Blenders Pride
{{Short description|Brand of Indian Whisky}}
{{Advert|date=May 2022}}{{Infobox beverage
| name = Blenders Pride
| image = Blenders Pride logo.jpeg
| caption =
| type = Indian whisky
| abv = 42.8%
| manufacturer = Pernod Ricard
| distributor = Pernod Ricard
| origin = India
| introduced = 1995
| discontinued =
| colour = Brown
| flavour = Smooth and smoky
| ingredients = Indian grain spirits, Scotch malt
| variants = {{ubl|Blenders Pride|Blenders Pride Reserve Collection}}
| related = {{ubl|Imperial Blue|Royal Stag|Chivas Regal|100 Pipers}}
| website = [https://www.pernod-ricard.com/en/brands/our-brands/blenders-pride/ Pernod-Ricard.com/Blender-Pride]
}}
Blenders Pride launched in 1995. It is one of the most popular brand of Indian whisky, owned by Pernod Ricard. It is a blend of Indian grain spirits and imported Scotch malt.{{cite web|url=http://pernod-ricard.com/543/brands/see-all-brands/local-brands/blenders-pride |title=Blenders Pride |publisher=Pernod Ricard |access-date=2013-06-08}}
Pernod Ricard has identified Blenders Pride as one of their core brands in India.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-marketing/seagram-identifies-5-core-brands-to-build-spirits-biz/article2173196.ece |title=Seagram identifies 5 core brands to build spirits biz |newspaper=The Hindu Business Line |date=2005-03-31 |access-date=2013-06-07}} The brand's main national competitors are Royal Challenge, Signature and Antiquity{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/old/fe/daily/19990909/fco09081.html |title=Signature Whisky in nips and pints |publisher=The Financial Express |date=1999-09-09 |access-date=2013-06-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224083855/http://www.financialexpress.com/old/fe/daily/19990909/fco09081.html |archive-date=2013-12-24 }} from United Spirits Ltd,{{cite news|agency=PTI |url=http://www.livemint.com/Companies/wFSh10Vbml5FXf3mAqQKHM/USL-targets-sale-of-1-crore-cases-of-Royal-Challenge-by-2019.html |title=USL targets sale of 1 crore cases of Royal Challenge by 2019 |newspaper=Mint |date=2009-04-28 |access-date=2013-06-08}} and Peter Scot from Khoday India Limited,{{cite news|last=Rajanala |first=Sunil |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/rc-takes-the-lead-in-premium-segment/articleshow/387949.cms |title=RC takes the lead in premium segment |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=2003-12-25 |access-date=2013-06-08}}{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/02/05/stories/2004020501190600.htm |title=The Hindu Business Line : UB expects CSD sales to boost Signature whisky |newspaper=Business Line |date=2004-02-05 |access-date=2013-06-08 |archive-date=2013-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224114827/http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/02/05/stories/2004020501190600.htm |url-status=dead }} In some states, Blenders Pride also competes with Haig Gold Label from Diageo{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/money/1054214/report-diageo-tries-to-bridge-a-price-gap-in-real-scotch-cheers-to-that |title=Diageo tries to bridge a price gap in 'real' scotch. Cheers to that |newspaper=DNA |date=2006-09-20 |access-date=2013-06-08}} and Rockford Reserve from Modi Illva.{{cite news|author=Bindu D Menon |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/modi-illva-bets-big-on-whiskey-demand/article4746705.ece |title=Modi Illva bets big on whiskey demand |newspaper=Business Line |date=2013-05-24 |access-date=2013-06-08}}
History
Blenders Pride was launched in India in 1995 by Seagram. Seagram's global business was jointly acquired by Pernod Ricard and Diageo on 21 December 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/pernod-ricard-to-acquire-seagram-spirits--wine-jointly-with-diageo-154726735.html |title=Pernod Ricard to acquire Seagram Spirits & Wine jointly with Diageo |publisher=Prnewswire.co.uk |date=2000-12-20 |access-date=2013-06-07}} Seagram's Indian operations were acquired by Pernod Ricard.{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/pernodricardindiasettotakeoverseagram&8217%3bslocaloperationsthisweek/37339 |title=Pernod Ricard India set to take over Seagram's local operations this week |publisher=The Financial Express |date=2002-02-11 |access-date=2013-06-08}} Pernod Ricard had previously entered the Indian market by acquiring a 74% stake in United Agencies Ltd (UAL), with a bottling facility in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. UAL was merged with Seagram's Indian business and continued operations under the name Seagram Manufacturing Ltd. The decision to integrate UAL into Seagram was taken due to the latter's larger operations in the country.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2001/11/03/stories/14038201.htm |title=Pernod to merge with Seagram in India |newspaper=The Hindu |date=2001-11-03 |access-date=2014-11-11}}
