Indian alcoholic beverage company Tilaknagar Industries (TI) has entered India’s tequila category through a strategic investment in Black Tiger Distilleries (BTD) for ₹22 crore (£1.72m).

BTD is behind brands such as Bodega Suprema No. 5, and as part of the partnership, TI will invest a total of just over £1.72m for a 30% shareholding in the company on a fully diluted basis.

Sanaya Dahanukar, general manager of growth and innovation at Tilaknagar Industries, said: “What excites us about Bodega Suprema No. 5 is the opportunity to enter a category we see as an emerging trend with significant long-term potential. As we build House of TI into a more comprehensive luxury portfolio, having a presence in tequila is an important part of that evolution, alongside categories such as whisky, brandy, gin, rum and vodka. It allows us to bring our experience in building premium spirits into a category with strong consumer interest, while creating a more diverse portfolio that reflects how drinking preferences in India are evolving.”

For Tilaknagar Industries, the investment marks the company’s third strategic investment in an emerging beverage business and its first foray into the tequila category. 

Ameya Deshpande, chief strategy officer at Tilaknagar Industries, added: “Tequila represents an exciting opportunity for us to participate in a category that is still at an early stage of development in India, but has strong potential to grow. With Bodega Suprema No. 5 positioned at ₹4,200–₹5,500 (£32.50 to £42.70), we see an opportunity to bring authentic 100% agave tequila to a wider premium consumer base while building the category with the right focus on provenance and quality. Our role is to bring our experience in building beverage brands and our understanding of the Indian market, while enabling Black Tiger Distilleries to build a distinctive tequila proposition for India.”

Beyond capital, TI will provide strategic support across distribution, sales, marketing, supply chain, finance and regulatory functions.

Mohnish Mehta, founder of Black Tiger Distilleries, said: “As we built Black Tiger Distilleries, finding the right partners with deep category expertise and a strong understanding of the Indian spirits markets was key. With Tilaknagar Industries’ support, we see an opportunity to make authentic 100% Blue Weber Agave tequila more accessible to Indian consumers at a compelling premium price point. Bodega Suprema No. 5 is the first step in building that proposition and introducing it to consumers across India.”