Mumbai is a city that never sleeps, but it sure knows how to unwind and relax. From energetic house parties to slowed down conversations over the bar, do you know what lies at the heart of these moments? A refreshing glass of gin and tonic! The classic spirit has ruled over the hearts of thousands of Mumbaikars for years. With Indian craft gins giving a tough battle to global legacy gin brands, choosing the right gin for you is about a lot of comparison, price analysis, and flavor testing. In this ultimate guide to buying gin in Mumbai, we’ll be guiding you on just that! Keep reading!
To begin with, gin is a distilled alcoholic spirit that gets its signature flavor from juniper berries. To be called a gin, the spirit must technically have a dominant juniper flavor. However, what also characterizes gin is the presence of other botanicals. We’re talking about botanicals like angelica root, lavender, rosemary, basil, cinnamon, and even exotic fruits and spices.
The result is a spirit that smells like a herb garden that flirts with your taste buds!
Most gins have an alcohol content of about 37.5% to 47% while some can have an alcohol content of 50%. This makes gin a particularly strong spirit that can hold itself well on its own as well as in a variety of concoctions.
Gin is not just any clear spirit, it is a spirit with a vivacious personality. Unlike vodka, which aims to be neutral for the most time, each gin comes packed with a unique burst of flavors. Through its botanicals, each gin plays around with citrusy, floral, delicate, intense, herbal, and a whole other gamut of flavors.
Here are some of the main different types of gin available in the market:
This is probably the most popular and widely available style of gin. Despite its name, it doesn’t have to do with London. A London Dry Gin is known for its crisp, dry, and juniper-forward flavor with clean citrus notes. It’s perfect for martinis and traditional gin & tonics.
Plymouth Gin is slightly sweeter and softer than London Dry. It has earthy and rounded flavors and is known for its smooth texture. This makes it great for sipping cocktails.
Old Tom Gin is also sweeter and more aromatic than London Dry. The gin style was popular in the 18th century and has made a flashy comeback in cocktail culture. Old Tom Gin, as the name suggests, works well in a vintage-style cocktail like the Tom Collins.
Contemporary or New Western Gin tones down the predominant juniper in traditional gins and lets other botanicals enter the spotlight. These gins are not afraid to experiment with their botanicals and are modern and creative with their approach.
While London Dry gin easily remains the most popular, Indian Craft Gin is quietly entering the game with a newfound confidence. Indian craft gin uses local botanicals like Himalayan juniper, turmeric, gondhoraj lebu, and other Indian spices. Think of it as a global quality gin with a desi heart.
Also Read: Top 9 Best Gins Under 1000 In Mumbai For 2026
You can buy gin, both Indian homegrown labels and imported ones, from the following sources:
Many upscale neighborhoods like Bandra, Powai, Colaba, and Lower Parel have a wider and more prominent selection of alcohol retail stores. Most of these stores have a more diverse selection of both homegrown and international, imported gins.
On the basis of the gin prices mentioned above, Indian craft gins are usually more affordable and offer excellent value for money. These gins usually start from INR 2,000 onwards but can vary depending on the brand, quantity, and excise laws depending on the state or region.
Imported gins, on the other hand, are slightly pricier due to custom duties and premium positioning. These usually start from INR 3,500 and can go upwards of INR 10,000 as well! Note that gin prices vary depending on the brand, origin, and alcohol taxes.
If you like fresh and citrusy flavors: Go for botanical-heavy or contemporary gins with lemon, orange, or grapefruit notes.
If you like bold, classic flavors: London Dry with a strong juniper flavor is definitely your best pick.
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If you like floral and smooth drinks: Try gins with botanicals like rose, lavender, or cucumber notes.
If you want something uniquely Indian: Try a craft gin with Indian botanicals and spices like turmeric, cardamom, gondhoraj lebu, kaji nemu, Darjeeling tea, and others.
Also Read: How Cherrapunji Gin Is Putting Meghalaya On The Global Spirits Map
Mumbai’s love for gin is reflected in the variety of gin available in the city. Whether you like your gin juniper-forward or love a desi touch of botanicals, there are plenty of gins to choose from. In this ultimate guide to buying gin in Mumbai, we’ve listed down some of our top picks for Indian and imported gins as well as helped you choose the right gin. Explore, experiment, and let the botanicals flirt with your palate!
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