Lucknow, May 30 (IANS): Made in Uttar Pradesh liquor is keeping everyone in high spirits.

The demand for bottled liquor that is exported out of the state to foreign destinations has grown significantly during the year 2022-23.

The provisional figures released by the excise department (demand between April 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022, have established at least 23 per cent increased demand for UP-based liquor brands compared to the previous fiscal year.

While during the 2021-22 fiscal year, a total of 7.74 lakh cases of alcoholic beverages were sold abroad, during the nine-month period of the FY 2022-23, the state has already exported 9.48 lakh cases.

The sale volume for the last quarter (January to March 2023) is yet to be compiled and the final figures are expected to be much higher.

Though the state is home to about more than two dozen different IMFL (India made foreign liquor) companies, only Mohan Meakin and Radico Khaitan have been able to create demand for their brands internationally.

Officials said that the dark rum produced by Mohan Meakin in Ghaziabad continues to be the hot seller internationally.

"Of late, the demand for Indian single malt and craft gin has also picked up. The two premium products are produced in Rampur by Radico Khaitan," said a senior officer from the department.

The two companies have been recording steady growth in the business for the past six years (barring the pandemic-induced slowdown) and are catering to 38 countries.

They have operations in other states as well and could be exporting more brands.

While the popular dark rum and premium products have demand in developed countries such as the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, Finland, Switzerland, Norway, New Zealand, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Qatar, Oman among others, the least developed countries including Congo, Liberia, Zambia, Djibouti in Africa and Haiti in the Caribbean, also procure affordable and cheap IMFL brands from Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, Excise Commissioner Senthil C. Pandian said that handholding sessions for other liquor manufacturers will be organised in the coming months to improve the business prospects.

"We are going to create awareness over the procedure that needs to be followed while exporting liquor products. We have observed that both premium, mid-range and affordable products are being sold internationally but the quality required in the various international markets needs to be maintained," said Pandian.