RIDING THE L-1 BOOM
India holds the dubious distinction of the largest consumer of whisky in the world. Yet it has States that have proclaimed Prohibition and enforce it. The complexities of marketing whisky, or any spirit for that matter, are daunting. They are not helped by the vagaries and vicissitudes of culture-bound States, or so they say. The plethora of executable wine laws in India is applicable not only for importers, producers, distributors, retailers and
restaurateurs, all of whom come under the umbrella of licensing, but also the
consumer. As may be expected, every State has its own laws for the storage of
wine and alcohol, with listed specifications of ‘permissible possession’. Gurgaon
has witnessed an explosion in the number of stores selling both Indian and
imported liquor under the L-1 classification. Currently, over 60 stores are
operating as L-1 merchants. You cannot drive more than one km in Gurgaon without coming
across a bright and glaringly prominent L-1 store.
L-1 LICENCE
L-1 Licences are reserved for bulk sellers. Every now and then, State Governments formulate their Excise Policy and approve the Terms &
Conditions for grant of L-1 licenses. In pursuance to this policy and the
approved terms & conditions, licences in form L-1 are granted for the
wholesale supply of Indian and imported liquor. The bulk sellers have to go
through various procedures and costs, none of which are relevant to you, the
consumer.
L-50 LICENCE
A licence, called the L 50 (Mini-Bar) licence was introduced for the general public’s personal consumption, for two separate segments, valid for either one year or for a lifetime. The L-50 or Mini-Bar Licence, as applicable to the general public, can be obtained for one year for Rs 1,500 for both Delhi and Gurgaon. In Gurgaon, the life-time licence will cost Rs 10,000, a reduction by 50% of the extant ‘home’ licence. There has been no similar reduction in Delhi.
Under the licence for the mini bar, residents in Gurgaon can store ~120 liquor bottles at home, assuming you are married. For relatives staying with you above the age of 25, add 60 more per head. Residents can also apply online for this licence, which was introduced last year. The step was taken after a dip in demand for the licence, as observed by officials in the Excise Department. The minimum age to obtain a lifetime liquor licence is 25 years.
Specific rules have been codified in the State Excise
Rules, stipulating quantities of liquor that may be held at home legally and
penalties for exceeding the quantity. For instance, Rule 20 of the Delhi Excise
Rules, 2010, stipulates the maximum limit for retail sale and individual possession
of liquor. Violation of this Rule entails an offence under Section 33 of the
Delhi Excise Act, 2009, which is punishable with imprisonment for a maximum
term of three years and a fine which is not less than Rs. 50,000/-, but may extend
to Rs. 1,00,000/-.
The Delhi High Court interpreted this law while delivering a judgement only last
week. The relevant portion of Rule 20 of the Delhi Excise Rules, 2010, has been
reproduced as under:
“20. Maximum limit for retail sale and individual possession of liquor: The maximum quantities of intoxicants specified below, which for the purposes of the Act, may be sold by retail and possessed exclusively, by an individual not below the age of twenty five years in Delhi, shall be as
follows:—
Indian Liquor and Foreign Liquor
(i) INDIAN AND FOREIGN LIQUOR (Whisky, rum, gin, vodka, and brandy), except wine, liqueur, beer, cider and alcopop: Nine litres
(ii) Wine, beer, liqueur, cider and alcopop: Eighteen litres
(iii) Indian Liquor or Foreign Liquor: One litre while entering into Delhi from other States;
(iv) Foreign Liquor: Two litres while entering into Delhi from other countries.
* These quantities are Per Person (>25 years old)NOIDA: I’m afraid NOIDA types will have to grin and bear it. The limit is presently capped at 1.5 litres of country-made alcohol, 1.5 litres of IMFL and 4 bottles of beer. Once the Noida International Greenfield Airport comes up at Jewar, this limit could go up to 2.0 litres of IMFL or 2.0 litres of imported alcohol. Mr Saffron will probably play ball.
