Indian Whisky and Scotch Whisky
The drinking of Scotch whisky was introduced into India during the nineteenth century, during the period of the British Raj. Scotch-style whisky is the most popular sort of distilled alcoholic beverage in India. India has traditionally been thought to lack a domestic drinking culture, even though there are quite a few local brews manufactured and consumed all over the country. For instance there are the popular palm-based alcohol and fruit wines of the south, such as arrack, and the fermented rice wines of the northeast like sonti. In fact, India has a rather high level of alcohol consumption, even to the point where the government has called for mandatory "dry weekends" where alcohol is not purchasable in any market in New Delhi. Whisky, however, has become fashionable for wealthier Indians, and as such the market for whisky among affluent Indians is one of the largest in the world. Brand names of Indian molasses whisky, including "Bagpiper", "McDowell's No. 1", "MaQintosh" suggest that the inspiration behind the Indian whiskies is Scotch whisky, despite these products being chiefly made from molasses.
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