CSD Canteen Liquor Price List: Brands and Discounts

A weather-beaten price board hangs outside a CSD canteen in Kolkata, written in blue ink and fading in the sun. Defence personnel know it well. Everyone else has only heard rumours that “army liquor is dirt cheap.” So we read the board line by line and checked it against Kolkata’s civilian prices. The answer is more interesting than the rumour.

How CSD Prices Work

The Canteen Stores Department (CSD) exists to supply goods to service personnel at rates cheaper than the market. According to a CAG audit report, the basic price is the same across India and local taxes like excise are added on top. States also allow concessional excise on CSD liquor. Media reports put CSD liquor at roughly 30–50% below market rates, and purchases are controlled by quota and digital monitoring.

CSD Canteen Liquor Price List: The Complete Price Board

The board does not show bottle sizes, so we assume 750 ml for spirits. Wines marked 375 ml are listed as such. A dash means the price was blank on the board.

Scotch and Premium Malts

Brand	CSD Price (₹)
Rampur Indian Malt	5,399.09
Indri Single Malt	3,163.78
Godawan 01 Rich & Rounded	2,878.16
Godawan 02 Fruit & Spice	2,878.16
Paul John Brilliance	2,252.89
Amrut Fusion	2,246.53
Amrut Amalgam	1,989.26
Paul John Nirvana	1,739.19
Black Dog Triple Gold	1,692.54
100 Pipers 12 Yrs	1,638.87
Ballantine’s	1,634.71
Teacher’s 50	—
Black Dog Centenary	1,226.23
Black & White	1,219.30
Teacher’s Highland	1,200.16
100 Pipers	1,178.13
VAT 69	959.98
Old Smuggler	951.68

Whisky

Brand	CSD Price (₹)
Blenders Pride Reserve	665.43
Golfer Shot Premium	559.12
Antiquity	532.42
Signature Premium	519.77
Blenders Pride	514.24
Sterling Reserve B-10	513.96
Captain’s Select	505.02
Pentagon	489.78
Oaken Glow	472.03
Signature	441.03
After Dark	409.54
White & Blue Premium	367.16
Discovery Elite	358.68
Royal Stag	323.61
Royal Challenge	307.41
Officer’s Choice Blue	284.14
McDowell’s No.1	280.56
8PM	249.37
Imperial Premium, Dennis Special, RC American Pride	—

Gin and Vodka

Brand	CSD Price (₹)
Jaisalmer Gin	2,633.93
Bombay Dry Gin	1,222.98
Greater Than London Gin	573.08
Smoke Vodka Aniseed	1,268.47
Smoke Vodka Classic	944.86
Smirnoff Apple	550.22
Smirnoff Orange	548.02
Smirnoff	443.49
Magic Moments Green Apple / Orange	331.82 each
Magic Moments	311.81

Rum and Brandy

Brand	CSD Price (₹)
Bacardi Oro	490.13
Grenade Rum	439.55
Old Monk The Legend	426.54
Bacardi Black	311.30
Lion Daddy	306.05
Matured 1965	278.44
Old Monk	258.61
Madira	252.96
Contessa	252.56
McDowell’s No.1 Rum	252.45
Bermuda	248.85
Tropicana	228.32
Master’s Imperial French Brandy	582.02
Morpheus Brandy	499.36
Mansion House Brandy	334.28

Wine, Beer and Breezer

Brand	CSD Price (₹)
Fratelli Sette	1,843.14
Fratelli Gran	1,019.40
Fratelli Chardonnay	701.94
Fratelli Cabernet Franc Shiraz	642.70
Cabernet	614.61
Sula Brut Crémant de Nashik	818.18
Sula (red/white, various)	452.06–522.39
Fratelli Classic Shiraz	449.50
Wine 375 ml (Cabernet / Sula)	340.20 / 268.06
Budweiser Magnum	78.99
Budweiser King	61.86
Kingfisher Strong	61.03
Kingfisher Premium	52.38
Breezer Jamaican / Cranberry	70.18 / 66.99

CSD vs Kolkata Prices: The Discount

These are approx. indicative figures. Verify them at the shop before buying.

Brand	CSD (₹)	Kolkata (₹)	Discount
Greater Than London Gin	573.08	1,960	70.8%
Royal Challenge	307.41	1,000	69.3%
Royal Stag	323.61	980	67.0%
Antiquity Blue	532.42	1,610	66.9%
McDowell’s No.1 Whisky	280.56	770	63.6%
Sterling Reserve B-10	513.96	1,360	62.2%
Old Monk The Legend	426.54	1,120	61.9%
McDowell’s No.1 Rum	252.45	640	60.6%
Officer’s Choice Blue	284.14	720	60.5%
Smirnoff (Triple Distilled)	443.49	1,110	60.0%
Old Monk XXX	258.61	640	59.6%
Blenders Pride Reserve	665.43	1,640	59.4%
Smirnoff Green Apple	550.22	1,350	59.2%
VAT 69	959.98	2,340	59.0%
Bombay Sapphire	1,222.98	2,970	58.8%
Amrut Fusion	2,246.53	5,190	56.7%
Paul John Brilliance	2,252.89	5,190	56.6%
100 Pipers 12 Yrs	1,638.87	3,510	53.3%
Paul John Nirvana	1,739.19	3,630	52.1%
Black Dog Triple Gold	1,692.54	3,500	51.6%
Teacher’s Highland	1,200.16	2,450	51.0%
100 Pipers Deluxe	1,178.13	2,390	50.7%
Black & White	1,219.30	2,400	49.2%
Black Dog Centenary	1,226.23	2,380	48.5%
Amrut Amalgam	1,989.26	3,840	48.2%
Ballantine’s Finest	1,634.71	2,820	42.0%
Fratelli Classic Shiraz	449.50	694	35.2%
Fratelli Cabernet Franc Shiraz	642.70	952	32.5%
Breezer Cranberry (275 ml)	66.99	98	31.6%
Fratelli Chardonnay	701.94	991	29.2%
Breezer Jamaican (275 ml)	70.18	98	28.4%
Fratelli Gran Cuvée Brut	1,019.40	1,388	26.6%
Sula Brut Crémant de Nashik	818.18	1,110	26.3%
Morpheus Brandy	499.36	628	20.5%
Fratelli Sette	1,843.14	2,171	15.1%
Madira Rum	252.96	245	−3.2%
8PM Bermuda Rum	248.85	241	−3.3%
Mansion House Brandy	334.28	310	−7.8%
Tropicana Rum	228.32	197	−15.9%

What the Numbers Tell Us

Whisky, gin and vodka: Most mainstream brands are about 59–70% cheaper than Kolkata retail.
Scotch and Indian malts: Savings run about 42–59%, with Ballantine’s at the low end.
Wine: The discount is 15–35%, noticeably smaller.
Budget rums and brandy: A few cheap local brands cost about the same as Kolkata retail, or slightly more.

The reason is simple. Kolkata’s high retail prices on mainstream whisky and Scotch leave plenty of room for a canteen discount. Rock-bottom local brands leave almost none. If you are buying a ₹200-plus rum, the canteen is not automatically the better deal.

Who Can Buy, and the Rules

CSD liquor is for authorised defence personnel only. Purchases are subject to quota, and reselling subsidised bottles is illegal. State excise rules for West Bengal are published by the Excise Directorate. Please drink responsibly.