Bangalore: Decent quantities. Permissible limits are 18.2 litres of country beer, 9.1 litres of imported foreign liquor, 4.5 litres of fortified wine, 9 litres of fruit wine, 2.3 litres of liquor manufactured in Karnataka (excluding imported Foreign liquor), and 2.5 litres of toddy (in the areas where public sale of toddy is allowed, i.e., D. Kannada and Udupi Districts).
Maharashtra: Basically, the Mumbai Pune types are screwed. Ex-Defence Forces officers will have a special quota dependent on rank. For the hoi polloi, If their age allows them to drink liquor in Maharashtra, they need a license for it. A permit is required for purchase, possession, transport and consumption of liquor, and is applicable to both foreign and country liquor.. One's committing an offence if one consumes liquor without such a permit.
Please do not go by my selections in certain cases. I have accumulated this stock starting 1989. I do not drink much, so I prefer brands that suit my needs, forget the price. Do feel free to make your own decisions. Just make sure you get Value For Money (VFM).
WHISKY: SINGLE MALT |
PRICES IN GURGAON L1 SHOPS |
||||||
| No | BRAND NAME AND REC | Discovery | G Town | Lake Forest | REMARKS | |
|
1 |
ABERFELDY 12
YO |
√ |
3000 |
3000 |
3000 |
GOOD BUY |
|
2 |
ABERFELDY 14
YO |
X |
|
|
|
12 YO OK |
|
3 |
ABERLOUR 12
YO |
X |
3200 |
3500 |
3500 |
DECENT BUY |
|
4 |
ABERLOUR 15
YO |
X |
5200 |
5500 |
5600 |
OPTIONAL |
|
5 |
ABERLOUR 16
YO |
√ |
|
NA |
|
GOOD BUY |
|
6 |
ABERLOUR 18 YO |
X |
NA 16000 OVERPRICED |
|||
|
7 |
ARDBEG 10 YO |
√ |
5500 |
5500 |
5500 |
GOOD BUY |
|
8 |
ARDBEG WEE
BEASTIE 5 YO |
X |
5500 |
5700 |
3900 |
NOT
WORTH IT |
|
9 |
ARDMORE 12 YO |
X |
2300 |
2500 |
2700 |
DISAPPOINTS |
|
10 |
AUCHENTOSHAN
12 YO |
√ |
3100 |
3200 |
3200 |
MILD WHISKY |
|
11 |
AULTMORE 12
YO |
√ |
4200 |
4000 |
4200 |
MUST BUY |
|
12 |
AULTMORE 14
YO |
√ |
5100 |
NA |
NA |
GOOD BUY |
|
13 |
BALBLAIR 12
YO |
X |
8000 |
8000 |
NOT VALUE FOR MONEY (NVFM) |
|
|
14 |
BALVENIE
DOUBLEWOOD 12 |
X |
> Rs
6,200. 40% ABV; PRICES JACKED UP 75%; NVFM |
|||
|
15 |
BALVENIE
DOUBLEWOOD 14 |
X |
> Rs
8,000. 40% ABV TOO LOW. BUY MONKEY SHOULDER INSTEAD |
|||
|
16 |
BALVENIE DOUBLEWOOD
17 |
X |
> Rs
18,000; 40% ABV NVFM |
|||
|
17 |
BALVENIE TRIPLECASK 12 1L |
X |
TRAVEL EDITION AT 40% ABV NVFM |
|||
|
18 |
BALVENIE16 TRIPLE
CASK 1L |
X |
TRAVEL EDITION AT 40% ABV NVFM |
|||
|
19 |
BENRIACH 12
YO |
X |
NA |
NA |
6,500 |
PRICEY |
|
20 |
BOWMORE 12 YO
70CL 40% |
X |
2700 |
2700 |
2800 |
AVOID |
|
21 |
BOWMORE 15 YO
70CL 43% |
√ |
4000 |
4200 |
4200 |
UNDERPERFORMS |
|
22 |
BOWMORE 18 YO 70CL 43% |
√ |
10,000 |
NA |
9500 |
GOOD BUY |
|
23 |
CAOL ILA 12
YO 70CL 40% |
√ |
4500 |
4600 |
4600 |
MUST BUY |
|
24 |
CARDHU 12 YO
