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United Spirits Limited (USL) - the INR 5700 crore spirits arm of the UB Group – is India’s largest and the world’s third largest spirits company. USL was earlier McDowell and Company Limited. USL has a portfolio of more than 140 brands, of which 19 are millionaire brands* (selling more than a million cases a year) and enjoys a strong 59% market share for its first line brands in India. United Spirits recorded global sales of 90 million cases for the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2009.
United Spirits’ brands have won the most prestigious of awards across flavors, ranging from the Mondial to International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) to International Taste and Quality Institute (ITQI); a total of 108 awards and certificates (as of June 2009). The company is known to be an innovator in the industry and has several firsts to its credit such as the first pre-mixed gin, the first Tetrapack in the spirits industry in India, the first single malt manufactured in Asia and the first diet whisky in the world.
United Spirits has a global footprint with exports to over 37 countries. It has 79 manufacturing and bottling units across the country and in Nepal and is supported by a robust distribution network to deliver its products to customers located across India. USL has a committed 7500-strong workforce spread across its offices and distilleries in the country.
United Spirits represents the merged entities of the erstwhile McDowell & Co. Limited, Phipson Distillery Limited, United Spirits Limited, Herbertsons Limited, Triumph Distillers and Vintners Private Limited, Baramati Grape Industries Limited, United Distillers India Limited, McDowell International Brands Limited and Shaw Wallace Distilleries Limited. The erstwhile McDowell & Co. Limited was first established as a proprietary business in 1826. USL acquired Balaji Distilleries Limited in 2008. This acquisition gave the company the strategic advantage to consolidate the Group’s leadership position in a critical, large and growing State like Tamil Nadu. Currently, the procedural formalities are underway for the acquisition which will take retrospective effect from April 1, 2009.
United Spirits acquired Andhra Pradesh (AP)–based, Tern Distilleries, in 2009, in a bid to augment its primary distillation capacity. This is the third manufacturing unit in the region given that one fifth of USL’s sales volumes come from AP. The current capacity of Tern is 40 Kilo Litres which will be enhanced to 120 Kilo Litres in 24-36 months, subject to Government approvals.
*USL Millionaire Brands (Those that sell more than a million cases per annum)
About Whyte and Mackay
In 2007, United Spirits acquired the Glasgow-based Whyte and Mackay and ramped up its premium scotch and single malts portfolio significantly. Whyte & Mackay is a leading distiller of Scotch Whisky owning brands including The Dalmore, Isle of Jura, Glayva, Fettercairn, Vladivar vodka and the eponymous Whyte & Mackay blended Scotch. The Company also owns several other Scotch Whisky brands such as Mackinlays, John Barr, Cluny and Claymore to name a few. Whyte & Mackay also owns four malt whisky distilleries in Scotland and a state-of-the-art bottling facility in Grangemouth with a capacity of 12 million cases per annum. At a time when global demand for Scotch Whisky is showing strong growth and prices are increasing rapidly, Whyte & Mackay’s bulk scotch inventory is not only valuable but provides United Spirits the opportunity to meet their own growing requirements in India. Whyte & Mackay recorded sales of 1.68 million cases of W&M brands and 1.56 million cases of third party owned labels (Tesco’s, Label 5), for the fiscal ending March 31, 2009
About Bouvet Ladubay (Wines Foray)
With the acquisition of Bouvet Ladubay in 2006, the UB Group has made a strategic entry into of the wines category. Bouvet-Ladubay, located in the the Loire valley of the Saumur region in France, has a heritage of over 156 years. Bouvet-Ladubay has won many international awards and has also been associated with Art and Theatre, sponsoring the “Festival d’Anjou”, the “Premiers Plans” festival (Debut films festival) in Angers, Arcachon, Biarritz, Brest and Mont Doré and the Company has been present at The Cannes film festival for the past five years. The company currently has a capacity of 8 million bottles per annum, with further scope for expansion when required. After setting celebrations alight across the world in over 38 countries, these fine sparkling wines are now in India becoming both the reason and the means for an unprecedented celebration.
USL’s Wine Business in India operates through two companies – United Vintners Limited and Four Seasons Wines Limited. UVL imports wines from all over the world to offer a portfolio of wines of different origin, varietals, styles and price points. The current portfolio comprises a selection of some exquisite ‘New world’ & ‘Old world’ wines from New Zealand, Australia, Portugal, South Africa and France.
