Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited (ABD), India’s largest domestic spirits company by volume, has appointed globally acclaimed Scotch whisky specialist Dr. Martin Leonard as Consultant to advise on the commissioning of its malt distillery and the development of its single malt whisky business.
Leonard brings over 30 years of experience across distillation, maturation, blending, bottling and supply chain operations in the global Scotch whisky industry. He most recently served as Managing Director of Inver House Distillers, where he led five single malt distilleries in Scotland and managed inventories exceeding 600,000 casks. His career also includes senior roles at United Distillers (now Diageo) and BAT plc. He has served as Chairman of the Scotch Whisky Research Institute and is a recipient of the Master of the Quaich.
ABD said construction of its single malt distillery at Rangapur, Telangana, is underway and expected to be commissioned by Q4 FY26. The facility, part of the company’s backward integration programme, involves an investment of around ₹75 crore and a capacity of about 4.0 MLPA, alongside PET bottle manufacturing in Telangana and ENA capacity expansion in Maharashtra. Alok Gupta, Managing Director of Allied Blenders and Distillers Limited, said Leonard’s guidance would be critical in strengthening manufacturing capability and process quality as ABD advances its premium whisky ambitions.
Kolkata is fast emerging as a strong market for premium and single malt whiskies, supported by rising urban affluence and growing interest in high-end spirits. ABD’s single malt plans are expected to align well with Kolkata’s premium retail and hospitality demand, offering the company a strategic foothold in eastern India’s evolving alcobev landscape.
