Type Indian whisky Distributor Pernod Ricard Introduced 1995 | Manufacturer Pernod Ricard Country of origin India Alcohol by volume 42.8% | |
Similar Royal Stag, 100 Pipers, Royal Challenge | ||
Blenders Pride is a brand of Indian whisky, owned by Pernod Ricard, and launched in 1995. It is a blend of Indian grain spirits and imported Scotch malt and contains no artificial flavouring. It is available in 5 different bottle formats (2L,1L, 750ml, 375ml, 180ml). GQ magazine described the whisky as "smooth and smoky", and gave it a rating of 6/10.
Contents
Pernod Ricard has identified Blenders Pride, along with Imperial Blue, Royal Stag, Chivas Regal and 100 Pipers as the company's five core brands to build its spirits business in India. The brand's main national competitors are Royal Challenge, Signature and Antiquity from United Spirits Ltd, and Peter Scot from Khoday India Limited, In some states, Blenders Pride also competes with Haig Gold Label from Diageo and Rockford Reserve from Modi Illva.
History
Blenders Pride was launched in India in 1995 by Seagram. Seagram's global business was jointly acquired by Pernod Ricard and Diageo on 21 December 2001. Seagram's Indian operations were acquired by Pernod Ricard. Pernod Ricard had previously entered the Indian market by acquiring a 74% stake in United Agencies Ltd (UAL), with a bottling facility in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. UAL was merged with Seagram's Indian business and continued operations under the name Seagram Manufacturing Ltd. The decision to integrate UAL into Seagram was taken due to the latter's larger operations in the country.
Reserve Collection
Pernod Ricard launched a premium version of Blenders Pride, called Blenders Pride Reserve Collection in December 2011. At the time of its launch, the Reserve Collection was the most expensive whisky produced in India.
United Kingdom-based consultants CARTILS helped design the branding, bottle shape and packaging for Reserve Collection. CARTILS said that its aim was to "stay loyal to the original brand yet to ensure that its [Reserve Collection] significantly more premium nature was clearly communicated." The bottle shape for Reserve Collection is similar to Blenders Pride but has embossing.
Sales
Blenders Pride sold 250,000 cases in 2003. out of 1.5 million cases country-wide in the premium whisky segment. In March 2004, Seagram Manufacturing Ltd. claimed that Blenders Pride had surpassed Shaw Wallace's "Royal Challenge" (now owned by United Breweries Group) to become the largest-selling premium whisky in Andhra Pradesh.
The following table shows the annual sales of Blenders Pride: