing director Abhishek Modi says Indian whisky is now ready to stand on its own merits, driven by local craftsmanship, quality ingredients and growing consumer confidence in homegrown premium spirits.
Modi Illva, a 50:50 joint venture between the Umesh Modi Group of New Delhi and Italian liqueur producer Illva Saronno, has emerged as one of India’s ambitious mid-sized alco-beverage companies. While global spirits majors continue to dominate large parts of the Indian alcobev sector, Modi Illva has steadily built a strong presence in the semi-premium and premium whisky segments through a focused brand strategy and consistent product development.
The company’s flagship brand Rockford Whisky remains its biggest success story, with annual sales of around 3 million cases, making it one of India’s largest-selling premium blended whiskies. Rockford has played a significant role in establishing Modi Illva’s reputation among consumers seeking a more refined whisky experience within the Indian-made spirits category.
In 2025, the company further strengthened its premium portfolio with the launch of Singhasan, which it describes as India’s first premium blended whisky made entirely from Indian malt and Indian grain spirits. Unlike traditional IMFL Scotch-style blends that depend heavily on imported Scotch components, Singhasan has been positioned as a distinctly Indian premium whisky designed to showcase the quality and character of locally produced malt and grain spirits.
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The company’s move into Indian single malts and its investment in dedicated distillery infrastructure reflect a broader trend within the Indian whisky industry, where producers are increasingly focusing on premiumisation, authenticity and indigenous whisky-making expertise. According to Abhishek Modi, Indian consumers are becoming more knowledgeable about whisky styles and are increasingly willing to explore premium Indian expressions that offer unique flavour profiles rather than imitating Scotch whisky traditions.
With rising domestic demand for premium spirits and growing international interest in Indian whisky brands, Modi Illva sees significant opportunities in both the Indian and export markets. The company’s strategy combines strong existing brands such as Rockford with new premium offerings like Singhasan and future single malt launches, positioning it to participate in the next phase of growth in India’s rapidly evolving premium whisky segment.
As India continues to emerge as one of the world’s most important whisky markets, Modi Illva’s expansion into single malts, premium Indian blends and distillery-led production highlights the increasing confidence of Indian producers in creating globally competitive whiskies rooted in Indian ingredients, Indian maturation conditions and Indian whisky-making expertise.
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