MAM
Radico Khaitan launches World’s First Single Malt Whisky finished in Indian Wine Casks – Rampur Asava
Radico Khaitan – the largest manufacturer of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) in India – has added yet another feather to its cap with the recent launch of a unique and exciting new expression ‘Rampur Asava Indian Single Malt Whisky’ at The Whisky Show 2020 in the United Kingdom. In a first, a single malt matured in American Bourbon Barrels has been carefully finished in Indian Cabernet Sauvignon casks, at one of Asia’s largest distilleries i.e. Rampur, UP. Currently launched in the UK and the US, Rampur Asava – a non-chill filtered and bottled at 45% ABV resulting in a ground-breaking expression with perfect balance – is set to be made available in a few other markets for whisky connoisseurs soon.
With the exclusive combination of Rampur’s unique distillation and maturation process, this single malt has successfully taken traditional Indian heritage and rooted it in contemporary culture. This luxury whisky, produced at a distillery located in the foothills of the Himalayas, is the perfect amalgamation of tradition and innovation through the use of Indian Cabernet Sauvignon casks. The unique distillery location exposes the whiskies to polar opposite climate conditions throughout the year, with the flavour of the famous Indian Summer giving Rampur Single Malts an added dimension as well as depth.
“We are very proud of our Indian heritage and Rampur Asava is another step in bringing the unique whiskies of India to the world. We are confident the exotic and unique Indian flavours will delight your palate,” said Mr. Abhishek Khaitan, Managing Director, Radico Khaitan.
Rampur Asava is an electrifying addition to Rampur’s Indian Single Malt Whisky range, which currently boasts of Rampur Select, Rampur Double Cask, limited edition Rampur Sherry PX and the ultra-exclusive Rampur Signature Reserve.
Sanjeev Banga, President, International Business of Radico, said: “We are always striving to make each Rampur expression of the highest quality and exciting for malt whisky drinkers. The diverse weather conditions at the distillery have enabled us to be creative and experiment with our single malts. We are delighted with the results as there is an impeccable balance of taste in this finely perfected golden nectar that lingers on your taste buds.”
Tasting Notes:
Appearance: Dark mahogany
Nose: Typical tropical fruity note of Rampur with added notes of apricot, blackberry, black currant, dark cherry & plum followed with a faint hint of tobacco and spices.
Palate: Velvety, Manuka honey sweetness highlighted by spicy oak, vanilla and balanced with dryness from Indian red wine.
Finish: Medium to long finish which gently lingers on the palate
Initial launch in UK and USA. More markets to follow.
Instagram: @rampursinglemalt
Facebook: @rampursinglemalt
www.rampursinglemalt.com
Notes to Editors:
Rampur Asava Indian Single Malt Whisky is owned by Radico Khaitan – the largest Indian beverage alcohol company and one of the oldest whisky distillers in India – established in 1943. The company has been distilling malt whiskies for over 27 years with a reputation for quality and innovation.
Three of Radico Khaitan’s distilleries are based in Uttar Pradesh in the foothills of the Himalayas, where all of Rampur’s Whiskies are distilled, matured and bottled. Rampur is named after the princely Indian state known for its rich heritage and royal traditions.
Radico Khaitan are also the producers of award winning Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin, which is triple-distilled in traditional copper pot stills and hand-crafted with a recipe that combines the ancient knowledge of herbs and spices, vibrant juniper berries and hand-picked botanicals from all four corners of India. With seven of the 11 botanicals coming from India, Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin is ‘the whole of Indian in one bottle’.
For trade enquiries please contact: exports@radico.co.in
MAM
Paramount set to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in $81 billion deal
Shareholders back merger, combined entity could reshape streaming and studios.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… consolidation, Hollywood’s latest blockbuster might be happening off-screen. Shareholders of Warner Bros. Discovery have voted in favour of selling the company to Paramount in a deal valued at $81 billion rising to nearly $111 billion including debt setting the stage for one of the biggest shake-ups in modern media. The proposed merger, still subject to regulatory approvals, would bring together a vast portfolio spanning HBO Max, CNN, and franchises such as Harry Potter under the same umbrella as Paramount’s own heavyweights, including Top Gun and CBS.
At the heart of the deal is streaming scale. Executives have indicated plans to combine HBO Max and Paramount+ into a single platform, potentially creating a stronger challenger to giants like Netflix and Amazon’s Prime Video. Current market data suggests HBO Max holds around 12 per cent of US on-demand subscriptions, compared to Paramount+’s 3 per cent, together still trailing Netflix’s 19 per cent and Disney’s combined 27 per cent via Disney+ and Hulu.
Paramount CEO David Ellison has signalled that while platforms may merge, HBO’s creative identity will remain intact, stating the brand should “stay HBO” even within a broader ecosystem.
Beyond streaming, the deal would redraw the map for film production. Combining two of Hollywood’s oldest studios Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros., the new entity aims to scale output to over 30 films annually, while maintaining a 45-day theatrical window. Warner Bros. currently commands around 21 per cent of the US box office, compared to Paramount’s 6 per cent, underscoring the strategic weight of the acquisition.
But scale comes with scrutiny. Critics warn that fewer players could mean reduced consumer choice, rising subscription costs, and potential job cuts as the combined company looks to streamline overlapping operations while managing billions in debt.
The news business, too, faces a reset. CNN would join forces at least structurally with Paramount-owned CBS, raising questions about editorial independence and positioning. The merger has already drawn political attention in the United States, particularly given perceived ties between the Ellison family and Donald Trump, though the company maintains that newsroom autonomy will be preserved.
If approved, the deal would mark another milestone in Hollywood’s consolidation wave shrinking the industry’s traditional “big six” studios to a “big four”, with Paramount joining Disney, Universal, and Sony at the top table.
In an industry built on storytelling, this merger may well become its most consequential plot twist yet.
