Gin was once a medicinal liquor made by European monks and alchemists. European apothecaries began producing gin in the 16th century and advertising it as a cure-all for ailments of various kinds. Gin in its modern form is said to have been created in Holland. Essentially a distilled alcohol flavoured with a range of botanicals, in India, the gin scene has taken off in a big way in the past five years or so
Stranger & Sons
Released in 2018, this gin is distilled in Goa and incorporates Bengal's famous Gondhoraj lebu peels, as well as Indian bergamot and Nagpur oranges.It was the first Indian gin to receive a Gold-Outstanding medal at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London in 2020. Following that, it received multiple accolades, including a gold medal in the Gin Master 2021 competition.
Maharani Gin
This premium multi-award winning gin is zested with pomelo fruit (Kambili Naranga in Malayalam) and uniquely spiced with cassia and nutmeg-mace, all sourced from a women&rsquos organic farming co-operative in Wayanad, Kerala. It received five titles in its first year Silver in The London Spirits Awards, bronze in the Craft Spirits Berlin, gold in The Gin Masters, bronze in the IWSC and most recently silver at Blas na hEireann.
Read more about it here.
Hapusa
This gin with a smoky finish gives you a whiff of the pine forests and wildflowers of the Himalayas. Hapusa is the Sanskrit word for juniper, and this gin uses Himalayan juniper berries, along with raw mango, laced with the distinctive fragrance of Bengal's gondhoraj lemon, and turmeric. The first taste will be tart, with lime and coriander aromas that are complemented by subtle and complex earthy flavours. Its numerous natural elements are all organic and grown utilising fair trade and farming methods. It has won Gold at the International Wines & Spirits Competition (IWSC) 2021 where the judges said that it was &ldquoa powerful and wonderfully fragrant gin, with pronounced and complex juniper on the nose. The palate is smooth with citrus and Himalayan juniper working together to create a stunning end-product.&rdquo
Greater Than
One of the country's original gin brands, this gin is created with a wheat-based spirit and botanicals from India and elsewhere. The juniper berries are from Macedonia, the citrus from Spain, the angelica root from Germany, and the coriander, fennel seeds, chamomile, ginger, and lemongrass come from India. The symbol they use for &ldquoGreater Than&rdquo on their bottles is &ldquo>&rdquo. This is the first London dry gin made in India, using botanicals from around the world.
Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin
