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John Distilleries

{{Short description|Indian company that produces distilled beverages}}

{{use Indian English|date=May 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}

{{Infobox company

| name = John Distilleries Pvt Ltd

| logo =

| caption =

| former type =

| type = Privately held company{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/john-distilleries-aims-30-pc-growth-110070800011_1.html |title=John Distilleries aims 30 pc growth |work=Business Standard|date=8 July 2010 |accessdate=4 July 2013}}

| traded_as =

| industry = Alcoholic Beverage

| fate =

| successor =

| foundation = Bangalore, Karnataka, India ({{Start date|1992}})

| founder = Paul P. John

| defunct =

| location_city = Bangalore, Karnataka

| location_country = India

| locations = 16 manufacturing units in 12 states{{cite web|url=http://www.jdl.in/leadership.php |title=Corporate Profile > Our Team |publisher=Jdl.in |accessdate=4 July 2013}}

| area_served = India, United States, UK, EUROPE, ASIA, Africa, UAE,

| key_people = {{ubl|Paul P. John (chairman and MD)|Sridhar Pongur (Joint MD and COO)|R. Srinivasan (CFO) {{cite web|url=https://jdl.in/chairman |title=John Distilleries Pvt Ltd |publisher=Jdl.in |accessdate=4 July 2013}}}}

| products =

| production =

| revenue = {{ubl|{{increase}}{{INRConvert|9.2|b}} (2012)|{{INRConvert|8.55|b}} (2011){{cite web |url=http://www.brickworkratings.com/press-pdf/John-Distilleries-BankLoan_152.35Cr-Rationale-30Nov2012.pdf |title=John Distilleries Bank Loan Rating |publisher=Brickwork Ratings |date=30 November 2012 |accessdate=4 July 2013 |archive-date=5 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605052029/http://www.brickworkratings.com/press-pdf/John-Distilleries-BankLoan_152.35Cr-Rationale-30Nov2012.pdf |url-status=dead }}}}

| operating_income = {{ubl|{{increase}}{{INRConvert|4.79|b}} (2012)|{{INRConvert|4.43|b}} (2011)}}

| net_income =

| assets = {{ubl|{{increase}}{{INRConvert|2.99|b}} (2012)|{{INRConvert|2.83|b}} (2011)}}

| equity = {{ubl|{{increase}}{{INRConvert|867|m}} (2012)|{{INRConvert|791|m}} (2011){{cite web|url=http://www.careratings.com/Portals/0/CareAdmin/CompanyFiles/RR/JOHN%20DISTILLERIES%20LTD.-08132012.pdf |title=John Distilleries Credit Rating |publisher=CARE Ratings |date=August 2012 |accessdate=4 July 2013}}{{deadlink|date=September 2023}}}}

| owner =

| parent = Paul John Enterprises

| num_employees = 2000

| divisions =

| subsid =

| homepage = {{URL|http://www.jdl.in/}}

| footnotes =

| bodystyle =

}}

John Distilleries Pvt Ltd is an Indian company that produces distilled beverages, and the company's flagship brand is Original Choice whisky. It also manufactures brandy, whisky, wines, and the award winning single malt whisky called Paul John. The founders have sold 51% of the company to Sazerac Company.{{cite web|url=http://jdl.in/overview |title=Welcome to John Distilleries Pvt. Ltd. |publisher=Jdl.in |accessdate=4 July 2013}}

