Royal Challenge vs. Signature Whisky – What’s the Difference?

Royal Challenge, and Signature are two highly popular brands in the Indian market, and both belong to the Diageo Group owned United Spirits Ltd. The brands have been in the market for over two decades, and form an integral part of United Spirit’s core range.

Both Signature and Royal Challenge are categorized as Indian Made Foreign Liquor and belong to separate prestige and price segments.

While Signature belongs to the deluxe segment, whereas Royal Challenge is categorized as in the mid-prestige category. Signature is placed in the category above Royal Challenge, and was introduced in the Indian market in 1994, whereas Royal Challenge has been around since the 1980s.

Signature and Royal Challenge are both blends of imported Scotch malts, Indian grain spirits and neutral molasses based spirits, although their composition is different from each other.

Both brands carry an alcohol strength of 42.8% ABV, which is the standard norm for whiskies in India.

The difference between Signature and Royal Challenge is reflected by its contents, and these contents also determine the distinctions in their tasting notes.

Royal Challenge, unlike Signature contains a lesser amount of Scotch malts, and a higher molasses based spirit content, whereas Signature contains a slightly more generous percentage of Scotch malts.

The tasting notes carried by Signature whisky are as follows;

Nose:

Light, with hints of honey and leather.

Palate:

Smoky, taste of molasses being evident with traces of cereal and grain.

Finish:

Long, warm finish.

The tasting notes carried by Royal Challenge are as follows;

Nose:

A strong aroma of molasses, followed by smokiness

Palate:

Some more smokiness, and taste of molasses with some traces of grain.

Finish:

Long finish

The difference between Signature and Royal Challenge is confined to their segment, and tasting notes since both brands are blended Indian whiskies belonging to the same company.

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