Diageo intends to change the name of McDowell’s No.1, a whisky brand, in markets outside India, after succumbing to pressure from the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), the trade body of Scotch whisky producers.

SWA had raised concerns that McDowell’s No.1 could be mistaken for Scotch whisky, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

In markets such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Nigeria, the brand will be renamed.

“The SWA monitors carefully any use of Scottish names on spirit drinks that are not Scotch Whiskies in world markets.”

Further, Diageo has agreed to cease exports of Indian whisky brand Bagpiper.

McDowell’s No.1, which is made by Diageo’s Indian unit United Spirits Ltd (USL), is a leading whiskey brand in terms of volume.

In 2014, around 25 million nine-litre cases of McDowell’s No.1 whisky were sold, compared to approximately 19 million cases of Johnnie Walker, which is the flagship Scotch whisky brand of Diageo.

An SWA spokesperson was quoted by the Spirits Business as saying: "The SWA monitors carefully any use of Scottish names on spirit drinks that are not Scotch Whiskies in world markets.

"Following its take-over of USL, the SWA has had helpful and positive discussions with Diageo about the Bagpiper and McDowell’s brands, with agreement reached on those brands in markets outside India.

"In India, where these brands have been on sale for several decades, it is understood that McDowell’s and Bagpiper have a reputation locally as Indian brands. The situation is clearly different in markets outside India where the brands are not well known. Details of the agreement and transition arrangements remain confidential to the parties."