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Friday, 18 March 2022

FOREIGN LIQUOR BOOM GURGAON

 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)
**It is illegal to carry more than ONE bottle of liquor into Delhi from any part of the country. This is more than true for rampant import from Gurgaon, as has been happening these past six months. 
***If you would like to hold more liquor at home, then you have to apply for the same on Licence No L-49 with additional charges depending on the quantity, but not below Rs 2,000.

Haryana: Gurgaon is so much better for massive amounts of private possession of alcohol (yay Millenium City!). Get yourself L-50 lifetime permission and stock up. You can stock up to 6 bottles (750 ml each) of country liquor, 18 bottles (750 ml each) of IMFL liquor, out of which maximum 6 bottles can be of Imported Foreign Liquor, 12 bottles (650 ml each) of beer, 6 bottles (750 ml each) of rum, 12 bottles of wine, and 6 bottles (750 ml each) of vodka/gin/cider.

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

 

  NoBRAND NAME AND REC DiscoveryG TownLake ForestREMARKS

 

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

6000 

NA

6500 

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            

 

 

 80

TOWIEMORE 

 X

 NA

  6200

 NA

 

 

      81

BRUICHLADDICH 8 CLASSIC

850085008500

MUST BUY

 

 82

DEANSTON 10 BORDEAUX FINISH

  

 NA

 NA

 5600

        MUST BUY

 

BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY

 

1

BALLANTINE’S 7 YO

  x

 

 

 

 

 

2

BALLANTINE’S FINEST NAS

  X

 

 

 

 

 

3

BALLANTINE'S 12 YO  X

 

4

BALLANTINE’S 15 YO

  X

 

 

 

 

 

5

BALLANTINE’S 17 YO

  

 4500

4500 

 4800

          MUST BUY

 

6

BUCHANAN’S 12 YO

  

 

 

 

 

 

7

BUCHANAN’S 18 YO

  

 

 

 

 

 

8

CHIVAS REGAL 12 YO

  

 

 

 

 

 

9

CHIVAS REGAL 15 YO

  X

 

 

 

 

 

10

CHIVAS REGAL 18 YO

  

 4800

 4800

 4800

        MUST BUY

 

11

CHIVAS REGAL EXTRA

  X

 

 

 

 

 

12

CUTTY SARK 12 YO

  X

 

 

 

 

 

13

WILLIAM LAWSON 13 YO

  

 

 

 

 

 

14

DEWAR’S 12 YO

  X

 

 

 

 

 

15

DEWAR’S 15 YO

  X

 

 

 

 

 

16

DEWAR’S 18 YO

  

 4800

 4800

 4800

         MUST BUY

 

17

DIMPLE HAIG 15 YO

  

 4500

 4500

4500 

 MUST BUY

 

18

FAMOUS GROUSE NAS

  X

 

 

 

 

 

19

FAMOUS GROUSE 12 YO

  

 

 

 

 

 

20

GRANTS TRIPLE WOOD NAS

  X

 

 

 

 

 

21

GRANTS TRIPLE WOOD 12 YO

  X

 

 

 

 

 

22

 JOHNNIE WALKER BLACK

  

 2000

 2000

 2000

 

 

23

JOHNNIE WALKER DBLE BLACK 

  

 2800

 2800

 2800

 

 

24

JOHNNIE WALKER GOLD 

  

 3500

 3500

 3500

 MUST BUY

 

25

JOHNNIE WALKER 18 YO 

x

4800

4800

4800

 

 

26

TEACHER'S HIGHLAND CREAM

   X

 

 

 

 

 

27

TEACHER'S 50

   X

 

 

 

 

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