Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What are the key challenges and options for exporting spirits to India, given tariff costs?
India's tariff environment makes direct spirit exports very expensive, but there are alternative routes to market that members are actively exploring. **Main Challenge:** - Tariffs in Maharashtra make imported spirits prohibitively expensive. Members cited examples like Avallen retailing at over £80 per bottle due to tariff costs, making traditional export commercially unviable. **Alternative Market-Entry Options:** - **IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor)** — Members mentioned this as a viable alternative to importing finished goods, allowing production in-country to avoid tariffs. - **BII (Bulk Imports for Industry)** — Another option mentioned for reducing tariff burden. - **Distributor partnerships** — Spirits like Tarsier are available through established Indian distributors (e.g., **Mohan Brothers**), which may negotiate better tariff positions. Duty-free channels like **Delhi Duty Free** also offer routes. - **Vault Fine Spirits** — Listed as a distributor for products like Tarquin's in India. - **Trade missions and shows** — Members are using events like ProWein Mumbai and **Invest NI** trade promotion stands to maintain visibility and build relationships with Indian partners, even when direct commercial deals are difficult. **Caveat:** Members describe the current tariff situation as making direct export "unbelievably expensive" and note it's a "massive opportunity but" difficult to execute profitably. The consensus is that success requires either partnering with established in-country distributors or exploring IMFL/BII production models rather than shipping finished bottles.
What are the regulatory and commercial challenges of exporting spirits to India?
India is highly protectionist toward spirits imports and presents a distinctly challenging market entry compared to other territories. **Key barriers:** - Each state has separate regulations and licensing requirements, significantly complicating distribution - Retail pricing is substantially higher than other markets—expect pricing of $80+ per 70cl bottle, the highest reported by any member selling globally - The super-premium spirits segment in India is very small, limiting addressable market **Market reality:** Members advise treating India as a long-term, niche opportunity rather than a near-term revenue driver. The protectionist regulatory environment and fragmented state-by-state system create both compliance complexity and demand constraints that differ markedly from Western markets.