Gin! What was once a small section on the bar menu has now become a people’s favorite. The increasing demand for gin and emerging homegrown gin brands have started a gin revolution in India. One of the many interesting things about gin produced in India is the use of ingredients like herbs and spices that have revolutionized the gin concoction. It’s time you stock up your home bar with these best homegrown gin brands!
7 Best Homegrown Gin Brands
- Stranger & Sons
- Gin Gin
- Hapusa
- Clearly Good Gin
- Jin Jiji
- Terai
- Samsara
1. Stranger & Sons
Stranger & Sons was established in 2018 by Third Eye Distillery in Goa. It is made from ingredients across India. This gin comprises 9 botanicals, including Gondhoraj limes, junipers, caraway seeds, black pepper, coriander seeds, angelica, licorice, nutmeg, and citrus peels. The strong and spicy taste of the gin comes from spices like black pepper while ingredients like licorice and cassia bark add to its smooth finish and earthy taste.
Three types of citrus peels are used to craft this gin – the distinct Gondhoraj limes (sourced from Kolkata), Indian Bergamot, and Nagpur oranges. You can make delicious gin-based cocktails like Negroni, Gimlet, and Martini with it. A bold and delicious gin, it earned a Master medal at ‘The Asian Spirits Masters 2021’.
Taste notes: It has a bold and citrusy flavor with a cinnamon-like finish that comes from cassia bark.
Also Read: Top 8 Gin Brands In India
2. Gin Gin
When talking about the best homegrown gin brands in India, the country’s only hemp gin definitely can’t be forgotten. We’re talking about Gin Gin, founded by Shubham Khanna, a millennial entrepreneur. He traveled to New York to study the process of gin-making and established Gin Gin after several trials. It’s made with 9 botanicals – juniper, coriander, lavender, rosemary, caraway seeds, cinnamon, lemongrass, butterfly pea, and hemp.
Distilled and bottled in Goa, Gin Gin is also known to be India’s first single-shot vapor-infused gin. This gin gets its one-of-a-kind taste from ingredients that are sourced in India, namely Himalayan juniper berries and hemp from Uttarakhand. Cocktail lovers can try making drinks like G&T and Negroni with Gin Gin.
Taste notes: The hemp used to make Gin Gin adds to its flavors and smooth texture. This gin does not have a flavor profile that’s too juniper-forward.
Also Read: Indian Craft Gins To Try In 2022
3. Hapusa
Launched in 2018 by Nao Spirits, Hapusa is the first gin in India that’s made from Himalayan juniper berries. ‘Hapusa’ translates to ‘juniper’ in Sanskrit, and the Himalayan juniper is the star ingredient of this gin. The other botanicals used to craft this gin are also sourced from various places within India, like the forest areas of Tamil Nadu and the pine forests in the Himalayas. Some of them are turmeric, mango, coriander seeds, ginger, cardamom, Gondhoraj limes, and almonds.
Hapusa has aromas of wildflowers and pine forests. The wonderful flavors of Hapusa are a result of its distillation process that takes place in a 1000-liter copper pot. This gin won a gold medal at ‘The International Wine & Spirits Competition 2021’. You can consume this gin by chilling it and garnishing it with some fresh mint leaves.
Taste notes: Hapusa has bold, floral, and earthy notes on the palate with a spiced and smoky finish.
Also Read: 7 Best Sparkling Wine Cocktail Recipes
4. Clearly Good Gin
Clearly Good Gin has turned out to be a game-changer in India’s beverage industry, particularly in the gin department. It’s India’s first blue gin and is considered to be the most affordable gin in the world, with a price of INR 250 onwards for a bottle of 350 ml. This gin is another product of Shubham Khanna, the founder of Gin Gin. Clearly Good Gin’s making involves an 8-time distillation process after which it is vapor-infused with several botanicals.
The ingredients used to make this gin include 15 botanicals, some of which are Himalayan juniper, coriander, cinnamon, pepper, Indian green chilies, and butterfly pea powder. If you’re wondering how Clearly Good Gin gets its blue color, it’s all thanks to the butterflower pea powder used in its making. Here’s a magical cocktail recipe for you – all you have to do is add some tonic water to the gin and it’ll change its color to pink!
Taste notes: Clearly Good Gin has sweet, citrusy flavors. Ingredients like kokum leaves, kaffir lime leaves, lemon peels, Nagpur orange peels, and Gondhoraj lime used to make it add to its flavors.
