Gin Is In!

Samira Sheth discovers the spirit behind the gin wave sweeping the country, beginning with two new craft distilleries based right here in Goa!

WHILE craft distilleries have witnessed a boom in the last few years across India, the spirits landscape has mainly seen a host of breweries popping up across the country. A variety of craft beers has been and continues to be introduced into the market. And yet, interestingly there has also been a move into a completely different area – that of gin.

India’s own history as the birthplace of the iconic gin and tonic (the Britishers took to tonic to ward off malaria and then mixed it with gin to make it more palatable) is seeing a revival with the sudden interest in gin drinking across the country. More people are drinking gin and there are more gins available to drink as well thanks largely to a couple of exciting new boutique distilleries that have opened up. There are also more innovative ways of drinking the versatile spirit. The “ginaissance” the world witnessed in 2015 is now well underway in India as well. Now people here seem eager to try new things and partake in the gin culture around the world. In India, a market dominated by IMFL or Indian Made Foreign Liquor, most spirits are a result of flavouring/blending/colouring added to plain molasses. There aren’t too many who go through the entire process of distilling which is why these two small distilleries, Nao Spirits and Third Eye are making a big impact, reshaping the story of spirits made in India.