Nikhil Kamath, Zerodha co-founder and billionaire investor, is known for his futuristic vision. He has a knack for spotting what’s next before the world catches on. Remember, a few months back, he casually posted about makhana (fox nuts), how it can grow bigger in global markets? And how soon after his post, makhana made its place in Budget 2025? Also, how makhana became a global snack in a jiffy. Now, health-conscious people are choosing it as a healthier choice of snack, just like our trendsetter and spotter saw it. Here, he goes again to set a new trend for the global market, to invest more in Indian-made premium alcoholic beverages.
He has made another move and now our ‘King of trades’ has acquired a 5% stake in D’yavol Spirits, a company co-founded by ‘King of Bollywood’ Shah Rukh Khan and his son Aryan Khan. As we know, D’yavol Spirits falls under the premium alcoholic beverages, launched in 2022. It was a joint venture of Shah Rukh Khan, Aryan Khan, and their friends Harprit Singh and Leti Blagoeva.
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The King of Trades and His Vision
Why are we calling Nikhil Kamath the ‘King of Trades’? Earlier, he secured an investment in Radico Khaitan. It’s the 4th largest liquor player in India, where Kamath holds a 1.7% stake (now valued at Rs 660 crore). He has this keen ability to anticipate trends early, spot the sectors for growth and notice where he can gain consumers.
Now, he has entered into the premium alcohol segment through D’yavol Spirits as the brand’s focus is to emerge as the number one in such segment. Single estate vodka, blended malt scotch whiskey, and Vortex scotch whiskey are the products that you can get from D’yavol. Not a scotch lover? No worries, the brand has plans to launch Anejo tequila, a premium version, in India soon.
Kamath’s Investment in Spirits Brand
Kamath’s acquisition of a 5% stake is more than an endorsement of the brand; it brings and shows investor confidence in India’s luxury spirits market. Our premium alcohol segment used to rely on overseas spirits, but now it is growing and will expand through home-grown brands. Its growth means more disposable incomes, changing consumer preferences, and home-grown luxury, authenticity, provenance, and lifestyle. Kamath showed Indian investors like him an opportunity through his investment. He brings not just capital but vision rooted in his understanding of market dynamics, consumer trends, and brand-building. Through this stake, Kamath has shattered the traditional boundaries of investment into a home-grown premium spirits brand.
Radico Khaitan And D’yavol Spirits
We wonder how farsighted Nikhil was when he acquired a stake in Radico Khaitan because Radico now holds a 47.5% stake in D’yavol Spirits. The stake was acquired through an investment of Rs 40 crore. Radico, as we know, is a legacy player with huge experience in blending, marketing, and distribution across India and overseas markets. This means scalability for SRK’s brand. D’yavol can expand beyond horizons and can achieve the ambitious growth SRK wants for it.
This is an Opportunity for Indian Premium Spirits
Alcohol lovers! Clink your glasses and raise a toast to D’yavol Spirits. This is an opportunity for Indian premium spirits. Let our homegrown labels rival the world’s best. So, bottle up our lifestyle, export our identity, and prove that ‘Made in India’ can sit proudly on the top shelf in bars from Mumbai to Manhattan. Even those who used to love premium whiskeys from the Highlands of Scotland will now have an alternative, premium choice to quench their thirst.
His investment will bring a new trend where investors can recognize the long-term value in premium consumer goods sectors, especially in emerging markets like India. Let’s hope his vision sets another trend, and Indian brands will go global. As D’yavol Spirits prepares to expand its portfolio and reach, this investment could bring India’s luxury spirits story to global platforms, where indigenous brands forge a global presence and redefine the word premium.
So, spirits lovers, set your spirit free, hold your liquor in, Indian liquors will be your new premium now! Corporate Soldiers suggests that you keep your intake moderate and your inner spirits high!