Reserve Collection
Pernod Ricard launched Blenders Pride Reserve Collection in December 2011.{{cite web|author=Alan Lodge |url=http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2012/01/pernod-ricard-india-raises-local-whisky-price-bar/ |title=Pernod Ricard India raises local whiskey price bar |publisher=Thedrinksbusiness.com |date=2012-01-03 |access-date=2013-06-08}} At the time of its launch, the Reserve Collection was the most expensive whisky produced in India.{{cite news|author=Sarah Jacob |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-12-30/news/30572941_1_whisky-blender-s-pride-premium-segment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801033413/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-12-30/news/30572941_1_whisky-blender-s-pride-premium-segment |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 1, 2013 |title=Pernod Ricard India rolls out costliest whisky in India |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=2011-12-30 |access-date=2013-06-08}} This whisky is a blend of Scotch malts that have been matured through the unique Solera process, with the finest Indian grain spirits, strengthening the Blenders Pride brand’s presence in the market even further.{{cite web |author=The Whiskypedia |url=https://www.thewhiskypedia.com/blenders-pride-whisky |title=Blenders Pride - History, Facts & Alcohol Percentage |publisher=Thewhiskypedia.com |date=2018-05-06 |access-date=2018-09-13 |archive-date=2020-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918171858/https://thewhiskypedia.com/blenders-pride-whisky |url-status=dead }}
UK-based consultants CARTILS helped design the branding, bottle shape and packaging for Reserve Collection. CARTILS said that its aim was to "stay loyal to the original brand yet to ensure that its [Reserve Collection] significantly more premium nature was clearly communicated." The bottle shape for Reserve Collection is similar to Blenders Pride but has embossing.{{cite web|url=http://startingmonday.co.in/blog/new-packaging-new-royal-stag-new-blenders-pride/ |title=New packaging, New Royal Stag. New Blenders Pride |publisher=Startingmonday.co.in |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325064625/http://startingmonday.co.in/blog/new-packaging-new-royal-stag-new-blenders-pride |archive-date=25 March 2013 |date=2012-06-30 |access-date=2014-11-11}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cartils.com/news/blenders-pride-reserve-collection-launch/ |title=Blenders Pride Reserve Collection Launch Boosts Pernod Ricard's Quarter Results |publisher=Cartils |date=2012-05-15 |access-date=2013-06-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603041318/http://www.cartils.com/news/blenders-pride-reserve-collection-launch/ |archive-date=2013-06-03 }}
Sales
Blenders Pride sold 250,000 cases in 2003.{{cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2004-02-24/news/27374497_1_premium-segment-seagram-india-blenders-pride |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228190732/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2004-02-24/news/27374497_1_premium-segment-seagram-india-blenders-pride |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 28, 2014 |title='Blenders Pride' eyeing larger share |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=2004-02-24 |access-date=2013-06-08}} out of 1.5 million cases country-wide in the premium whisky segment.{{cite news|url=https://darulover.in/blenders-pride-price/ |title= blenders pride price |newspaper=Business Line |date=2004-03-16 |access-date=2013-06-08}} In March 2004, Seagram Manufacturing Ltd. claimed that Blenders Pride had surpassed Shaw Wallace's "Royal Challenge" (now owned by United Breweries Group) to become the largest-selling premium whisky in Andhra Pradesh.
The following table shows the annual sales of Blenders Pride:
References
{{reflist}}
[https://www.thewhiskypedia.com/blenders-pride-whisky Blenders Pride Whisky] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503101418/https://www.thewhiskypedia.com/blenders-pride-whisky |date=2021-05-03 }}
External links
- [http://pernod-ricard.com/21/home Pernod Ricard official site]
{{Alcoholic drinks}}{{Alcoholic drinks}}{{Pernod Ricard}}