It’s no secret that India loves it’s gin, and when it comes from the very heart of the country – well, let’s just say we’re suckers for it. TERAI Dry Gin that is now available at select stores in New Delhi fulfills that for us and more.
This London dry gin is inspired by the beautiful marshlands that lie at the foothills of the Himalayas – also known as ‘Terai’ and puts emphasis on provenance and authenticity. It is distilled in a one-shot process in a distillery based in Behror, using 11 meticulously selected ingredients and a rice grain spirit from a neighbouring family-owned distillery.
Shekhar Swarup, the founder of India Craft Spirits Co, is responsible for this wonderful gin coming our way. His family has had ties with the Terai region since the 1700s. In fact, the family’s ancestral land still exists just outside of the region. Their family was responsible for establishing one of the first few distilleries of independent India in 1958 and have been involved in India’s burgeoning alcohol industry ever since.
Speaking to us about the creation of TERAI Dry Gin, he says, “We wanted to create an authentic dry gin of true provenance, a product of intrinsic quality and taste, crafted entirely in India with a focus on indigenous ingredients. A gin that Indians all over the world can be proud to call their own. One fine day, my father sat down and tasted, chewed, distilled and discussed over a 100 locally sourced botanicals, in various combinations, till we arrived at the first version of this original gin.”
He goes on to tell us about what sets the gin apart from its competition – “TERAI India Dry Gin is a herbaceous fresh-sip which immediately elicits notions of a lush, green landscape, like the Terai region itself. From setting up a new boutique gin distillery, the only one of its kind in India with a visitor’s center to a copper pot-still fashioned in Germany, our custom bottle, our insistence on ‘The Spirit of Craft’ and a host of other elements, TERAI has taken it’s time to get its foundation together in the best way possible. In the last month since we’ve been available on shelves in Delhi, it’s been very encouraging to see the audience appreciate all that TERAI brings to the table. “
The founder also believes that the craft liquor industry is growing manifold with audiences beginning to understand the the value of small-batch Indian players. He trusts that TERAI will grow along with the craft drinks space in the country.
He leaves us with his favourite drinks to create with TERAI Dry Gin, “I personally love having a TERAI Negroni in my downtime but a classic serve would be the TERAI-tonic on ice with a double garnish of a lime wheel and holy basil. TERAI also works really well in a Tom Collins, in dry martinis, and in South Sides.”
Gin enthusiasts in the capital city are definitely in for a treat!