History

John Distilleries was founded by Paul P. John, originally from Kerala{{cite web |url=http://www.careratings.com/Portals/0/CareAdmin/CompanyFiles/RR/JOHN%20DISTILLERIES%20LTD.-11242011.pdf |title=John Distilleries |publisher=CARE Ratings |date=November 2011 |accessdate=4 July 2013 |archive-date=29 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200833/http://www.careratings.com/Portals/0/CareAdmin/CompanyFiles/RR/JOHN%20DISTILLERIES%20LTD.-11242011.pdf |url-status=dead }} and the son of a plantation and liquor baron in Karnataka.{{cite web|url=http://hospitality.financialexpress.com/20060731/management04.shtml |title=Recreating an authentic Kerala experience |publisher=Express Hospitality |date=31 July 2006 |accessdate=4 July 2013}} He also has interests in hospitality. The company's first distillery was set up in Bangalore, Karnataka.{{cite web |url=http://www.jdl.in/images/news08_zoom.jpg |title=John Distillers sees growth with national presence |publisher=Ambrosia |accessdate=4 July 2013 |archive-date=29 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191721/http://www.jdl.in/images/news08_zoom.jpg |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ambrosiaindia.com/2009/mar.asp |title=John Distilleries seek good brands to drive growth |publisher=Ambrosia India |date=6 April 2009 |accessdate=4 July 2013 |archive-date=29 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029184002/http://www.ambrosiaindia.com/2009/mar.asp |url-status=dead }} The company launched Original Choice whisky in 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.fnbnews.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=25045§ionid=1 |title=SC allows Paul John to sell its IMFL under the brand "Original Choice" freely |publisher=Fnbnews.com |date=14 March 2009 |accessdate=4 July 2013}} The brand was an instant success, taking John Distilleries to the top of the segment of the Indian whisky market. The company decided to take the brand national, and signed Malayalam film actor Mohanlal as surrogate brand ambassador.{{cite web|author=Sarah Jacob |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-02-17/news/27601915_1_john-distilleries-brand-original-choice |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194240/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-02-17/news/27601915_1_john-distilleries-brand-original-choice |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 October 2013 |title=In High Spirits: John Distilleries drafts Rs 150-crore fund raising plan |publisher=Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=17 February 2010 |accessdate=4 July 2013}}

John Distilleries sold four million cases in 2005. Original Choice was the largest selling IMFL brand in Karnataka that year, selling nearly two lakh cases a month with John Distilleries' overall IMFL sales by volume in the state amounting to around 1.2 million cases.{{cite web|author=Boby Kurian |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2005-12-29/news/27481938_1_john-distilleries-bagpiper-imfl |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130703205852/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2005-12-29/news/27481938_1_john-distilleries-bagpiper-imfl |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 July 2013 |title=Original Choice stuns leading whiskies in South |publisher=Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=29 December 2005 |accessdate=4 July 2013}} Original Choice sold about 4.5 million cases in 2006,{{cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2008-01-12/news/27711121_1_john-distilleries-trademark-case-officer-s-choice |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602194758/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2008-01-12/news/27711121_1_john-distilleries-trademark-case-officer-s-choice |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 June 2014 |title=Original Choice gets fair marks for trademark |publisher=Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=12 January 2008 |accessdate=4 July 2013}} and 6.41-million cases in 2007.{{cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2008-07-17/news/28490527_1_original-choice-whisky-officer-s-choice-bda |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602200848/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2008-07-17/news/28490527_1_original-choice-whisky-officer-s-choice-bda |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 June 2014 |title=Original Choice Whisky can expand to newer markets |publisher=Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=17 July 2008 |accessdate=4 July 2013}}

John Distilleries launched the Big Banyan wines in 2007. Big Banyan Wines is named after the Big Banyan Tree near Bangalore, where the corporate headquarters of John Distilleries is located.{{cite web|url=http://www.fnbnews.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=27871§ionid=1 |title=Big Banyan Wines adds two new variants |publisher=Fnbnews.com |date=9 July 2010 |accessdate=4 July 2013}} The chief wine maker is oenologist Lucio Matricardi,{{cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2007-07-14/news/28487192_1_wines-sauvignon-blanc-cabernet-sauvignon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309015438/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2007-07-14/news/28487192_1_wines-sauvignon-blanc-cabernet-sauvignon |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 March 2012 |title=John Distillers uncorks Big Banyan range of wines |publisher=Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=14 July 2007 |accessdate=5 July 2013}} who is a consultant at wineries in Italy. Big Banyan initially launched five varietals.{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/07/18/stories/2007071850390400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029205720/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/07/18/stories/2007071850390400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 October 2013 |title=It's all in the grape |work=The Hindu |date=18 July 2007 |accessdate=5 July 2013}} John Distilleries officially launched two new variants under its Big Banyan brand on 7 July 2010 at The Paul, Bangalore, a business hotel owned by Paul John.{{cite web|url=http://www.delhiwineclub.com/news/IN_item_1_394.aspx |title=Big Banyan takes a Step Forward |publisher=Delhiwineclub.com |date=13 July 2010 |accessdate=4 July 2013}} The new variants were Rosa Rossa, a rose wine, and Bellissima Late Harvest Muscat, a dessert wine. Bellissima is the Italian word for beautiful. Bellissima is the first dessert wine in India to be made from the Muscat grape.{{cite web|url=http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/detailNews.aspx?aid=8540&sid=1 |title=Big Banyan launches two premium wines |publisher=Hospitality Biz India |date=12 July 2010 |accessdate=5 July 2013}}

