The agreement marks a significant next phase of growth for Rutland Square as it scales its presence across key regional on-trade and off-trade markets nationwide, building on strong early traction in the Indian market.

Launched in 2021, Rutland Square Spirits has established itself as a chai-spiced spirits brand, bringing together traditional Indian chai spice heritage with Scottish craft spirits expertise. The concept was developed by entrepreneur Nishant Sharma, inspired by his great-grandfather Tej Ram, who in the 1940s collaborated with a Scottish officer to blend and distil spirits in Dibrugarh, Assam.

The next phase of distribution is scheduled to commence from April 2026, beginning across Punjab, Chandigarh and Haryana, with national expansion to be led by Anant Wines. The rollout will be supported by selected regional partners to accelerate market penetration in high-growth premium spirits territories.

As part of this strategy, Progressive Spirits, led by Neeraj Kapoor and Ajay Agarwal, will support regional market development and on-ground execution in select markets, purchasing through Anant Wines and focusing on premium on-trade and specialist retail expansion. Initial regions of focus include Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal and other North-East Indian states, aligning closely with the brand’s cultural heritage and premium consumer base.

Rutland Square’s India expansion builds on strong early market validation, with the brand currently available across 14 airport locations nationwide, introducing both international travellers and domestic premium consumers to its chai-spiced spirits range.

The India rollout forms part of Rutland Square’s broader international growth strategy. Alongside India, the company has secured major distribution partnerships across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) through Truebell Marketing & Trading LLC, and is preparing for a significant North American retail rollout through the LCBO Ontario network, with 660 outlets scheduled to go live in Q2 2026.

Together, these agreements position Rutland Square with immediate access to multiple regulated, high-growth premium spirits markets, reflecting increasing global consumer demand for culturally distinctive, premium, and globally inspired flavour profiles.