Liquor has survived through ages and there is evidence of fermented beverages in China, Egypt and Iran that date back to more than 7000 years. In the Babylonian culture, some 2700 BC, people even worshipped a wine goddess. It is a testimony that liquor is one of the oldest surviving trading items, continues to thrive, and will remain a huge industry in the foreseeable future.
The liquor companies in India have registered a remarkable growth as the middle class continues to expand and the taste for alcohol has penetrated deep into urban as well as rural populations. India’s per capita consumption of pure alcohol has significantly increased from 2.4 litres in 2005 to 5.6 litres in 2016. The consumption is forecast to further increase over the next four years by 5.17 percent and estimated to reach 6.14 litres by 2028.
With an estimated market size of ₹4 trillion (or ₹4 lakh crore), India remains one of the fastest growing alcohol markets in the world. In 2022-23, the sale of Indian-made foreign liquor has risen by 14 percent to 385 million cases. This data shows that liquor stocks are one of the most healthy stocks to invest in India.
Best Liquor Stocks in India in 2023
Here is the list of top alcohol stocks in India and their performance history over the past five years. This table will assist you in mapping the performance of various such stocks in India.
Introduction to Best Liquor Stock Companies in India
Here is a brief introduction to the above listed companies which will help you in getting familiar with them.
United Breweries
United Breweries was established in 1915 by the coming together of five breweries, the oldest of which was founded in 1857. It is headquartered in Bangalore in Karnataka and has more than 50,000 employees. The company’s flagship brand is ‘Kingfisher’, which is available in 69 countries. UB has 21 owned and 11 contract production facilities in India.
United Spirits is the Indian subsidiary of the British multinational beverage company Diageo. The company’s portfolio of premium brands includes Johnnie Walker, Black Dog, Black & White, Vat 69, Antiquity, Signature, Singelton, Royal Challenge, McDowell’s No 1, Smirnoff, Ketel One, Tanqueray and Captain Morgan. United Spirits has 50 manufacturing facilities in India and a strong distribution network.
Radico Khaitan Limited was founded in 1943 and was formerly known as Rampur Distillery and Chemical Company. It has evolved from being a distiller of spirits to a leading IMFL company with a reputable brand portfolio. Radico Khaitan launched its first brand, 8PM Whisky, in 1998. The company now has over 15 brands which include four millionaire brands in its portfolio – 8PM Whisky, Magic Moments Vodka, Contessa XXX Rum and Old Admiral Brandy. Radico Khaitan has two distilleries, operates 28 bottling units and has a total capacity of over 157 million litres.
Sula Vineyard was founded in 1996 and is based in Nashik, Maharashtra. Sula has the installed solar capacity of 2MW which provides over 60% of its annual energy needs. It has four wine brands – Rasa, Dindori, The Source, and Sula Classic which has 30 variants.
Tilaknagar Industries is an alcohol beverages company with a wide collection of brands across IMFL spectrum comprising Whisky, Brandy, Rum, Gin and Vodka. It has a good presence in south India and CSD stores. It was formerly called “The Maharashtra Sugar Mills Limited” which was founded in 1933. It launched its first alcohol beverage brand – Mansion House – in 1983. Tilaknagar Industries now has the following major brands: Mansion House French Brandy, Courrier Napoleon Brandy Green, Courrier Napoleon Finest Pure Grape French Brandy, Mansion House Flandy, Mansion House Gold Whisky, Blue Lagoon Gin Orange, and Madiraa Gold Dark XXX Rum.
From a white label-bottling unit in the mid-1980s, Som Distillery and Breweries now is a multi-brand company. It now owns a portfolio of spirits, beers, ready to drink along with Rectified Spirits (RS), and Ethyl Neutral Alcohol (ENA). The company’s flagship brand is Hunter, which is a strong beer. Other brands of the company include Pentagon Gold Edition Whisky, Milestone Blue and Legend Premium Whisky, White Fox Vodka, Milestone Brandy, Pentagon Rum and Black Fort Rum.
Associated Alcohol & Breweries
Associated Alcohol and Breweries was founded in 1989 and was formerly into the business of molasses trading. Its portfolio now includes IMIL (Indian Made Indian Liquor), ENA production, in-house brands, international brands, and premium in-house brands. It has a state-of-the-art 25-line bottling facilities in Madhya Pradesh with a production capacity of 10 million cases per annum.
Jagatjit Industries
Jagatjit Industries was founded in 1944. The company has an extensive portfolio of whiskeys (Single Malt and Scotch), sins, rums, brandy and vodkas. It has three Indian Made Foreign Liquor brands in the Millionaires Club which sell more than a million cases each. Its brands includ Aristocrat Whisky, which was introduced in 1968, Bonnie Scot Whisky, Binnies Range of Products, Aristocrat Gin, Viceroy Whisky, VIP Whisky, A C Brandy, AC Vodka, Aristocrat Premium Whisky, Captain Henry Rum, Black Velvet Whisky, Executive Club Whisky, Fortune Gold Whisky, Aristocrat Supreme Select Whisky, ACP Gold Whisky, Aristocrat Black Whisky, AC Neat, Aristocrat Old Reserve Whisky, AC SEKC Whisky, Fire Rum, IICE Vodka, King Henry VIII Blended Scotch Whisky, and Royal Pride Single Malt Whisky.
Liquor companies have registered a significant growth in the past decade as the domestic demand for liquor and alcohol beverages has continued to increase. However, you should carefully research the various liquor stocks and invest in the best stock.
In any case, these stocks should be part of your wider investment strategy and help you widen your investment portfolio. Also when you plan to invest in liquor stocks, make sure to calculate the risks associated with the investment. Do not make decisions based on emotions or your liking or dislikes.
Liquor stocks have shown a remarkable short term, medium term and long term growth. The demand for liquor is also on the rise which suggests that any investment in alcohol stocks will generate profits. However, you must realise that there are potential risks in any sort of investment in the stocks.
2. Are alcohol stocks profitable?
Answer Field
Yes, the data suggests that many alcohol stocks are profitable.
3. What liquor stocks are best to invest in?
Answer Field
Some of the best liquor stocks to invest in India are United Breweries, United Spirits, Radico Khaitan, Sula Vineyard, Tilaknagar Industries, Som, Associated Alcohol, and Jagatjit Industries.