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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has imposed a ban on three variants of Old Monk rum: The Legend, Gold Reserve, and XXX Matured Rum. This ban extends to several other well-known brands, including McDowell’s No 1 Rum, Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky, and Royal Challenge Whisky.

Flavor Controversy

The FSSAI has raised alarms regarding the use of artificial flavors in alcoholic beverages instead of employing authentic aging methods. While natural flavoring substances are permitted, the authority found that some manufacturers were adding flavors that originated from the drinks themselves. This practice was deemed misleading, as there is no accepted global manufacturing standard that allows for rum or whisky flavors to be added to their respective spirits.

Testing Results

Laboratory tests conducted on rums and whiskies from various manufacturers revealed that these products lacked quality due to the inclusion of external artificial or nature-identical flavors. The FSSAI stated, "the addition of artificial flavors is masking its natural flavor and making the product substandard." The regulator emphasized that such beverages should be labeled as "flavored/premix rum" rather than their current labels.

Age Claim Concerns

Additionally, the FSSAI criticized Old Monk’s claims regarding the age of its XXX Rum variant, labeling it as "deceptive." The main component of this product is neutral spirit, with the matured rum spirit being a minor ingredient. This violates existing regulations which stipulate that the age claim must refer to the youngest spirit in the blend, as specified by the FSS (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018.