Marmalade | Makers of Brightside | ₹6 Cr / ~$680K (Seed)

Founders: Udit Mediratta, Surojit Bhattacharya

Founded: 2025

HQ: Delhi

Sector: Alco-Bev / D2C Spirits

What they do

→ New-age spirits company building easy-drinking, flavour-forward alcohol for younger Indian consumers

→ Flagship brand Brightside is a craft whiskey made with Amrut Distilleries Private Limited and master blender Ashok Chokalingam

→ Blends malts and grain spirits with botanicals for a smoother, low-burn taste

→ Launched in Pune in January 2026, sold 18,600 bottles and ₹66.5L revenue in its first 90 days

The Funding

→ Raised Rs 6 Cr in a seed round

→ Backed by individuals: Ashok Chokalingam (Amrut Distilleries),

Robert Sellares (Don Q Rum family), Ishank Gupta (ex-AB InBev), and HomeLane founders Srikanth Iyer and Tanuj Choudhry

Why it matters

→ Achieved 85%+ distribution coverage in Pune within 90 days, with 70%+ repeat buyers

→ Targets ₹15 Cr ARR by December 2026, up from ₹5 Cr in September — 3x growth in under 4 months

→ Priced at ₹1,750/750ml, targeting the underserved ₹1,500–2,200 whiskey segment

→ Now expanding into Mumbai and Maharashtra as its next big market

Can a "younger" whiskey brand really shift India's deeply traditional drinking habits?