Monarch Strikes Gold — A Win That Could Change How the World Sees Indian Brandy

India’s largest brandy producer, Tilaknagar Industries Ltd. (TI), takes home top honours at the World Drinks Awards 2025

Monarch Legacy Edition, TI’s first luxury brandy, wins Gold in the Aged Speciality Brandy Category, marking its second prestigious global win this year

Mansion House Brandy, TI’s iconic brand, claims two awards – Gold in the Unaged Speciality Brandy Category and the title of the World’s Best Speciality Brandy

MUMBAI, India, June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Just six months after its debut, Monarch Legacy Edition, the first luxury brandy from India’s largest brandy producer Tilaknagar Industries Ltd. (TI), has become the only Indian brandy to win at two major global spirits competitions this year. It won Gold in the Aged Speciality Brandy Category at the World Drinks Awards 2025, following its earlier win at the London Spirits Competition.

In a category long dominated by European producers, Monarch’s back-to-back international wins mark a historic first for Indian brandy and a breakthrough moment in the growing dominance of Indian craft spirits. Additionally, TI’s winning streak continued with their flagship Mansion House Brandy, which won two prestigious honours — Gold in the Unaged Specialty Brandy category and the title of World’s Best Specialty Brandy — further cementing India’s reputation as a rising force in the global brandy market.

Despite holding over 21% of India’s spirits market by volume, second only to whisky, brandy has largely remained absent from conversations around craft, luxury, and innovation. Monarch was created by TI with the goal to change that. By focusing on superior quality, storytelling, and standout design, TI set out to reframe how Indian brandy is perceived — and to reintroduce it as a refined, world-class spirit.

Both the World Drinks Awards and the London Spirits Competition are among the most prestigious and globally recognised honours in the alcobev industry. The World Drinks Awards, hosted by TheDrinksReport.com — the leading global resource for drinks professionals — recognise excellence in taste and innovation across international beverage categories. The London Spirits Competition, similarly, assesses entries based on quality, value, and design, judged by a panel of influential trade buyers, bartenders, and industry experts. Monarch competed against over 500 entries from 30+ countries at the London event alone, making these dual honours a notable achievement for a debut Indian luxury spirit.

Amit Dahanukar, Chairman & Managing Director, Tilaknagar Industries Ltd., commented on the win, “For decades, Indian brandy has been widely enjoyed at home, but rarely recognised for its full potential — either in India or globally. As pioneers in this space, after more than forty years of innovation, we wanted to bring Indian brandy into a new light. Monarch marks our first step into the luxury segment, and to see it receive global recognition so early is incredibly special. Alongside Monarch, our flagship Mansion House Brandy also earned the highest honour at the competition, reflecting the strength and diversity of TI’s portfolio. These wins go beyond the product — they represent our broader mission at Tilaknagar Industries Ltd.: to lead Indian brandy into a bold new chapter and cement its place in the global conversation around Indian craft spirits.“

Sanaya Dahanukar, Marketing Manager, Tilaknagar Industries Ltd., said, “Brandy is a beautifully complex spirit, but it’s never had a voice in the luxury space in India until now. With Monarch Legacy Edition, we wanted to bring an expressive version of Indian brandy to the table that felt modern, elevated, and rooted in Indian craftsmanship. Being the only Indian brandy recognised at both the World Drinks Awards and the London Spirits Competition this year is incredibly exciting, and it marks a real turning point for the category.“

What makes Monarch unique is that it is the only 100% pure grape brandy in the world to be crafted from a blend of both French grape spirits aged up to 8 years and high-quality Indian grape spirits from Maharashtra’s Sahyadri region, Monarch is distilled using traditional Cognac-style techniques in coal-fired copper pot stills and matured in French oak ex-wine casks. The result is a spirit that brings depth, nuance, and character — presented in a regal, design-led bottle made to stand out.

The launch of Monarch in November 2024 marks Tilaknagar Industries’ strategic move into the premium and luxury spirits space, building on its forty years of expertise in brandy-making and its leadership position in the Indian market. With these recognitions, Monarch is poised to lead a new chapter — not just for the company but for Indian brandy as a whole.

Tasting Notes 

• Aroma: Rich grape and fruit notes with subtle hints of apple, nutmeg, and tobacco.
• Palate: Velvety sweetness balanced by creamy oak and indulgent dried fruits.
• Finish: Long and warm with cinnamon, peach, and clove nuances.

Details 

• ABV: 42.8%
• Size: 750 ml
• MRP: ₹6750 (Maharashtra), ₹4000 (Goa), ₹3500 (Pondicherry)

About Tilaknagar Industries Ltd.

Tilaknagar Industries Ltd. (TI) is one of the leading IMFL manufacturers in India. Founded in 1933 by Shri Mahadev L. Dahanukar as Maharashtra Sugar Mills, the company then manufactured sugar and allied products. TI now has 90 years of excellence in the consumer goods category. The Dahanukar family continues to be the promoter of TI, sharing the same vision and values as the founders. Under the current leadership of Shri Amit Dahanukar, the company has grown to be the largest manufacturer of premium brandy in India. Its portfolio comprises two ‘Millionaire’ brandy brands,

Mansion House and Courrier Napoleon. The launch of Monarch Legacy Edition, Tilaknagar Industries’ first super-luxury brandy, marks a significant step into the luxury spirit’s market. TI has a presence in whisky, rum and gin categories through Mansion House Whisky, Madiraa Rum and Blue Lagoon Gin. 

For more information about Tilaknagar Industries, our people, our brands, and our performance, visit us at: https://www.tilind.com/

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2707225/Monarch_Legacy_Edition.jpg

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