Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited (ABD), India’s largest domestic spirits company by volume, has appointed globally renowned Scotch whisky expert Dr. Martin Leonard as Consultant to advise on the commissioning of its malt distillery and the company’s foray into single malt whisky. Leonard brings over three decades of experience across distillation, maturation, blending, bottling and supply chain operations in the global Scotch whisky industry. He most recently served as Managing Director of Inver House Distillers, where he oversaw five single malt distilleries in Scotland and managed inventories exceeding 600,000 casks. He has also chaired the Scotch Whisky Research Institute and is a recipient of the Master of the Quaich.
ABD said the single malt distillery under construction at Rangapur in Telangana is expected to be commissioned by Q4 FY26. The project, part of the company’s backward integration strategy, involves an investment of around ₹75 crore with a capacity of about 4.0 MLPA and is located within the largest integrated alcobev facility in the state.
Commenting on the appointment, Alok Gupta, Managing Director of Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited, said Leonard’s expertise would be crucial in strengthening technical depth and operational capability as the company expands its premium whisky portfolio.
Kolkata is emerging as a key growth market for premium and single malt whiskies, driven by rising disposable incomes and evolving consumer preferences. ABD’s planned single malt offerings are expected to find traction in Kolkata’s premium retail and hospitality segments, where demand for differentiated, high-quality spirits has been steadily increasing.