Functions
Puducherry Distilleries Limited presently is engaged in the activity of Blending and Bottling of Arrack (Country Liquor) and supplies the same to the Arrack Lessees, licensed by the Excise Department, Government of Puducherry.
Before the PDL started its operations at the present site, it was a manufacturer of Rectified Spirit, which is nothing but Ethanol of purity 95% V/V (66 OP) conforming to IS323-1959 and is the main raw material for the preparation of Arrack. Since this process of manufacturing was dispensed with, Rectified Spirit is procured from other States through open tenders.
This simpler process of Blending and Bottling of Arrack consists of reduction of strength of the Rectified Spirit from about 95 % to the requisite strength of 37% using water. This mixture is allowed to mature for about 36 hours in the presence of excess air. Then the matured liquor is filtered, bottled and sold in 180 ml and 750 ml bottles and in loose form as well in plastic cans brought by these Vendors. The Company is having a Blending capacity of 2,40,000 BL and a Bottling Capacity of 86,000 BL per day.
Note: LPD- Litres per Day
Recently, the Company has increased its production capacity by 50%. Two 240 Bottles per mimute (BPM)bottling machines were also added. To improve the quality of Arrack 10,000 Litres per hour, RO water plant has been installed recently. At present the Company has the following capacities of storage and production.
STORAGE: Six Mild Steel Storage tanks of combined capacity of 16,00,000 Litres for Rectified Spirit.
Four Stainless Steel tanks of combined capacity of 2,40,000 Litres for Arrack.
BOTTLING: Three Bottling lines of capacity 240 BPM each.to bottle 180 milli litre bottles and One PET Bottling Line of capacity 240BPM to bottle 180 milli litre bottles.
One Bottling Line of capacity 90 BPM to bottle 750 milli litre bottles.
In addition to the above the Company is also engaged in selling Rectified Spirit and De-Natured spirit for Industrial, Medicinal and Laboratory use to the Customers permitted by Puducherry Excise Department.