The world’s third largest spirits company has decided to launch its own Indian whisky brand Oaksmith which will have two varieties targeting the middle to upper class consumers in India.
A report by Nikkei Asian Review says that Suntory wants to become a million case brand by 2022 and Oaksmith will be blended whisky mixed with imported bourbon and scotch making it an Indian-made foreign liquor.
Oaksmith will be the first spirit owned by Suntory which is only sold in India and will initially be sold in the western state of Maharashtra.
Neeraj Kumar, managing director, Beam Suntory India said that the lanches of Oaksmith and Oaksmith will compete against Pernod Ricard's Blender's Pride and Diageo's United Spirits brands.
It was also announced this week that Suntory will launch its Roku gin and Yamazakia and Hibiki whiskies in the Indian market, which consumes one of tha largest volumes of alcoholic beverages on the planet.
