Chennai: Allied Blenders and Distillers Ltd (ABD), the maker of Officer’s Choice whisky, has secured a major legal victory in a long-standing trademark dispute with John Distilleries. The Madras High Court has dismissed John Distilleries’ petition seeking cancellation of ABD’s Officer’s Choice trademark and simultaneously allowed ABD’s petition to cancel John Distilleries’ Original Choice mark.
The ruling brings closure to a prolonged legal tussle between the two liquor majors over alleged similarities in branding and trade dress. In a statement, ABD said it welcomed the court’s decision, reaffirming its commitment to protecting its intellectual property and brand equity.
The court’s order, delivered on November 7, 2025, effectively upholds ABD’s rights over the Officer’s Choice trademark while invalidating John Distilleries’ claim to Original Choice. The dispute, which had spanned several years, was closely watched in the Indian spirits industry where brand identity and visual differentiation are key to consumer perception and loyalty.
This is not the first time Officer’s Choice has successfully defended its brand in court. In the past, Allied Blenders and Distillers has emerged victorious in several trademark battles, including a notable 2015 case before the Delhi High Court. The Division Bench, comprising Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Pratibha Rani, dismissed appeals filed by the proprietors of Collector’s Choice and Officer’s Special against an injunction order that restrained them from using deceptively similar marks. The court held that these marks were likely to confuse consumers and were therefore infringing upon ABD’s Officer’s Choice trademark, though it found no infringement of copyright by Sentini Bio Products Pvt. Ltd.
Earlier this week, ABD reported a strong financial performance for the second quarter of FY26, posting a 35.4% year-on-year rise in net profit to ₹64.3 crore, supported by a 14% increase in revenue to ₹990 crore. The company’s premium portfolio continued to gain traction, with volumes in its Prestige & Above segment rising 8.4% year-on-year.
Industry observers believe the legal clarity will further strengthen ABD’s market position, particularly for its flagship Officer’s Choice brand—one of the most recognised names in India’s whisky market. With its premium offerings showing steady growth, the company is expected to leverage this legal victory to reinforce its brand presence and pursue new growth opportunities in the competitive Indian spirits landscape.
