Alcohol has largely been a male-dominated industry for quite a while. But in recent times, there are ample women at the helm of liquor brands in India who are running their businesses to excellence. These women entrepreneurs have paved a way for themselves in this male-dominated world and are here to stay. Their spirits have shaken and stirred the industry, bringing to the public some top-notch alcoholic beverages in the country.
Here are six women entrepreneurs who have taken the Indian alcohol industry by storm with their work and ideas.
- Kasturi Banerjee, Founder, Maka Zai Rum
- Sakshi Saigal, Co-Founder, Stranger & Sons
- Varna Bhat, Founder, Rahasya Vodka
- Anjali Shahi and Lavanya Jayashankar, Co-Founders, Matinee Gin
- Yoginee Budhkar and Ashwini Deore, Co-Founders, Cerana Meads
- Devika Bhagat, Co-Founder, Tamras Gin
1. Kasturi Banerjee, Founder, Maka Zai Rum
Kasturi Banerjee is the founder of Stilldistilling Spirits, producers of India’s first golden rum. Before she launched Maka Zai Rum, she was a banker for over 14 years. With a keen interest in wine, spirits, and bartending, Kasturi Banerjee quit her job. She then took up a six-month bartending course and took up an internship in a bar in Mumbai to turn her passion into a profession.
Stilldistilling Spirits was launched in early 2020 and Maka Zai Rum was the first product that they launched. Maka zai is the literal translation for ‘I want’ in Konkani; the rum comes in two variants – the Bartender Edition, a white rum, and the Tribute Edition, a gold rum. This rum is produced in Goa with ingredients sourced from different parts of India. The bottles are manufactured in Firozabad, the bottle caps in Meerut, and the molasses are sourced from west India. Overall, this brand is exceptionally well-crafted and is one of the most renowned homegrown brands of India.
Also Read: 7 Classic Rum Cocktails
2. Sakshi Saigal, Co-Founder, Stranger & Sons
Sakshi Saigal is the co-founder of the very popular gin Stranger & Sons. Her interest in alcohol, specifically gin, grew stronger when she was pursuing her studies in Barcelona, Spain. With ample gin bars in the vicinity, she wondered why India’s gin game was lacking. She started studying more about the Indian market and decided to launch her own gin back in India. In 2018, Sakshi partnered up with her husband Rahul Mehra, and her cousin Vidur Gupta, and founded Stranger & Sons.
Stranger & Sons is one of the most unique alcohol brands in India that stands out with the packaging itself. Looking at the bottle, you know that this gin was produced in India. It’s one of the finest gins that has the perfect combination of Indian flavors. The flavor profile is sweet and spicy, and it has strong notes of citrus peels, spices, and ginger. Stranger & Sons gin is produced in Goa and is available in India as well as in other countries like Taiwan, Dubai, Thailand, London, and Singapore. So, if you are a fan of gin, get your hands on Stranger & Sons Gin and try it for yourself.
Also Read: Most Expensive Beer Brands In India
3. Varna Bhat, Founder, Rahasya Vodka
Varna Bhat is the founder of an alco-beverage company called Blisswater Industries. This company launched Rahasya Vodka in December 2020 which took the Indian alcobev industry by storm. Varna Bhat has been an entrepreneurial-minded person who has founded three companies to date. Her parents wanted her to be a civil servant, but she had a different area of interest.
While she was researching the Indian alcobev industry, she realized that there was a huge gap in the market since there were close to no vodkas made in India. On a quest to fill this gap, Varna Bhat founded Blisswater Industries and launched Rahasya Vodka. The hint of spice in this flavored vodka is uniquely Indian, making it different from the rest of the vodkas in the market. Rahasya Vodka is one of the most unique vodkas that you will find in the country and Varna Bhat wishes to take it global.
Also Read: 10 Of The Best Vodka Brands In India
4. Anjali Shahi and Lavanya Jayashankar, Matinee Gin
Anjali Shahi and Lavanya Jayashankar are friends-cum-co-founders of Indian craft gin brand Matinee Gin. They studied together in Singapore back in 2003, and had their fair share of Gin and Tonics. It wasn’t until 2017 when Shahi, while she was working in London, realized that India had very limited local gin brands. That’s when she made up her mind to make an Indian gin along with her friend Lavanya.
Matinee Gin has a combination of Kagzi lime, white turmeric, snake saffron, and Goan peppercorn. These, as well as some of the other ingredients used in the production of this gin, have never been used before in another gin. And that is one of the things that sets this brand apart from others in the market. Another great thing about Matinee Gin is that it pairs amazingly well with plenty of spirits and mixers. So, it’s great to use for some delicious gin cocktails as well.