70CL 40% ABV |
√ |
4800 |
4500 |
4600 |
GOOD
BUY |
|
25 |
CLYNELISH 14
YO 75CL 46% |
√ |
4600 |
4600 |
4600 |
MUST BUY |
|
26 |
COPPER DOG 12
YO 70CL 40% |
√ |
2700 |
2700 |
2700 |
MUST BUY |
|
27 |
CRAGGANMORE
12 YO 43% |
√ |
3600 |
3600 |
3600 |
OPTIONAL |
|
28 |
CRAIGELLACHIE
13 YO |
√ |
4000 |
4000 |
4000 |
MUST BUY |
|
29 |
CRAIGELLACHIE
14 YO |
X |
7100 |
7000 |
6800 |
SOLD OUT |
|
30 |
CRAIGELLACHIE
17 YO |
√ |
10,750 |
11,000 |
10,500 |
GOOD BUT PRICEY |
|
31 |
DALMORE 12 YO |
? |
7200 |
7250 |
7200 |
PRICEY |
|
32 |
DALMORE 15 YO |
X |
9000 |
9000 |
9600 |
|
|
33 |
DALMORE CIGAR MALT |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
34 |
DALMORE PORT WOOD |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
35 |
DALWHINNIE 15
YO |
√ |
4000 |
4000 |
4000 |
GREAT VFM |
|
36 |
GLENALLACHIE
12 YO |
√ |
NA |
NA |
7000 |
MUST BUY |
|
37 |
GLENBURGIE BALLANTINE
15 |
X |
3500 |
NA |
3800 |
DISAPPOINTED |
|
38 |
GLENDRONACH
12 YO |
√ |
NA |
NA |
5800 |
PRICEY |
|
39 |
GLENFIDDICH
12 YO |
√ |
2900 |
2900 |
2900 |
GOOD
BUY |
|
40 |
GLENFIDDICH
15 YO |
√ |
4500 |
4500 |
4500 |
SOLERA |
|
41 |
GLENFIDDICH
18 YO |
X |
8500 |
8700 |
8700 |
NVFM |
|
42 |
GLENFIDDICH XX
47% |
√ |
5500 |
NA |
5700 |
MUST BUY |
|
43 |
GLENFIDDICH
IPA 70CL 43% |
X |
5000 |
NA |
5000 |
|
|
44 |
GLENGOYNE 12
70CL 43% |
√ |
4000 |
4300 |
NA |
MUST BUY |
|
45 |
GLENLIVET 12
YO 70 CL 40% |
√ |
2900 |
2900 |
2900 |
MUST BUY |
|
46 |
GLENLIVET 15
YO 70 CL 40% |
X |
4500 |
4500 |
4500 |
12 YO OK |
|
47 |
GLENLIVET 18
YO |
X |
NA |
8200 |
8500 |
NVFM |
|
48 |
GLENMORANGIE
10 |
√ |
3800 |
3500 |
3800 |
MUST BUY |
|
49 |
GLENMORANGIE
LASANTA 12 |
X |
5700 |
5600 |
5700 |
|
|
50 |
GLENMORANGIE
NECTAR D’OR |
? |
6200 |
7500 |
6300 |
AT OR < 6000 |
|
51 |
---DO--- QUINTA RUBAN 14 |
? |
7500 |
7500 |
7200 |
OVERPRICED |
|
52 |
GLENMORANGIE
SIGNET |
X |
18000 |
17500 |
17000 |
TOO PRICEY |
|
53 |
GLENMORANGIE
X |
X |
|
4000 |
|
AVOID |
|
54 |
GLEN GRANT 10 |
X |
3000 |
3000 |
3000 |
UNDERDONE |
|
55 |
GLEN GRANT 12
|
X |
3200 |
3200 |
3200 |
UNDERDONE |
|
55 |
GLEN GRANT 18 |
X |
10800 |
11000 |
11000 |
GOOD; NVFM |
|
56 |
JURA 10 |
X |
4700 |
4700 |
4800 |
GOOD BUY |
|
57 |
JURA 12 |
√ |
5400 |
5400 |
5500 |
GOOD BUY |
|
58 |
KAVALAN
CONCERTMASTER |
X |
7000 |
7000 |
NA |
|
|
59 |
KAVALAN CLASSIC |
X |
7000 |
NA |
7000 |
|
|
60 |
KAVALAN SOLIST
SHERRIED |
√ |
11,000 |
NA |
NA |
NVFM |
|
61 |
KAVALAN
DISTILLERY SELECT |
X |
8000 |
8000 |
NA |
NVFM |
|
62 |
KILCHOMAN
SANAIG |
√ |
9000 |
9000 |
NA |
NVFM |
|
63 |
LOSSIT |
√ |
NA |
6200 |
NA |
MUST BUY |
|
64 |
MACALLAN |
√ |
|
|
|
|
|
65 |
MACALLAN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
66 |
MACALLAN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
67 |
