All About Alcohol is our country’s first museum of its kind. It was established in 2021, that’s surprisingly late considering our nation’s love for alcohol. We mean, India got a museum dedicated to toilets in 1992 for god’s sake! But hey, better late than never. All About Alcohol museum is based in a state that made alcohol a part of its culture a long time ago – Goa. Drinking (in moderation) is a part of life here, whether it’s a celebration or a casual meet-up, Goa does alcohol right.
This museum is the brainchild of Nandan Kudchadkar, a local Goan businessman who is passionate about drinking and everything related to it. So without any further ado, let’s take a closer look at his creation.
A Deep Dive Into All About Alcohol Museum
It’s located in a picturesque mansion built in Portuguese style near Candolim beach, Goa. All About Alcohol museum spreads around 13,000 square feet and is classified into five sections. The first one is dedicated to old measuring equipment used in the manufacturing of alcohol and also to one of the finest collections of glassware. Don’t you get excited when your drink is served in an attractive glass? Well, there are tons of those glasses here.
Also Read: Types Of Cocktail Glasses You Need At Home
Feast your eyes on the tallest shot glass on this planet! There’s also the coronation glass from Queen Elizabeth II’s collection, crystal glasses, and many others that are essentially works of art. Whoever sold Mr. Kudchadkar the Queen’s glass, we hope they have more of the royal family’s things on sale. It would be nice to have some of our country’s things back.
Three sections of the All About Alcohol museum are laden with things that Mr.Kudchadkar collected over the years. They mostly contain but are not limited to, rare and interesting objects from old bars. But it doesn’t end here, you can say that we’re just getting started.
The museum has unique glasses and bottles everywhere, but more importantly, it has old paraphernalia and equipment. These objects were used in the alcohol distillation process. These items are curated not just from India, but from all around the world.
When you see all this in person, you realize that there’s so much thought that goes into alcohol. Its process of creation, how it’s served, how it should be enjoyed, and so on. Sitting on Goa’s sun-kissed beach and drinking beer is surely fun, but learning about the production process and interesting past of alcohol is equally entertaining. Think about it this way, what is your favorite movie? Now imagine watching its behind-the-scenes footage, blooper reels, etc. It’s sheer fun!
Just think about the mad respect you are going to get when you drop all this knowledge on your unsuspecting friends! The museum also has a special place for antique items that were common in the Goan kitchen. You will see old spoons, grinders, graters, and stoves. Although this doesn’t have anything to do with alcohol, it’s a lovely little addon.
The kind of things you’ll see here are mud pots used for storage of liquor, silver water pots, and a grav (a scale for measuring feni’s strength). Their collection also includes an Austrian beer horn from Russia, corkscrew juicers, shot dispensers, and many other antique items. Some of the manufacturing equipment, glasses, and bottles are from the 15th and 16th centuries! All of this is nothing short of fascinating. Speaking of fascinating, this museum has a whole section dedicated to feni and so do we.
Feni – Goa’s Gift To India
Feni is the indigenous liquor of Goa made from cashew apples and coconuts. The flavor and smell of feni are strong but loveable. Many Goans produce their own feni for home use and its alcohol content is around 43–45% (or more). So if you visit anyone in Goa and they offer you feni, just say “yes!”
The commercial fenis have around 42.8% abv. It’s a potent liquor and peope usually enjoy having it neat or on the rocks. But you can also have it in a cocktail or with juice. Here’s a fun fact, if you drink too much feni, even your sweat will smell of it. Why do we know this? Well, let’s move on!
Nandan Kudchadkar, being a true Goan, has a special place for feni in his heart and in his museum. You can find several items related to this liquor here. There’s also an old Goan-style tavern in the museum with a cellar containing over a thousand bottles of feni. This tavern has one more thing that you all must have been waiting for – a bar! This is where you get to drink the fenis, delicious cocktails, and All About Alcohol’s signature drinks.
Also Read: 6 Beers In Goa To Quench Your Alcoholic Thirst
The Inception Of All About Alcohol Museum
Kudchadkar’s habit of storing interesting objects formed a collection of rare objects. Lucky for him, his parents didn’t scold him for bringing home random things. During his trips around the world, he noticed that there isn’t an alcohol museum anywhere and it bugged him. Couple this two with his pride in Goa and feni and his love for history and boom! You got a guy who saw a problem, dedicatedly came up with a solution, and created the museum of his dreams.
Also Read: How To Take Care Of Bar Equipment
What’s The Experience Of Visiting The All About Alcohol Museum?
We all enjoy our drinks and some of us also know a lot about them, but visiting a museum dedicated to it’s a whole different deal. Drinking is a fun activity that this museum takes seriously. Almost every aspect here has a great deal of attention. Along with feni testing sessions and a proper bar, the museum also has tours that you must take. The level of knowledge the guides impart here is commendable and very interesting. It’s not just about feni and alcohol, but also about the things related to it.
Also Read: 7 Best Pubs In Goa With A Dance Floor
Location: Main Road, Candolim, Goa 403515
Timings: Everyday – 11 am to 9 pm
Entry Fees/ Cost: INR 300. It includes a 45-minutes tour of the museum.
Duration: You can easily spend around one and a half hours here.
Summing Up
It makes us happy and we know you feel the same, that there’s an alcohol museum in India! Man’s greatest invention shouldn’t have had to wait this long. We know the wheel is often considered the greatest invention, but come on! Can you have a great time with your friends by sitting around a table full of wheels?
It’s indeed a matter of pride to have a museum like this in our country. So the next time you’re in Goa, don’t forget to pay this unique museum a visit.