Also Read: Indian Craft Gins To Try In 2022
5. Yoginee Budhkar and Ashwini Deore, Founders, Cerana Meads
Dr. Ashwini Deore and Dr. Yoginee Budhkar are the founders of Cerana Meads, a brand that they are extremely proud of. These founders were keenly interested in the Indian alcobev industry and worked towards learning and researching about the same. Both these entrepreneurs pursued their doctorates together from the Food Engineering and Technology Department at the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai. Yoginee got hers in Biotechnology while Ashwini got her Ph.D. in Bio-process Technology.
Yoginee was interested in meads but couldn’t find any locally. So, she decided to turn her passion into a business and experimented with making some for herself. She reached out to Ashwini and with their combined knowledge, passion, and knack for creativity and innovation, they found Cerana Meads. Their meads are produced in Nashik and lay a huge emphasis on the Indian flavor profile. A variety of fruits, spices, and honey are some of the natural and organic ingredients that go into producing Cerana Meads. This brand is also focused on sustainability and has been getting a lot of love from people all across India.
Also Read: 7 Best Sparkling Wine Cocktail Recipes
6. Devika Bhagat, Co-Founder, Tamras Gin
Yes, we have another homegrown gin brand on the list which is also distilled in Goa. This gin brand was co-founded by Devika Bhagat who is also a screenwriter. She used to have vodka until her friend introduced her to gin back in 2008. It was love at first sip and gin soon grew to be her favorite drink. She later introduced gin to her friend Khalil Bachooali and it was the same for him. Both of them decided to pursue this journey of making a gin that fit the Indian flavor profile and was of the finest quality.
Tamras Gin is distilled in small batches to ensure the quality is intact and you taste the same flavor with every sip you take or bottle you open. There are about 16 botanical ingredients used in making this gin which include black and green cardamom, fennel, pepper, lotus seeds, grapefruit, Nilgiri tea, Indian mint coriander seeds, and sweet lime. And the best part? No sugar, artificial flavors, or essences are added to the making of this delicious gin.
Plus, Tamras Gin was curated and created by the co-founders with the help of master distiller Julia Nourney, a German spirits consultant who has been working in this industry for over 20 years. Her experience, knowledge, and palate has helped Tamras Gin have a refined flavor profile. So if you want to try out some refined gin that is made with all-natural ingredients, is an absolute delight to taste, and comes at an affordable price range as well, Tamras Gin is the one to try.
Also Read: Top 8 Gin Brands In India
Summing Up
So there you have it, that’s a list of some of the best Indian alcohol brands founded by women. These women founders and co-founders have contributed to the changes that the Indian alcobev industry has gone through over the past few years. These alcohol brands are a must-try as they bring a unique flavor palette. So if you’re interested in trying something new, give these Indian alcohol brands founded by women a try.
FAQs
What Are Homegrown Brands?
Homegrown brands are those businesses that are created primarily for consumers in India. The brand could be exporting their products in other countries as well. Some Indian homegrown brands are Smoke Vodka, Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin, Simba Beer, Maka Zai Rum, and Stranger & Sons.
What Is The Name Of The Company Owned By India’s Top Successful Business Woman?
The Indian alcobev industry is transforming and there are plenty of women entrepreneurs running these businesses. Some of the prominent names that stand out are
- Anjali Shahi and Lavanya Jayashankar
- Yoginee and Ashwini
- Sakshi Saigal
- Varna Bhat
- Kasturi Banerjee
- Devika Bhagat
How Big Is The Alcohol Industry In India?
The Indian alcobev industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The industry has seen consistent and steady growth with each passing year; in 2020, the industry had an estimated market size of $52.5 billion.
Is Alcohol Banned In Gujarat?
Gujarat is one of the dry States in the country where manufacturing and sale of alcohol is banned. It’s a punishable offense under the Gujarat Prohibition Act 1949.
What Is The Biggest Alcohol Company In India?
United Spirits Limited, United Breweries Limited, Radico Khaitan Limited, Globus Spirits Limited, and Som Distilleries And Breweries Limited are some of the biggest alcohol companies in India.
What Alcohol Is India Famous For?
Apart from all the mainstream spirits like whiskey, wine, gin, vodka, etc, India also has a set of other alcoholic drinks that it’s well known for. Some of those alcoholic drinks are palm toddy, rice beer, rice wine, and cashew feni.
In Which State Is Alcohol Banned In India?
In India alcohol consumption is prohibited in the states of Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland, and Mizoram.
What Is The National Drink Of India?
The national drink of India is tea. It’s one of the most consumed beverages in the country besides alcohol.
