New Delhi: Marmalade, the new-age drinks company behind Brightside Craft Whiskey, has raised ₹6 crore in an early-stage funding round. The round brings together a curated group of founders, operators and strategic investors from the alco-bev and consumer ecosystems.
Investors include Ashok Chokalingam, COO of Amrut Distilleries; Robert Sellares, from the founding family of Don Q Rum; Ishank Gupta, former AB InBev Director and Founder of Humyn Labs; the founders of Malt Society Arabia; and HomeLane founders Srikanth Iyer and Tanuj Choudhry.
The capital will be deployed towards distribution expansion, brand-building initiatives, and strengthening the company’s sales and operations capabilities. A key focus for the business will be expanding into Mumbai and broader Maharashtra. Having started in Pune only in January 2026 and with Mumbai just getting started, Marmalade is already on track to reach ₹5 crore in annualised revenue run rate in September 2026. The company is targeting ₹15 crore ARR by December 2026, representing 3x growth in under four months across just two cities.
Founded by Udit Mediratta and Surojit Bhattacharya, Marmalade is building flavour-forward, easy-drinking spirits for the new generation of legal-drinking-age Indian consumers. Its first brand, Brightside Craft Whiskey, was launched in Pune in January 2026. Positioned as “Not Your Father’s Whiskey,” Brightside challenges the acquired-taste pain curve traditionally associated with whiskey and is designed to deliver a smoother, more approachable “no-burn, no-bitterness” drinking experience.