Legacy in a bottle

Family-run alcobev firms are looking beyond bloodlines as they raise a toast to growth and professionalism

- ANEEKA CHATTERJEE

By 10 am, Rakshit N Jagdale is already deep into the rhythm of the day, which promises to be a carousel of meetings, calls, and strategic decisions. As managing director of Amrut Distilleries, he balances ritual and ambition, tradition and transformation, like many other legacy players in India's alcoholic beverages sector who are staring at a rosy future.

The country's alcobev sector is in high spirits. According to a report by the International Spirits and Wines Association of India, which represents national and international premium spirits and wine brands, the industry's value was pegged at $52.4 billion in 2021. That figure is expected to touch $64 billion within five years, making India the fifth-largest contributor to global market revenues.

Given the opportunities, family-run alcobev companies are whipping up a cocktail of professionalisation, strategic partnerships, and global ambition.

Family & beyond

Take the case of Amrut, which was founded in 1948 by JN Radhakrishna Rao. From its humble beginnings, the Bengaluru-based company gained global recognition under the leadership of Rao's son, Neelakanta Rao Jagdale, who established a dedicated malt and grain distillery on Old Mysore Road in 1987.

Today, Rakshit N Jagdale, Neelakanta's son and the third-generation leader, has taken the baton. After completing his MBA at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Rakshit joined the business, guided not only by legacy but by a personal passion for whisky. His MBA thesis, focusing on the demand for single malt in Indian restaurants across the UK, planted the first seeds of Amrut's international blueprint.