The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated a crackdown on several major domestic spirit brands, citing the use of artificial flavouring instead of authentic ageing processes. The regulatory body found that units operated by Diageo’s Indian subsidiary, United Spirits, and Inbrew Beverages were artificially infusing rum and whisky with flavours of the spirits themselves. The FSSAI condemned this practice, noting that there is no globally accepted standard for adding “rum flavour to rum” or “whisky flavour to whisky,” suggesting that these companies were circumventing the traditional, time-consuming methods of using natural ingredients like malt or molasses.

The ban specifically impacts popular products, including United Spirits' Antiquity Blue and Royal Challenge whiskies, as well as Inbrew’s Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky and Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum. Additionally, the regulator halted the sale of three variants of the iconic Old Monk rum produced by Mohan Rocky Springwater. While the companies involved have remained silent on the issue, industry insiders suggest that these brands feel their practices were compliant with existing regulations. This regulatory move is part of a broader push by the FSSAI to tighten oversight across the beverage sector, following recent actions taken against high-caffeine "energy drinks."