A legacy reimagined: The Viceroy 1977
Independent luxury spirits brand and boutique merchant The House of The Viceroy 1977 is preparing for its global launch with a 15-year-old Speyside single malt and a Monsoon Heat Premium Botanical Gin.
Sovereign, uncompromising, architectural, and elite. These are just some of the words used to describe The House of The Viceroy 1977, the newest entrant in the luxury independent bottler space. Founded in England by Rakesh Rathod, the company aims to bridge the gap between unyielding Scottish tradition and modern, multi-continental luxury. The brand house also seeks to disrupt the traditional spirits landscape by treating ultra-aged, cask-strength whiskies as fine art and liquid assets.
“I realised that the modern boardroom executive demands a spirit that matches the velocity and scale of their global transactions,” says Rathod. “By combining the absolute historic majesty of rare Scottish single casks with the architectural energy of modern India, we have built a liquid asset class that commands respect on any continent.”
The Viceroy debuts with its non-chill-filtered Founder’s Edition, a 15-year-old Speyside single malt Scotch. Distilled with 100% malted barley at an undisclosed Speyside distillery, and aged in first-fill European oak hogsheads, the whisky has natural, heavy-oil ester complexity, offering a rich, mouth-coating velvety texture.
Founder’s Edition is bottled at 46.3% ABV. This precise bottling strength ensures that the honeyed oak and orchard-fruit notes, along with natural oils, remain stable and fragrant without being diluted with water. Aimed at whisky connoisseurs and collectors, this limited micro-batch release is restricted to only 803 bespoke 1,120g heavyweight gold-crested decanters with individually numbered neck booklets.
The brand’s Monsoon Heat Premium Botanical Gin is crafted using an industrial vapour-infusion process with a copper basket. In this process, the neutral grain spirit vapour rises through a bed of raw, whole botanicals, gently extracting the volatile essential oils without scorching the ingredients.
The gin’s recipe is specifically designed to create a bold, lingering warmth that pairs perfectly with premium carbonation. Bottled at 42% ABV, it features a botanical profile that emphasises an intense, spice-forward combination of black pepper and green cardamom, complemented by fresh Scottish juniper and a high oil density of dehydrated citrus peel.
The gin is scientifically formulated to replicate the hot, electric atmospheric pressure of the Indian subcontinental monsoon.
Its unique character has already been awarded two Gold medals at The Global Spirits Masters Competitions 2026.
The Viceroy is set to celebrate its global launch on Thursday 16 July 2026, inside the historic India Room at the Kia Oval cricket ground in London. The event will be hosted by television presenter and Formula One broadcaster Matthew Walker. Joining the reveal will be England ODI and T20 Cricket World Cup champion and brand ambassador for The House of The Viceroy 1977, cricketer Chris Woakes.
“The House of The Viceroy 1977 is proud to confirm England World Cup champion Chris Woakes as our official brand ambassador,” announced Rathod.
“This partnership bridges our core philosophy – Scottish Heart. Indian Soul. Forged in Grit. – with a sporting icon who completely exemplifies elite endurance, quiet resilience, and an uncompromising standard of execution. Chris Woakes represents the face of our inaugural multi-category portfolio debut, bringing sovereign credibility and absolute craftsmanship to the global luxury spirits market.”
India launch
Following its global debut, The Viceroy will officially launch in London on 17 September. In India, the brand will be unveiled at The Oberoi Gurgaon’s luxury launch in late October. The range will be available from the company’s sister subsidiary, Rajpratha Heritage Spirits.
In addition to The Viceroy Founder’s Edition and Monsoon Heat Gin, the company will also release Shikar & Rajwada Edition exclusively for the Indian market.
Following the launches in London and India, The House of The Viceroy 1977 is setting its sights on Spain, with more details to be shared at a later date.
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