Brands
European spirits maker bets big on India’s thirsty elite
MUMBAI: India’s premium spirits market has a new player with continental ambitions. Puranique Spirits launched its Indian operations in Mumbai on 7 October with nine-times-distilled vodka and VSOP cognac, betting that the country’s growing appetite for luxury tipples will fuel rapid expansion. By the end of 2026, the company plans to offer 24 premium products across five categories.
The timing is strategic. India’s premium spirits segment is booming as disposable incomes rise and younger drinkers trade up from domestic brands. Puranique, which draws from distilleries in Cognac, France and the Scottish Highlands, hopes to ride that wave with products already sold in 18 countries. The company claims two decades of European distilling pedigree, producing award-winning cognac, armagnacs, liqueurs, gin, rum, absinthe and akvavit.
“India is at the heart of the global premium spirits growth story,” said Puranique Spirits India promoter & chief executive Anoop Mohan at the Taj Lands End launch event. He framed the expansion as a “cultural bridge” between European craftsmanship and Indian taste, name-checking deepening UK-India trade ties for good measure.
Puranique Spirits chairman Rahul Puranik struck a more measured note. “Bringing them to India feels like a natural progression in our journey,” he said, adding that the full portfolio rollout would create a “complete premium spirits ecosystem.”
Country head for India, Viren Moholkar promised “authenticity and unmatched quality” across 24 offerings spanning cognac, gin, rum, vodka and artisan craft spirits.
The company also unveiled veteran actor and filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar as brand ambassador. Manjrekar delivered the expected platitudes about heritage, craftsmanship and refinement, declaring Puranique a brand that “doesn’t just create beverages, it creates experiences.”
Whether Indian consumers agree depends on pricing, distribution and whether European pedigree translates into repeat purchases.
India’s premium spirits market is crowded and unforgiving. International brands jostle for shelf space whilst domestic players like Diageo’s McDowell’s and Pernod Ricard’s Imperial Blue dominate volume. Puranique’s challenge is carving out enough premium territory to justify an ambitious 24-product pipeline within 16 months. The company’s European heritage may open doors, but execution—and taste—will determine whether it stays for the long haul.
Brands
Maharashtra revokes Ola, Uber, Rapido bike taxi licences
Temporary e-bike taxi permits cancelled as firms fail to meet state rules
MUMBAI: Maharashtra’s roads are set to see fewer zipping two-wheelers after the state government pulled the plug on provisional licences granted to bike taxi giants Ola, Uber and Rapido. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced in the Legislative Council on Monday that temporary permissions would be revoked.
“These companies were given permission for just a month and were required to submit certain documents. Since they have not complied, their temporary licences are cancelled. This is to ensure illegal bikes do not operate on our roads,” Sarnaik said.
The move follows the Maharashtra E Bike Taxi Rules 2024, designed to generate employment for local youth and offer commuters a cheaper, greener ride option. The rules, approved in August 2024, allow electric bike taxis in cities with over one lakh residents.
Under the policy, only electric vehicles can ply as taxis, and operators had 30 days to fulfil licensing and compliance requirements. Yet, officials claim many continued operations without meeting these conditions. Sarnaik added that a large number of bike taxis currently running in Mumbai and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region are illegal.
In a firm enforcement twist, the government has instructed authorities to focus on vehicle owners rather than riders when registering cases. Safety concerns, particularly for women passengers, and accident complaints have also been flagged by the transport department.
Since April 2024, Regional Transport Offices have taken action against 130 non-compliant bike taxis, collecting fines exceeding Rs 33 lakh. Authorities say further measures will follow to ensure services adhere to regulations before returning to city streets.
Maharashtra’s bike taxi saga has been a rollercoaster. Initially banned in January 2023 due to concerns over private vehicles ferrying passengers, the sector was later formalised through an electric bike framework in 2024. Provisional licences were granted in 2025, but the government now warns that any bike taxi operating on city roads without proper permits will be considered illegal.
Adding to the transport shake-up, the government has also halted the issuance of new auto rickshaw permits from March 9 to ease urban traffic pressures and safeguard livelihoods of existing drivers. A fresh standard operating procedure for future permits is set to go before the state cabinet soon.
Maharashtra commuters may have to find alternative rides as the state reins in its two-wheeled taxi revolution, leaving app-based bikers in a legal limbo.
