🥃 Antiquity
Indian whisky brand since 1992; made by United Spirits, a Diageo subsidiary; Antiquity Blue is a blend of Scotch and Indian whiskies, 42.8% ABV.
Antiquity is an Indian whisky brand that United Spirits, Diageo's Indian subsidiary, launched in 1992. The main version is Antiquity Blue. According to Diageo India, the blend combines Scotch malt and grain whiskies from the Cameronbridge distillery with selected Indian malts. Its strength, according to the Canadian retailer LCBO, is 42.8% ABV.
History. The first bottles of Antiquity Blue appeared in 1992. In September 2023 Diageo India refreshed the look: an asymmetric cobalt-blue bottle recalls the original packaging, and a heron appeared on the label. The company stressed that the liquid itself had not changed and that the recipe was the same as for more than thirty years.
How it is made. The producer describes distillation in copper pot stills and blending under master blender Craig Wallace. The company does not disclose the share of Scotch whisky in the blend, nor the exact age of the components.
Regulation. In August 2026, according to Reuters, India's food safety regulator FSSAI barred some batches of Antiquity Blue and Royal Challenge produced in Madhya Pradesh from sale in parts of the country, over labelling and added flavourings. According to unnamed government sources, Diageo agreed to change the recipe; the company said it complies with the law.
Why this matters to you. Indian whisky follows different rules from Scotch: under EU Regulation 2019/787 whisky must be aged at least three years in wooden casks. Composition and label wording may differ by country and year, so compare bottles carefully. The WHO reminds us that no level of alcohol consumption is safe.
Facts
| Year founded | 1992, India; owner United Spirits (Diageo) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Indian rules (FSSAI); for the EU — Reg. (EU) 2019/787, category 2, another requirement for composition |
| Raw material | Scotch malt and grain whiskies (Cameronbridge), Indian malt whiskies |
| Distillation method | per the producer, copper pot stills; blend by Craig Wallace |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 42.8% ABV (Antiquity Blue, per LCBO) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Antiquity → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Diageo
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 South Asia
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Royal Challenge, 🥃 McDowell's No.1, 🥃 Blenders Pride, 🥃 Johnnie Walker, 🥃 Signature Rare Aged
Frequently asked questions
Is Antiquity a Scotch whisky?
No. It is an Indian brand: the Scotch malt and grain whiskies are part of the blend, alongside Indian malt whiskies.
Who owns Antiquity?
United Spirits, an Indian subsidiary of Diageo.
When did Antiquity appear?
In 1992; in 2023 the brand received a new cobalt-blue bottle design.
What is the strength of Antiquity Blue?
42.8% ABV according to LCBO; check the label in your country.
What happened to Antiquity Blue in 2026?
According to Reuters, FSSAI barred batches made in Madhya Pradesh from sale in some states over flavourings and labelling; according to sources, Diageo agreed to change the recipe.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🥃 Johnnie Walker — Scottish blended whisky owned by Diageo; the brand's story starts with John Walker's grocery shop in Kilmarnock, opened in 1820.
- 🌍 South Asia — The Indian subcontinent between the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean: a third of the world's milk, buffaloes and zebu, ghee, dahi, chhena.
- 🥃 Signature Rare Aged — The core version of Signature Indian whisky (United Spirits, Diageo): imported Scotch whiskies blended with aged Indian malt and grain spirits; 42.8% ABV.
Similar
🥃 Signature · 🥃 Royal Stag · 🥃 After Dark · 🥃 McDowell's No.1 · 🥃 Benrinnes · 🥃 Indri
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Diageo India: An icon reimagined — the all-new Antiquity (6.09.2023; first released 1992; Scotch malts and grains from Cameron Bridge, Indian malts; copper pot stills; Craig Wallace)
- LCBO: Antiquity Blue (42.8 %, India; Indian malts with Cameronbridge grain whisky)
- ESM Magazine (Reuters): Diageo agrees to reformulate India whisky, rum drinks after flavouring breach, sources say (18.08.2026; FSSAI; Antiquity Blue, Royal Challenge)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I (whisky; vodka; liqueur from 15 % vol.)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)