For many Indians, Old Monk isn’t just a bottle sitting on a liquor shelf. It’s nostalgia in a glass. Winter evenings, college memories, hostel rooms, long conversations and that unmistakable bottle have all become part of the brand’s cultural identity.So when the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) told the Bombay High Court that Old Monk cannot be sold as rum under its current formulation and labelling, the internet understandably had a lot to say.The regulator’s argument is that the product uses neutral spirit along with added rum flavouring. FSSAI’s position is that a drink made this way doesn’t meet the required characteristics to simply be marketed as “rum” and could instead be described as a rum-flavoured spirit.And yes, Old Monk drinkers have taken the news personally.
‘My life is a lie’
Social media quickly filled up with disbelief, jokes and the kind of dramatic heartbreak usually reserved for celebrity break-ups.One post summed up the mood with, “Old Monk is not rum! Hum rahe na hum.” Another simply addressed the bottle with, “Hey rum.”It’s easy to see why the reaction has been so emotional. Old Monk has been around for generations and has built a following that goes well beyond what you’d expect from a liquor brand. For many people, the drink is tied to a particular time, place or memory.Now there’s a regulatory question hanging over that familiar label.So, what exactly is FSSAI objecting to?According to the regulator, the issue isn’t simply that the words on the bottle need changing. FSSAI has argued in court that the nature of the product itself is the problem.The regulator says the disputed Old Monk product is predominantly made using neutral spirit, with rum flavouring added to give it the characteristics associated with rum. FSSAI has said that such a product should not be presented simply as rum and could instead be identified as a rum-flavoured spirit.There is another part of the label that has also come under scrutiny: the “7 years old blended” description.The FSSAI has argued that this claim is misleading because the product contains a much larger proportion of neutral, unmatured spirit, while the matured rum component is only a small part of the blend. Under the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, age claims for blended spirits are linked to the youngest spirit used in the blend.
The label could now change
The makers of Old Monk, Mohan Rocky Springwater Pvt Ltd, have agreed to modify the packaging. The proposed changes include making the presence of “added flavour” clearer and removing the “7 years old blended” description. Revised labels have already been submitted for consideration.But that doesn’t mean the dispute is over.FSSAI has asked for more time to examine the revised labels, and the Bombay High Court has not granted the company immediate relief against the sales restriction in Maharashtra. The matter is scheduled to come up again on September 11.
And what about all those Old Monk memories?
That’s the part social media seems less interested in analysing and more interested in mourning.Because whether you know the technical difference between rum and a rum-flavoured spirit or not, Old Monk has spent decades being treated as one thing by its fans: Old Monk rum.Now FSSAI’s objection has put that familiar identity under the microscope.For loyal drinkers, the question isn’t only what’s inside the bottle. It’s whether the bottle they’ve known for years can still call itself what they’ve always called it.And judging by the internet’s reaction, that is apparently a very serious question.Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not promote, encourage or endorse the consumption of alcohol. Alcohol consumption can be harmful to health and may carry serious health risks. Readers are advised to avoid drinking alcohol.