Let’s agree – the revolution that India has experienced in the last few years. We have seen the Indian landscape blossom like never before. What used to be the smallest section on bar menus has now taken over the country with an endless list. So much so that you’ll find at least one great bottle of gin in everyone’s collection today. This later paved the way for more and more Indian brands to come up with their own inventions, conquering the Indian gin market. The main ingredient in the process of making gin is juniper berries, which are grown in moderate quantities in India. While some brands use Indian, most others source them from Europe. But having said that, what makes Indian Commodity stand out is the use of some interesting botanicals. Brands use a variety of herbs and spices, including cloves, turmeric, coriander, orange peel, hemp, and more, revolutionizing the whole idea of gin concoctions.
This World Gin Day (on 11th June), we bring you some of our favorite homegrown gin brands that are rocking the Indian gin market. Read on to know our recommendations.
Here are 5 Indian gin brands to add to your home bar setup:
Strangers and Sons:
Because of its unique botanical makeup, Stranger & Sons has a three-dimensional flavor profile. Citrus rinds give the gin a lovely freshness on the front palate, rounded out by a strong blend of warm spices including black pepper, mace, nutmeg and coriander that give it a strong spicy middle. Licorice, cassia bark and mace make the finishing smooth, earthy, and sweet. The brand was declared one of the eight best gins in the world in 2020 by the International Wine & Spirits Competition. Later, it also made its way into the Asian Spirit Masters 2021 list.
Favorite Blend: Stranger & Sons – 45 ml, Indian Tonic Water – 120 ml, Garnish: Ginger Slice
more than:
Greater Than by NAO Spirits is the first Craft Gin and London Dry Gin manufactured in India. The white spirit, made from botanicals that come from all over the world, tastes of clean juniper, fresh lemon zest on the nose and a dash of ginger on the finish, which makes it perhaps the perfect summer spirit. Apart from this, there is also a mix of some popular Indian flavors including coriander, fennel, chamomile and lemongrass.
Favorite Blend: Greater Than – 30 ml, Indian Tonic Water – 100 ml, Garnish: Kefir Lime or Gondraj Lemon Veg
Hapusa:
Another variant of NAO Spirits, Hapusa, which means juniper in Sanskrit, is the first Indian gin to be made with Himalayan juniper berries. The indomitable taste and aroma of juniper triumphs in gin and is further complemented by other indigenous botanicals such as gondraj lime, fresh turmeric, raw mango, ginger, cardamom, almonds and coriander seeds. Found near the snow line in the Himalayas, juniper berries give the gin an elegant structure, while turmeric and delectable raw mangoes make Hapusa a unique contemporary gin.
Favorite Blend: Hapusa – 45 ml (chilled for two hours), topped with ice
Terai:
What we enjoy most about this London dry gin is that it resonates with every taste and aroma we grew up with. Sweet, citric and nutty – Terai offers a wonderful balance of many flavors in one glass. It is handcrafted in Rajasthan by Swaroop of Globus Spirits and includes 11 herbs and spices, mainly sourced from Khari Baoli, the famous spice market in Delhi. In addition to juniper berries, herbs used in a bottle of Terai include coriander, lavender, rose, orange peel, lemon peel, basil, orris roots, and more. Not only this, Terai also comes in an interesting bottle which is designed to resemble the pillars of ancient Indian temples.
Favorite mix: Lowland – 60 ml, Campari -30 ml (preferably cold), Sweet vermouth – 30 ml (preferably cold)
Jinjin:
We say Jinjin is a must-try! Created by 25-year-old distiller Shubham Khanna, Gingin brands itself as the only single-shot distilled hemp gin in India. It contains nine flora including common Himalayan juniper berries. Butterfly pea flower, cinnamon, lavender, rosemary, thyme seeds etc make this drink one of a kind. And don’t worry, the cannabis used here is non-intoxicating. So drink to glory!
Favorite Blend: Ginjin – 45 ml, topped with ice
Try these homemade gins and let us know which one you liked the most.