Welcome to the second part of our in-depth series on the prominent Indian whisky brands. In this segment, we delve into the fascinating history and evolution of Paul John and Rampur, two influential names in the Indian whisky industry.
In 2022, India emerged as the UK’s largest market for Scotch whisky by volume, with an impressive import of 219 million bottles, as reported by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA). Despite this, Scotch whisky only constitutes a mere 2% of the Indian whisky market. India, a major whisky producer, manufactured a staggering 189 million cases of whisky in 2019. Notably, a significant portion of Indian spirits labeled as ‘whisky’ closely resembles rum, owing to their distillation from molasses, falling under the category of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), primarily targeted at the domestic Indian consumer base.
Historically, the production of malt whisky in India was limited, largely due to controversies surrounding alcohol production from barley during a period of widespread poverty and grain shortages. However, inspired by the burgeoning single malt market championed by the Scotch whisky industry, Indian distillers have sought to introduce their premium single malt whiskies, showcasing the distinct quality and character that whisky acquires in India’s tropical climate.
In this series, we embark on a comprehensive exploration of the history and progress of India’s four leading whisky brands, which have garnered global acclaim for their single malt offerings. Our focus in this article is on the multi-award-winning Paul John brand from Goa and Rampur, India’s oldest malt-producing distillery.
A Glimpse into John Distilleries and the Legacy of Paul John Whisky
John Distilleries, founded by Paul P. John in 1996, marked a significant expansion of John’s interests in the hospitality industry. Hailing from a background of sugar cane plantation and liquor manufacturing, Paul P. John astutely identified the potential in distilling, leading to the establishment of John Distilleries’ first distillery in Bangalore, Karnataka in 1996. Shortly after, the introduction of ‘Original Choice’ whisky by John Distilleries garnered immense success, swiftly dominating a substantial segment of the domestic Indian whisky market, with annual sales reaching 4 million cases by 2005.
In 2008, John Distilleries ventured into the distillation of single malt whisky at its Goa-based facility, with aspirations to enter the premium international whisky market. The Paul John distillery utilizes indigenous Indian six-row barley, cultivated in the foothills of the Himalayas and harvested at the peak of summer to ensure optimal maturation.
