I was reading about India’s probe into bulk Scotch imports and how the Indian Spirits and Wine Association (ISWAI) says it risks undermining the UK-India Free Trade Agreement. The agreement promised reduced tariffs, but now bulk Scotch — not the fancy single malts in gift boxes, but the stuff shipped in tankers for local bottling — is under scrutiny.
This isn’t about quality or safety. It’s about who gets the margin, who controls the label, who pays the duty. Bulk imports let Indian firms bottle, brand, and sell Scotch locally at lower cost. Suddenly, that looks like a threat to domestic producers — or a convenient excuse to delay full implementation.
The UK government says it’s engaging constructively. ISWAI says it’s urgent. And somewhere in Glasgow or Bangalore, a man who once filled casks for a living is quietly topping up his glass, saying nothing.
