Tilaknagar Industries Ltd. has announced a strategic investment of ₹22 crore to enter India’s rapidly expanding tequila market. The company will acquire a 30% stake in Black Tiger Distilleries, the maker of Bodega Suprema No. 5. This move marks TI’s third strategic investment in an emerging beverage company and its first foray into the agave category, aiming to capitalize on the 60% CAGR growth projected for the Indian tequila market.
Tilaknagar Industries Ventures into Tequila Market
Tilaknagar Industries Ltd. (TI), a prominent Indian alcoholic beverage company, has made a significant strategic move by investing ₹22 crore to enter India’s fast-growing tequila category. This investment will secure a 30% shareholding in Black Tiger Distilleries (BTD), the company behind the Bodega Suprema No. 5 tequila brand, on a fully diluted basis. The investment will be disbursed in two tranches: an initial ₹6 crore followed by another ₹16 crore within 12 months.
Capitalizing on Market Growth
India is identified as the fastest-growing major tequila market globally, with volumes projected to grow at approximately 60% CAGR between 2020 and 2025. This expansion is driven by increasing consumer interest in premium spirits and cocktail culture. TI aims to leverage BTD’s expertise and its own market understanding to make authentic 100% Blue Weber Agave tequila more accessible in India.
Strategic Partnership and Brand Portfolio
Black Tiger Distilleries was founded to address a gap in the Indian market for accessible premium tequila. Their flagship product, Bodega Suprema No. 5, is a 100% agave tequila priced between ₹4,200–₹5,500 per bottle. This partnership represents TI’s third strategic investment in an emerging beverage business and its first step into the tequila segment. Beyond capital, TI will provide strategic support in distribution, sales, marketing, and supply chain management.
Introducing Bodega Suprema No. 5
Bodega Suprema No. 5 features three expressions developed over three years specifically for the Indian market. All are made from 100% Blue Weber Agave sourced from Jalisco, Mexico. The range includes Bodega Blanco, Bodega Reposado, and Bodega Añejo, each offering distinct tasting notes and characteristics developed through specific production processes and aging in American oak barrels.
Bodega Blanco
The introductory expression, made with minimal intervention and cooked slowly in brick ovens. It offers fresh agave, mint, and caramel notes with a crystal-clear appearance.
Bodega Reposado
This expression is aged for a minimum of two months in ex-Tennessee whiskey American oak barrels, adding warmth and roundness. Tasting notes include vanilla, caramel, and candied orange.
Bodega Añejo
The most mature expression, aged for a minimum of twelve months in ex-Tennessee whiskey American oak barrels. It offers a richer, fuller-bodied profile with notes of vanilla, golden apple, and apricot.
About the Companies
Tilaknagar Industries Ltd. is a leading Indian manufacturer of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) with a 90-year legacy, known for brands like Mansion House and Courrier Napoleon. Black Tiger Distilleries is an Indian spirits company focused on building authentic agave brands, founded by Mohnish Mehta in partnership with Mexican producers Productos Finos de Agave and India’s Mansha Group of Companies.
Source: BSE
