Last Updated: September 8, 2026
Old Monk Rum, one of India’s most recognisable alcoholic beverages, has found itself at the centre of a surprising regulatory controversy after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) told the Bombay High Court that certain Old Monk products cannot legally be sold as “rum.”
According to FSSAI, the products in question are made using neutral spirit along with added rum flavouring. The regulator has argued that such products should instead be described as a “rum-flavoured spirit.” The development has sparked widespread discussion among consumers who have traditionally identified Old Monk simply as rum.
What Is Old Monk Actually Made Of?
Old Monk was launched in 1954 by Mohan Meakin, developed by entrepreneur Ved Rattan Mohan, who was reportedly inspired by the ascetic lifestyle of Benedictine monks. It has traditionally been marketed as a vatted Indian dark rum — made from molasses, aged in oak barrels, and infused with spices before bottling.
Some of its well-known expressions include:
- Old Monk XXX – aged a minimum of 7 years, the most widely sold variant
- Old Monk Supreme – aged a minimum of 12 years, bottled in a monk-shaped glass statuette
- Old Monk 20 Amber XO – a blend combining classic Old Monk XXX with a 20-year-old rum
For decades, Old Monk was among the largest-selling dark rums in the world and became closely associated with India’s armed forces, where much of its early popularity took root. The current dispute centres on whether newer formulations of the product still meet this traditional standard, or whether they now rely more heavily on neutral spirit and added flavouring than the “rum” label implies.
Why is FSSAI objecting to Old Monk?
The dispute is not limited to the wording printed on the bottle. FSSAI told the Bombay High Court that laboratory tests detected external artificial or nature-identical flavouring substances in the products. According to the regulator, these substances can mask the natural characteristics expected of a standardised alcoholic beverage.
FSSAI cited the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, which require standardised alcoholic beverages such as rum and whisky to retain their characteristic taste and aroma.
The regulator’s position is that adding “rum flavour” to a product marketed as rum could misrepresent the nature of the beverage. On this basis, FSSAI has prohibited the sale of certain variants of Old Monk, along with selected products from other liquor brands.
Old Monk’s Bombay High Court case
The classification dispute is also connected to Old Monk’s product labelling. During an earlier hearing, the company agreed to modify its packaging and remove the phrase “7 years old blended.”
The Bombay High Court had raised concerns that the wording could lead consumers to believe that the beverage had been aged for seven years. The court also questioned the company about the small size of certain information printed on the label, observing that it was difficult for consumers to read.
The company subsequently submitted revised labels to the court. FSSAI sought additional time to examine the changes and determine whether they complied with the regulator’s requirements. The matter is scheduled to be heard again on September 11.
Old Monk maker claims ₹1 crore daily loss
The dispute has also reportedly caused significant financial losses for the manufacturer. Senior counsel Navroz H Seervai told the court that the company had suffered losses of approximately ₹1 crore per day during the 120 days the ban had remained in force.
The Old Monk case is part of a wider regulatory dispute concerning alcoholic beverages containing added flavouring agents. United Spirits, which faced similar action involving certain products, withdrew its case on August 24 after its parent company Diageo and other liquor manufacturers agreed to comply with FSSAI’s directives.
Is Old Monk rum or a rum-flavoured spirit?
For FSSAI, the distinction is based on regulatory standards governing the composition and characteristics of rum. For generations of Indian consumers, however, Old Monk has simply been known as rum.
The Bombay High Court proceedings could therefore have implications not only for Old Monk’s labelling but also for how certain flavoured alcoholic beverages are classified and marketed in India. For now, the final regulatory status of the disputed Old Monk variants remains tied to the court proceedings and FSSAI’s review of the revised labels.
FAQs
Is Old Monk still rum?
According to FSSAI, Old Monk’s current formulation — made primarily with neutral spirit and rum flavouring — does not meet the regulatory definition of rum, and should instead be labelled a “rum-flavoured spirit.”
Why did Old Monk get banned in some states?
Sales were prohibited for about 120 days after FSSAI found that certain variants used added artificial or nature-identical flavouring that masks the product’s natural characteristics, in violation of the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018.
Has Old Monk’s maker responded to the ban?
Yes. The company’s senior counsel told the court it lost approximately ₹1 crore per day during the ban and has since agreed to revise its labelling to include terms like “Added Flavour.”
What happens next in the Old Monk case?
The Bombay High Court is scheduled to hear the matter again on September 11, when FSSAI is expected to confirm whether the revised labels meet regulatory requirements.