The company has also commissioned a green field project, coming up in Baramati, which will be India’s best and biggest winery. 6 different ranges will be produced during the first year of operation and 8 more brands will be added over the next 3 years, including manufacturing of premium wines that will go through French oak barrels. Plans to manufacture sparkling wines using traditional French method (methode champagnoise) and under the technical guidance of Bouvet-Ladubay are also in the pipeline. The wines are marketed under the brand names - ZINZI & FOUR SEASONS.
For its annual production requirement, the company has already entered into long term contractual agreement with local farmers for 500 acres and will enter into contractual agreements for a further 2000 acres of vineyards. Besides, the company will also share its technical expertise with the local farmers of Baramati and help in viticulture. This project will act as a catalyst to the socio-economic development of the local community by generating approximately 2000 direct and indirect job opportunities for the people of Baramati. Simultaneously, it will also promote wine tourism at its winery & vineyards.
 Liquid Gold : The 10 Most Expensive Whiskies in the WorldGrain, water, a wooden barrel and a little time. Whisky is a colorful character with an ever-changing spirit. The subject of literature, culture and folklore throughout the world, finicky booze-hounds have long paid a pretty penny for bottles of the most coveted casks. Pour a finger or two and hit the jump to drink in 10 bottles of whisky that truly break the bank.  10. Ladybank Single Malt: $4,700Rounding out the top of the list is the Ladybank Distillery in Edinburgh, Scotland. Only 300 bottles of the rare Single Malt Scotch are bottled each year, and to obtain one — you have to become a member of the club. The price of admission? — about $4,700 a year.  9. The Macallan 1947 Fine and Rare Collection: $6,800This sherry cask Speyside scotch was bottled for Italy in 1962 before it was repackaged for Macallan’s Fine and Rare line of whiskies. The distillery used peat in its kilns because of the scarcity and high price of coal during WWII, the 1947 bottle, so this 15 year old has an earthy quality not present in modern Macallans.  8. Chivas Regal Royal Salute 50 year old: $10,000A swill special enough to be packaged for the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the Chivas Regal Royal Salute is a 50 year old Scotch with smoky anise and raisin flavors. Only 255 bottles were made, 10 of which were destined for America, where collectors eagerly poured out $10,000 each.  7. The Macallan 1939 40 year old Fine and Rare Collection: $10,125“Peaty and powerful,” with overtones of sweet toffee and dried fruits, Macallan’s 1939 is a 40 year old first bottled in 1979. In 2002, it was added to the distillery’s Fine and Rare line and re-bottled. It can be found today for around $10,125.  6. Glenfarclas 1955 50 year old: $10,878Wealthy tasters are warned to overlook this richly scented 50 year old Speyside at their own “peril.” Spicy and silky with a sweet start, this is the oldest batch ever bottled by the Glenfarclas distillery.  5. Dalmore 50 Year Old Decanter: $11,000Only 60 crystal-cut bottles of this Highland single malt were produced. Filled in 1978, this dark sherry-aged Dalmore has a reputation for being intense and deeply flavored and is considered by many aficionados among the best 50 year olds in the world.  4. Macallan 55 Year old Lalique Crystal Decanter: $12,500The eye-catching crystal bottle of Macallan’s 55 year old Lalique was based on a 1910 perfume bottle designed by Rene Lalique . Exotic, with hints of peat smoke, the taste is smooth with lingering citrus overtones.  3. Glenfiddich 1937 Rare Collection: $20,000Rare doesn’t describe it. Only one bottle of Glenfiddich’s 1937 Rare Collection was ever produced, and it just might be the oldest bottle of whisky in the world. It was snatched up at a 2006 auction for a bargain $20,000.  2. Dalmore 62 Single Highland Malt Scotch: $58,000Only a dozen bottles of Dalmore 62 single malt were corked in 1942. One night in 2005, a man bought a bottle for $58,000, and downed it with five of his buddies.  1. The Macallan 1926 Fine and Rare: $75,000“Dry and concentrated” — what else would you expect from one of the most expensive whiskies in the world? Help yourself to a little licorice aftertaste. In 2005, a South Korean businessman paid $70,000 for a bottle of Macallan’s 1926, the finest and rarest of the Fine and Rare. |
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