Archive · 6 Aug 2026
FSSAI bans flavoured Old Monk, McDowell's liquor variants
In India, there is a safety group for food and drinks called FSSAI.
FSSAI's job is to make sure that what people eat and drink is safe and honest.
Lately, it checked some grown-up drinks called whisky and rum.
Real whisky and rum get their special taste and smell naturally, from how they are made and how long they are stored.
Some drink makers were adding fake flavours that copy the taste of whisky or rum.
FSSAI said this is not allowed.
If a drink gets its taste from added flavour, it should be called a flavoured drink, not real whisky or rum.
FSSAI also said a bottle marked '7 years old' must say the age of the youngest drink inside it, not the oldest.
The new rule is mostly about selling these drinks.
People can still enjoy bottles they already bought at home.
FSSAI's order targets specific flavoured liquor variants made at certain facilities, not every bottle sold under brands like Old Monk and McDowell's.
The regulator says the affected products allegedly contained 'whisky flavour' in whisky and 'rum flavour' in rum.
FSSAI maintains that whisky and rum flavours should develop naturally through ingredients, fermentation, distillation and ageing, not added flavourings.
Such products should instead be labelled 'whisky-flavoured spirit' or 'rum-flavoured spirit,' and FSSAI also questioned Old Monk's '7 Years Old Blended' age claim.
Manufacturers may sell existing stock after label changes, while consumers who already own bottles are not affected.
- Who
- FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India), acting against liquor brands including Old Monk, McDowell's and others.
- What
- A ban on specific flavoured liquor variants that add whisky or rum flavour to whisky or rum, plus scrutiny of Old Monk's '7 Years Old Blended' claim.
- When
- The article does not specify a date; the order covers existing stock (after label changes) and future production.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- FSSAI says spirit flavours should develop naturally and not be recreated by additives, as part of a push to tighten food and beverage standards and curb misleading claims.
- Regulator
- FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)
- Affected brands
- Old Monk, McDowell's, and other alcohol brands
- Scope of ban
- Specific flavoured variants manufactured at certain facilities, not all brand bottles
- Reason for action
- Whisky flavour added to whisky and rum flavour added to rum; taste should develop naturally
- New labelling rule
- Products must be labelled 'whisky-flavoured spirit' or 'rum-flavoured spirit'
- Old Monk claim under scrutiny
- '7 Years Old Blended'; age should reflect the youngest spirit in the blend
- Existing stock
- May be sold after label changes; future production must comply
- Consumer impact
- Sale is restricted, not possession; existing bottles can still be consumed