Exploring India’s Top 13 Gins Redefining Craft Distilling

1. GinGin

Gin Gin comprises nine botanicals that include hemp, Himalayan juniper, coriander, lavender, rosemary, caraway seeds, cinnamon, lemongrass and butterfly pea flower. When GinGin launched in 2020, it was branded as India’s only single-shot distilled ‘hemp’ gin.

2. Hapusa

Soon after the launch of Greater Than, the NÄO Spirits team moved their attention to their more premium gin variant, Hapusa, Sanskrit for juniper. Hapusa sources its juniper berries from the Himalayan region and uses turmeric, mango, coriander seeds and almonds as part of its recipe. With floral notes and a spiced finish, Hapusa evokes earthy flavours on the palate.

3. Jaisalmer

Made from a blend of botanicals such as lemongrass, Darjeeling Green Tea, citrus peels, juniper and other Indian herbs, Jaisalmer Gin is manufactured by Radico Khaitan in their Rampur distillery. The gin is a triple-distilled neutral grain spirit, re-distilled in a traditional copper pot still.

4. Matinee Gin

Having spent years experimenting distillation with 42 different ingredients, duo Anjali Shahi and Lavanya Jayashankar finally launched Matinee Gin in 2021. The spirit boasted botanicals such as snake saffron, white turmeric (instead of Angelica root), kagzi lime and Goan peppercorn when they were not yet heard of in the Indian ginscape.

5. Pumori

Produced by the makers of Woodburns Whisky, Pumori is named after Mount Pumori, which is located just 8km west of Mount Everest. The New Western-style gin shines with Himalayan juniper, orange peel, lemon peel, cardamom, coriander seeds, liquorice, nutmeg, rosemary, aniseed, cinnamon, almond and vanilla.

6. Satiwa

A hemp-based craft gin that is infused with botanicals such as juniper, rose petals, black pepper, lemongrass and fennel. Distilled in Margao, Goa, this gin features a nutty flavour that carries a citrus tang.

7. Soci Gin

With flavours of cucumber and citrus, this craft gin was created in Goa by craft liquor platform House of Good Barrel Distillery Pvt. Ltd. in collaboration with Living Liquidz. It boasts a flavour riddled with coriander and cardamom, with a dash of pepper lending a spicy twist.

8. Stranger and Sons

With ingredients from across the country, including their own garden, Stranger & Sons shines with a healthy dose of juniper, along with a hit of black pepper, nutmeg, mace, coriander seed, angelica, liquorice, cassia and citrus peels. The gin has a bright, citrus-forward character that makes it enjoyable as a refreshing G&T.

9. Tamras

The copper distilled Indian dry gin has intense spices and ingredients that make for a lasting taste. Think Angelica root, Moroccan coriander seeds, green and black cardamom, lemon verbena, Indonesia cubeb peppers, Egyptiangrapefruit, Nilgiri tea, lotus flower and seeds among other things.

10. Terry Sent Me!

An ode to the speakeasy bars of the 1930s, this gin holds lively aromas of spice infused with a citrus delight. Its ingredients include juniper berries, coriander, lemon, orange peel, cardamom, angelica root and Ghondoraj lime.

11. Tickle Gin

There’s Himalayan juniper, orange peel, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander seeds, clove and even black pepper grown in the factory plantation of Adinco Distilleries. The gin is juniper forward with pepper and cardamom notes on the palate.

12. Trading Tides

Made in Goa, this gin is a coastal dry gin that has Australian lemon myrtle, anise myrtle and river mint, infused with Indian mangosteed, kokum and tamarind. It boasts freshness and hints of citrus flavours and warm spice.

13. Jin JiJi

Jin Jiji uses juniper sourced from the Himalayas and distills its spirit with other Indianbotanicals such as tulsi and chamomile in a copper pot still in Goa. The jiji in the moniker is derived from the Hindi word jijivisha to describe a passion and lust for life.