John Distilleries acquired Chitali Distilleries Limited (CDL) in August 2008 for {{INRConvert|288|m}}. It was John Distilleries first acquisition outside South India, and enabled it to produce rectified spirit and extra neutral alcohol.{{cite web |url=http://www.ambrosiaindia.com/2008/oct.asp |title=Alcobev Magazine for Indian Alcohol and Beverages industry by SAP Media Worldwide Ltd. India |publisher=Ambrosia India |date=27 October 1908 |accessdate=5 July 2013 |archive-date=29 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193121/http://www.ambrosiaindia.com/2008/oct.asp |url-status=dead }} The company was merged with JDL on 1 October 2010. Chitali Distilleries had previously been fully owned by the Government of Maharashtra and is located in Shrirampur in Ahmadnagar district.{{cite web|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/cons-products/liquor/paul-john-buys-chitali-distilleries/articleshowarchive/3358352.cms |title=Paul John buys Chitali Distilleries |publisher=Economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=13 August 2008 |accessdate=5 July 2013}}

John Distilleries established itself in South India, retailing in Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh. In early 2009, it began retailing in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. John Distilleries launched a brand of French brandy called Mônt Castlé in December 2009. Mônt Castlé was available across Karnataka in frosted glass bottles of 750 ml, 375 ml, 180 ml and 90 ml. The brand later expanded to other states.{{cite web|url=http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/detailNews.aspx?aid=7017&sid=1 |title=John Distilleries introduces Mônt Castlé in India |publisher=Hospitality Biz India |date=19 December 2009 |accessdate=5 July 2013}} Its main competition is Mumbai-based Tilaknagar Industries' flagship Mansion House brandy.{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/management/john-distilleries-from-regional-to-national-110031500047_1.html |title=John Distilleries: From regional to national |work=Business Standard |date=15 March 2010 |accessdate=5 July 2013}}

John Distilleries sold 12.5 million cases in 2009.{{cite web |last=Mitra |first=Sreerupa |url=http://www.mydigitalfc.com/news/john-distilleries-eyes-no-2-slot-imfl-market-432 |title=John Distilleries eyes No. 2 slot in IMFL market |publisher=mydigitalfc.com |date=31 August 2010 |accessdate=5 July 2013 |archive-date=2 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602200132/http://www.mydigitalfc.com/news/john-distilleries-eyes-no-2-slot-imfl-market-432 |url-status=dead }} On 1 October 2010, The company launched Roulette brandy in 2012.{{cite web|author=Sarah Jacob |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-05-18/news/31765574_1_brandy-market-mcdowell-s-no1-allied-blenders |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012134642/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-05-18/news/31765574_1_brandy-market-mcdowell-s-no1-allied-blenders |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 October 2013 |title=United Spirits, Radico Khaitan & Tilaknagar launch higher-priced brandies to meet rising demand |publisher=Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=18 May 2012 |accessdate=5 July 2013}}