Also Read: Most Expensive Beer Brands In India
5. Jin Jiji
Jin Jigi is a hand-crafted dry gin that’s produced in Goa. It’s different from other gin brands in India as cashews and tulsi are two of the primary ingredients used in its making. The name of this gin brand comes from the Hindi word ‘jijivisha’ which means ‘lust for life’. Jin Jiji has marketed itself as wanting to spread positivity and happiness with the world, hence the name.
The botanicals used to make this gin include Himalayan juniper berries, tulsi, chamomile, and coriander seeds. Jin Jiji’s distillation process takes place in a copper pot in Goa. This gin has grabbed the attention of gin lovers because it’s known to be the only gin in the world that uses cashews in its production. The quirky label and packaging of Jin Jiji are as interesting as its flavors. Another variant of this gin is Jin Jiji Darjeeling, which is a tea-inspired variant.
Taste notes: Jin Jiji has a complex herbaceous flavor with floral and citrusy notes.
Also Read: 7 Expensive Wines In India
6. Terai
Terai is an Indian dry gin that’s made in Rajasthan. The gin is launched by India Craft Spirits Company and can be considered a modern version of the London-style dry gin. However, its flavors and characteristics are truly Indian!
The botanicals to make Terai are sourced from Khari Baoli, which is Asia’s largest spice market. It is made using 11 botanicals, some of which are juniper berries, tulsi, coriander, fennel, lemon peel, lavender, orange peel, rose, angelica, and orris root. You can make classic cocktails like Martini and Negroni with this gin.
Taste notes: Terai gin has lush green notes with a citrusy zest. It has sweet and herbaceous flavors on the palate, along with a sweet and piney juniper aroma on the nose.
7. Samsara
Samsara is an Indian craft gin that definitely qualifies as one of the best homegrown gin brands in India. The distillation of this gin is done in the London Dry style. Samsara is made with 11 handpicked botanicals including organic hemp seeds, rose petals, vetiver grass, green cardamom, and juniper. Just so you know, the juniper berries used to make this gin are sourced all the way from Macedonia in Europe!
Taste notes: Samsara has floral and zesty notes along with subtle notes of spicy earthiness.
Summing Up
That was our pick on the best homegrown gin brands in India. All of the above-mentioned gin brands use different types of botanicals and have a unique packaging. It seems like these homegrown gin brands in India are redefining and creating gin that can be called exclusively Indian! Go ahead and pick your favorite for your next G&T party sessions with friends.
FAQs
Which Is The Best Indian Gin?
Some of the best homegrown gin brands in India are as follows:
- Stranger & Sons
- Gin Gin
- Hapusa
- Clearly Good Gin
- Jin Jiji
- Calcutta Gin
Does India Produce Gin?
The gin scene in India in the past years has had tremendous growth because of the rising popularity and demand for the spirit. There are several best homegrown gin brands that are producing the spirit using botanicals found across the country. Some of the popular gins produced in India are Stranger & Sons, Gin Gin, Hapusa, etc.
Which Is The Cheapest Gin In India?
Some of the best and cheapest gin brands in India are Clearly Good Gin, Calcutta Gin, McDowell’s/MrDowell’s Blue Riband, etc.
Is Calcutta Gin Good?
Calcutta Gin is considered to be one of the best homegrown gin brands. Its taste doesn’t have strong notes of juniper and it feels smooth on the palate. If you’re a fan of cocktails, you can make delicious drinks with Calcutta Gin.
How Is Gin Drunk?
Gin can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks. For those who prefer cocktails, you can pair gin with tonic water, lime juice, or soda water and savor the drink.
What Can You Mix With Gin?
You can mix the following ingredients with gin:
- Tonic water
- Soda water
- Sparkling wine
- Ginger beer
- Vermouth
- Ginger ale
- Pineapple juice
- Grapefruit juice
What Is Gin And Tonic Called?
Gin and Tonic is also known as ‘G&T’ and is one of the most preferred cocktails across the world. There are several variations and recipes of the G&T cocktail that modern mixologists and bartenders have come up with.
What Are The 3 Key Ingredients In Gin?
Most gin brands use 3 key ingredients – juniper berries, neutral spirit (produced by distilling grains like rye, corn, barley, etc), and botanicals (coriander, angelica root, licorice, etc).
