Amrit Distilleries draws inspiration from the Ooty Botanical Garden to create a gin with South Indian botanicals from tea to betel leaves
The story of this Indian gin begins five years ago in the Nilgiris. The late chairman and managing director of Bengaluru-based Amrut Distilleries, Nilakanta Rao Jagdale, was vacationing at his summer home in Udhagamandalam when he thought of making a distilled gin using botanicals and spices from South India.
After a visit to the Government Medicinal Plant Growth Area in Doddabetta, the highest mountain range in the south, he learned about medicinal plants used to manufacture therapeutic oils. “He made several trips to the Nilgiris, most notably the Ooty Botanical Garden,” recalls Nikhil Verma, gin distiller and brand ambassador for Amrit.
Launched in December 2020, Amrut’s Eucalyptus Gin is now available in the US, UK, Europe and Singapore. And, expansion plans are on the cards in India and abroad. “Our whiskeys are available in 58 countries. We want to go further. We are working on new gins with Indian botanicals, highlighting the wide variety of flavors our country is known for. We are now testing it to finalize the recipe,” says Nikhil. While the Eucalyptus Gin came with a bouquet of 10 botanicals including Juniper Berries, Coriander Seeds, Lemongrass, Angelica Roots, Orris Roots, Mace, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus Tea and Paan (Betel Nut), the new gins will also feature unique botanicals and betel leaves. . Interesting flavor profile.
hint of spices
Nikhil explains that the Nilgiri mountain range has a vast area devoted to tea plantations, its tea, which represents the hills, was the first choice. “The variety of Indian spices grown here offer a range of botanicals with indigenous flavor qualities,” explains Nikhil. He further stated that he prepared a wide range of botanicals and distilled them individually or as a mixed recipe. “Eucalyptus tea delivers floral, yet complex musculature that stands out. I distilled a few green tea and black tea varieties before choosing the right ones, which have a little dryness, a hint of flowers and spices. It adds an extra dimension. We’ve used Italian juniper berries, a primary botanical with all-purpose flavors of pine, lavender, rose and citrus which is delicious. Coriander seeds, a floral spice complement the soft citrus of juniper and I explored lemon grass to bring out the zesty note. “
a library of botany
The other three primary spices are mace, nutmeg and cinnamon. “The slight dryness of the mace accentuates the nutmeg and earthy cinnamon rind. Two fixatives – orris root gives one a dry grassy scent and the other lets the botanicals shine while angelica root creates a woody, ‘wet forest’ scent Is.” For Nikhil, visiting the spice plantations and tea gardens of the Nilgiris was a unique experience. “In Pudina, there is Pudina, Pudina, Tulsi and a variety of herbs and spices that I discovered in Ooty. And, chili too. We’ve built up a library of botanicals, individual flavor profiles, and flavor groups like Spicy Gin and Floral Gin, to name a few.
The last botanicals came in the form of betel leaves: the spicy and flowering variety from Mysore and the juicy, sweet variety from Kubakonam in Tamil Nadu. Nikhil says, “Long ago in 2015, there was virtually no Indian commodity. Now, there are over a dozen Indian gins and we are growing. Every brand brings its own story and creativity. Domestic brands are challenging other global brands around the world. The European countries where Eucalyptus is now available. It’s a big deal to represent India.” Amrit’s plant-based distilled gin is currently available in Goa and Karnataka, and will soon be available in Maharashtra and Haryana.
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