MACALLAN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
68 |
MONKEY
SHOULDER |
√ |
2800 |
2800 |
3000 |
MUST BUY |
|
69 |
OBAN |
√ |
5800 |
6000 |
6000 |
GOOD BUY |
|
70 |
OLD PULTENEY
12 YO |
√ |
4200 |
4250 |
4300 |
GOOD BUY |
|
71 |
OLD PULTENEY
10 YO |
√ |
5500 |
5800 |
5800 |
MUST BUY |
|
72 |
SCAPA SKIREN |
X |
5200 |
5500 |
5500 |
|
|
73 |
SINGLETON GLENDULLAN 12 |
√ |
3300 |
3200 |
3300 |
GOOD BUY |
|
74 |
SINGLETON GLENDULLAN 15 |
√ |
4500 |
4500 |
4500 |
GOOD BUY |
|
75 |
SINGLETON GLENDULLAN 18 |
√ |
6000 |
6200 |
6200 |
MUST BUY |
|
76 |
SMOKEHEAD
HEAVY PEAT |
√ |
4200 |
4200 |
4200 |
MUST BUY |
|
77 |
SPEYBURN 75 CL 43% |
√ |
3500 |
3500 |
3600 |
MUST BUY |
|
78 |
SPEYBURN 1L 43% |
√ |
4500 |
5200 |
NA |
NVFM |
|
79 |
TAMDHU |
X |
5300 |
5300 |
NA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
√ | 8500 | 8500 | 8500 | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY |
||||||
|
1 |
BALLANTINE’S
7 YO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
BALLANTINE’S
FINEST NAS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 | BALLANTINE'S 12 YO | X | ||||
|
4 |
BALLANTINE’S
15 YO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
BALLANTINE’S
17 YO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
BUCHANAN’S 12 YO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
BUCHANAN’S 18 YO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
CHIVAS REGAL
12 YO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
CHIVAS REGAL
15 YO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
CHIVAS REGAL
18 YO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
CHIVAS REGAL
EXTRA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 |
CUTTY SARK 12 YO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 |
WILLIAM LAWSON 13 YO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
14 |
DEWAR’S 12 YO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
15 |
DEWAR’S 15 YO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
16 |
DEWAR’S 18 YO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
17 |
DIMPLE HAIG
15 YO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
18 |
FAMOUS GROUSE
NAS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
19 |
FAMOUS GROUSE
12 YO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
20 |
GRANTS TRIPLE
WOOD NAS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
21 |
GRANTS TRIPLE
WOOD 12 YO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
22 |
JOHNNIE WALKER BLACK |
|
|
|
|
|
|
23 |
JOHNNIE WALKER DBLE BLACK |
|
|
|
|
|
|
24 |
JOHNNIE WALKER GOLD |
|
|
|
|
|
|
25 |
JOHNNIE WALKER 18 YO |
x |
4800 |
4800 |
4800 |
|
|
26 |
TEACHER'S HIGHLAND CREAM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
27 | TEACHER'S 50 |
|
|
|
|
|
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