Imagine a man who never sipped one bit of alcohol but still emerged as a leading force in the liquor business and the first person who comes to mind is Kapil Mohan.
Awarded the Padma Shri in 2010, Kapil Mohan a teetotaller himself, out of his acumen propelled Old Monk to the status of India’s most favoured drink. Kapil who passed away not so long back is survived by his wife and a daughter.
At 88, he had been keeping unwell for the past few years. He died of a heart attack in Ghaziabad’s Mohan Nagar area.
It was after the death of his elder brother VR Mohan in the early 1970s that Kapil took over the reins of the family business.
Launched in 1954, Old Monk was Mohan Meakin’s best-selling product. With Kapil Mohan at the helm, the company established three distilleries and two breweries. Mohan Meakin manufactures Solan No. 1, a malt whisky and Golden Eagle beer, apart from business ventures in breakfast food, juices and vinegars.
Ups and downs are part of any business and Mohan Meakins has been no exception, but Old Monk remains one of the most iconic rum brands. Even with limited advertising, Old Monk found many takers abroad.
It was only when foreign brands like Bacardi hit the scene that Old Monk took a beating.
Mohan Meakin’s profits plummeted further given the Ponty Chaddha led Wave Distilleries and Breweries started enjoying monopoly over the market in Uttar Pradesh.
Even though sailing through rough weather, Old Monk is still an iconic go to drink for many Indians.
Kapil Mohan even though not the typical one for the bottle, he hardly ever downed a peg. Yet Old Monk was a great companion for millions cutting across age, class and continents.
Kapil Mohan, was heading Trade Links Pvt Ltd. – the marketing and distribution arm of Mohan Meakin before 1966. His elder brother Colonel Ved Ratan Mohan –is credited with the creation of Old Monk Rum – as we know it. Currently, Hemant Mohan and Vinay Mohan among others from the Mohan family are seeing through the growth of the company.
Edward Dyer – to whom we all can attribute Old Monk’s taste for – knew that there were only a few spots on earth from where the water for making good alcohol can be sourced from. He spotted such a place in Himachal Pradesh.
One of the secrets of the success of Old Monk was that the water was sourced from the same natural spring in Solan as it was 150 years ago, when the facilities were first set up.
The company traces its origins to a brewery established by Edward Dyer in Kasauli in 1855.
Interestingly a man named HG Meakin, founded Meakin & Co. Ltd. He bought the old Shimla and Kasauli Breweries and built others at Dalhousie, Ranikhet, Chakrarta, Darjeeling and Kirkee.
The two firms soon joined hands and started a new joint stock venture under the style of Dyer Meakin & Co.Ltd.
When Burma was dismembered from India in 1935, the name of the Company was changed to Dyer Meakin Breweries Ltd from Dyer Meakin & Co. Ltd, assets and liabilities of Burma Brewery in Burma were separated. Later the name changed from Dyer Meakin Breweries Ltd to Mohan Meakin Breweries Ltd in 1966. In 1980 it became Mohan Meakin Ltd.
When in 2015, rumours of Old Monk being shut down spread, the fans of India’s favourite rum took to social media to express their displeasure.
Old Monk held its own even as Vijay Mallya’s United Breweries group saw much popularity.
In mid 2000s, Rakesh ‘Rocky’ Mohan (son of V R Mohan), Kapil’s nephew broke away.
The Lucknow facility of the company was sold to Ponty Chadha’s Wave group. Ponty close to the then chief minister Mayawati, brought under his control the liquor business in Uttar Pradesh and other Northern states.
Mohan Meakin’s, which once listed on the Calcutta Stock Exchange, now stands delisted.
When one story was actually published about Kapil Mohan’s death, it went viral within hours. People across social media started to realise how important a man like Kapil Mohan was for the Indian fraternity. He was the man behind the success of Old Monk Rum.
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