Scotch Whisky Set To Get Cheaper In India: A ₹5,000 Bottle May Soon Cost You This Much

Scotch whisky lovers successful India are successful for a windfall. As portion of nan recently concluded India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), nan Indian authorities has agreed to slash nan existent 150% import tariff connected Scotch whisky—a move hailed arsenic “transformational” by nan Scotch Whisky Association. The tariff will driblet instantly to 75% erstwhile nan woody comes into unit and will gradually diminution further to 40% complete nan adjacent decade.

The trim is expected to bring premium and mid-range Scotch whiskies person to nan mean Indian consumer, slashing unit prices significantly. A vessel that presently retails for ₹5,000 could soon costs astir ₹3,500–₹4,000 station nan first reduction, and moreover little complete nan adjacent fewer years depending connected section taxes and supplier margins.

Mark Kent, Chief Executive of nan Scotch Whisky Association, called nan FTA a “once successful a procreation deal,” adding that it “would beryllium a large boost to 2 awesome world economies during turbulent times.” He noted, “The simplification of nan existent 150% tariff connected Scotch Whisky will beryllium transformational for nan manufacture and has nan imaginable to summation Scotch Whisky exports to India by £1 cardinal complete nan adjacent 5 years, creating 1,200 jobs crossed nan UK.”

Beyond prices, nan tariff trim opens nan gates for a broader scope of Scotch brands—particularly mini and boutique distilleries—to participate nan Indian market. The anticipation is simply a surge successful variety, quality, and promotional offerings arsenic UK brands compete pinch Indian whiskies for support abstraction and user loyalty.

The FTA, announced jointly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, reflects a larger waste and acquisition imagination pinch bilateral waste and acquisition expected to much than double to $100 cardinal by 2030. As per UK estimates, Indian tariff cuts connected British goods—including whisky, cars, cosmetics, and aesculapian devices—will magnitude to complete £400 cardinal successful nan first year, doubling to £900 cardinal complete nan adjacent decade.

British officials spot whisky arsenic conscionable 1 of nan galore “wins” successful a woody that they opportunity delivers “billions for nan UK system and wages each year.” 

Published on: May 6, 2025 10:32 PM IST