The company has always been making blended whisky, but decided to manufacture single malt whisky in 2008{{cite web|author=Matt C |url=http://whiskyforeveryone.blogspot.in/2012/11/new-release-paul-john-single-cask-161.html |title=New release - Paul John Single Cask #161 |publisher=Whiskyforeveryone.blogspot.in |date=4 November 2012 |accessdate=4 July 2013}} in an attempt to enter the premium segment of the market. John Distilleries chose to use Indian ingredients to give the whisky characteristics of its country of origin. The first bottling of Paul John whisky, branded "Paul John Single Cask 161 Whisky", was officially launched in London, UK, on 4 October 2012 by Sanjay Paul, CEO of Alcobev Limited, at the Capital Hotel in Knightsbridge, London, England.{{cite web|url=http://www.drinksint.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/3342/Indian_whisky_in_scotch_92s_back_yard__.html |title=Indian whisky in scotch's back yard |publisher=Drinks International |date=5 October 2012 |accessdate=4 July 2013}} The brand's second release, "Paul John Single Cask 163 Whisky" was also released by Sanjay Paul, CEO of Alcobev Limited, having 57% abv and priced at £60.{{cite web |url=http://www.whiskyadvocateblog.com/2013/05/13/top-10-whiskies-reviewed-in-whisky-advocates-summer-issue/ |title=Top 10 Whiskies Reviewed in Whisky Advocate's Summer Issue |publisher=Whisky Advocate Blog |date=13 May 2013 |accessdate=4 July 2013 |archive-date=30 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630092454/http://www.whiskyadvocateblog.com/2013/05/13/top-10-whiskies-reviewed-in-whisky-advocates-summer-issue/ |url-status=dead }} Following the single cask release, Sanjay Paul, CEO of Alcobev Limited released Paul John's flagship single malt whiskies in May 2013.{{cite web |author=Olly Wehring |url=http://www.just-drinks.com/news/john-distilleries-paul-john-brilliance-edited-indian-whiskies_id110379.aspx |title=Paul John Brilliance, Edited Indian whiskies |publisher=Just-drinks.com |date=15 May 2013 |accessdate=4 July 2013 |archive-date=19 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619025231/http://www.just-drinks.com/news/john-distilleries-paul-john-brilliance-edited-indian-whiskies_id110379.aspx |url-status=dead }} They were branded Paul John Brilliance, Paul John Edited and Paul John Bold.{{cite web|url=http://blog.thewhiskyexchange.com/2013/05/paul-john-brilliance-edited/ |title=Tasing Notes: Paul John Brilliance and Edited |publisher=Blog.thewhiskyexchange.com |date=21 May 2013 |accessdate=4 July 2013}} These expressions range from unpeated to peated and are available across 38 countries in the world today. With over 200 known international awards, the range of expressions also include Select Cask Classic and Select Cask Peated.

Brands

John Distilleries manufactures brandy, whisky, wines, and single malt whisky. Original Choice whisky contributed almost 90% of JDL's overall sales in 2010. The company currently manufactures the following brands:{{cite web|url=http://www.jdl.in/original_choice.php |title=Brands > Original Choice |publisher=Jdl.in |accessdate=5 July 2013}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-3}}

;Whisky

{{col-break}}

;Brandy

  • Mônt Castlé
  • Roulette

{{col-break}}

;Wines

  • Ampersand (stylized amp&rsand)
  • Big Banyan
  • Goana's Wine

{{col-end}}

Production and Distribution

John Distilleries has a network of 12 manufacturing units across 8 States and the union territory of Puducherry. The company's primary distillery, a malt plant, is located in Goa. It also has a winery{{cite web|url=http://www.jdl.in/manufacturing.php |title=The Company > Manufacturing |publisher=Jdl.in |accessdate=5 July 2013}} in Maharashtra. The company also owns some blending and bottling units that manufacture IMFL. Many of these units are leased by John Distilleries. As on 30 June 2012, the total installed capacity for IMFL (including leased capacity) was 17.2 million cases annually (14.7 million cases per annum in respect of owned units) and for malt spirit was 0.9 million cases p.a. There is one unit in each of the locations listed below, unless otherwise specified:

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John Distilleries currently sells its products in ten States and four union territories (UTs) of India, besides exports to Africa, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. The States/UTs it currently retails in are listed below:{{cite web|url=http://www.jdl.in/sales.php |title=The Company > Distribution |publisher=Jdl.in |accessdate=5 July 2013}}

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{{col-2}}

{{col-break}}

  • Haryana
  • Himachal Pradesh
  • Karnataka
  • Kerala
  • Pondicherry
  • Punjab
  • Tamil Nadu

{{col-end}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

  • [http://www.jdl.in/ John Distilleries official site]
  • [http://www.pauljohnwhisky.com/ Paul John whisky official site]

Category:Distilleries in India

Category:Food and drink companies established in 1992

Category:Drink companies of India

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Bengaluru

Category:Indian companies established in 1992

Category:1992 establishments in Karnataka