Indian Gins: If we take a periscope and look a few years prior, Gin and Tonics were the mainstay of British Era Social Clubs. However, the spirit has had a bit of a “Ginaissance” in the last 5 years around the world and specially in India. We have heartily taken to the botanical spirit. It’s quite fitting though seeing as how the story of Gin and Tonics started in the British Era India.
Not only have we taken whole heartily to the spirit, we have made it our own, it’s the fastest growing category for premium Indian Spirits. In a matter of few years there have been numerous Indian origin gin brands that have mushroomed up across the country. And oh boy for sure they have won over our hearts and palates.
Indian Gins: Greater Than
One of the first Indian gin brands created by Anand Virmani and Vaibhav Singh during the gin revolution, Greater Than is made from wheat-based spirit, juniper berries, and botanicals. Coming from the house of Nao Spirits, refreshing ingredients such as ginger, fennel seeds, coriander, and lemongrass give Greater Than a distinctive taste. Consider savoring this gin with tonic water and garnish with lemon or rosemary. It is one of the popular Gin brands in India.
Price: Get a 750ml bottle of Greater Than at INR 1,450.
Availability: Delhi, Goa, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Nagpur, Singapore, Thailand, Germany, France, Italy, UK, Russia and Sweden
Indian Gins: Hapusa Himalayan Dry Gin
Every gin lover would know that this spirit is made with juniper berries. We’d like to tell you that ‘Hapusa’ translates to juniper in Sanskrit. Hence, a brilliant choice for naming an Indian gin brand. Loaded with Indian botanicals, and juniper berries specifically picked from the Himalayan region of the country, Hapusa Himalayan Dry Gin is one of the best Indian gin brands. Add fresh mint to relish the flavors of this spirit. It is one of the best gin in India.
Availability: Goa, Mumbai and Pune; Singapore, Thailand, Germany, France, Italy, USA, UK, Russia and Sweden
Price: You can grab a 750ml bottle of Hapusa Himalayan Dry gin at INR 2,600.
Indian Gins: Stranger & Sons
Established by Sakshi Saigal, Vidur Gupta, and Rahul Mehra in 2018, Stranger & Sons is made with herbs that are produced locally. The most interesting thing about this gin is that it is infused with four different types of citrus peels of fruits grown in personal gardens. Gondhoraj lemons from Kolkata give Stranger & Sons an eccentric taste. Enjoy Gimlets, Gibsons, and Indian inspired cocktails with this gin.
Price: A Stranger & Sons bottle will cost you INR 1,450 in Goa, and INR 2,575 in Maharashtra.
Indian Gins: Jaisalmer
A triple-distilled neutral grain spirit, Jaisalmer is a craft gin that comes from the house of Radico Khaitan. The gin is redistilled in a traditional copper pot. Jaisalmer is one of the unique Indian gin brands that comprises of 11 botanicals from different parts of the country. These include everything from coriander to Darjeeling green tea. A refreshing spirit, Jaisalmer is a must-try for gin enthusiasts.
Availability: It is soon going to be available in US, UK, Europe and select Indian cities.
Price: Approximately Rs3,500 for a 750ml bottle
Read a full review of Jaisalmer Indian Gin here!
Indian Gins: Jin JiJi
An Indian dry gin, Jin JiJi is made with an interesting fusion of Himalayan wild junipers and Macedonian junipers. A brainchild of Delhi-based Ansh Khanna, and Ken Fredrickson, Jin JiJi is made with a wheat-based spirit. To make the drink more flavorful, ingredients such as black tea, tulsi, coriander seeds, chamomile, and orris root are added. It is undoubtedly one of the best gin brands.
Availability: Goa and USA
Price: 30$ in US
Indian Gins: Samsara
Saṃsāra Gin is a new impressive product from the Spaceman Spirits Lab , an elegant contemporary Indian craft gin. Saṃsāra is a Sanskrit word that means “wandering” or “world”; with a philosophical undertone, Saṃsāra aims to bottle the “free spirit” and embody the very essence of exploration.
A new Indian gin made in the classic London dry style in a copper still with 11 botanicals that include hemp seeds, rose petals, vetiver grass, green cardamom and the usual suspect juniper berries. Like many other fabulous craft Indian gins and spirits, Saṃsāra is also proudly made in Goa, India.
One botanical definitely caught your attention right? Ours too – HEMP SEEDS. Saṃsāra is one of the first spirits from Asia to include hemp as one of its prime botanicals, they are working with Bombay Hemp Company, India’s premier cannabis research organization which is backed by the likes of Ratan Tata and Rajan Anandan. This technique is a step forward in incorporating the wellness of CBD in Indian Beverages.
Availability: It is soon going to be available in Goa, California, New York and Illinois.
Price: Approximately Rs1,350 for a 750ml bottle
Indian Gins: Gin Gin
Gin Gin, we love it so much we need to say it twice. This is the thought behind the name of this latest Indian gin brand which is called GinGin.
A truly Indian Gin with a touch of minimalism and boost of homegrown spirit. All of its elements being “Made In India” right from the column still used to distill it to the botanicals and everything in between is procured from India. GinGin uses 9 botanicals, to name a few we have Himalayan Juniper, coriander, lavender, butterfly pea and hemp. These are infused with the spirit in a one shot vapor distillation. Hemp again, YAY.
Like all things exciting in the Indian Alco-Bev Industry, The Cocktail Story was the first to give the world a look at India’s first hemp flavoured Gin with our exclusive virtual unveiling of GinGin. HERE is where you can find everything you need to know about GinGin.
Availability: Will soon be available in Goa and Delhi NCR
Price: Approximately Rs999 for a 700ml bottle
Indian Gins: Terai
Terai is a London dry gin considering its technique of production, but here it is seen making a bold statement referring to itself as an India Dry Gin. The bottle design of this Indian Gin is inspired by the pillars as seen in ancient Indian architecture. Our favourite element is however the unique stopper (cap) that crowns the bottle, which is handmade in Channapatna.
The label reads out another interesting feature which is “Cultivated from grain to glass” this means that the entire product is made by Globus Spirits using a rice distillate as its base which is made in house as opposed to buying the neutral spirit from another source. This is a craft Indian gin, as it is made in small batches in a customized pot still and uses a traditional one shot process. The name of this homegrown gin brand is also a reference to the notions of the marshlands being lush, bountiful and fresh which can be seen in their choice of botanicals.
Availability: Will soon be available in Delhi
Price: Approximately Rs2000 for a 750ml bottle
Indian Gins: Tickle Gin
A London dry style gin from the house of the famed Goan Coconut Rum, Cabo. It is one of the newest entrants in the market, produced using cold extraction method. The process helps shine a light on the freshness of the citrus balanced with the spicy palate from the peppercorns. It is a juniper forward gin and distinctively Indian, utilizing Himalayan Junipers. Spices like cardamom, cinnamon, coriander seeds and shine through against the fresh acidity of orange peels.
Availability: Available in Goa, and coming soon in Bangalore, Pune and Mumbai
Price: Rs. 650 in Goa
Indian Gins: Pumori Gin
From the makers of Woodburns Whisky, Pumori Gin is a New World style gin, heroing the spices instead of Juniper. The Juniper is sourced from the region near Mt. Pumori, and is also the inspiration for the name of the gin. The gin is distilled in a custom made copper pot still using Himalayan juniper, orange peel, lemon peel, cardamom, coriander seeds, liquorice, nutmeg, rosemary, aniseed, cinnamon, almond and vanilla. The unique wide bottle is what first catches attention though.
Availability: Available in Goa
Price: Rs. 1750 in Goa
