By Rajeev Mokashi

As Bengaluru represents India’s Silicon Valley, Goa is India’s very own GINicon Valley. Gin, once a tipple beloved by British soldiers, is now the world’s fastest-growing spirit and India’s most popular artisanal spirit. This fragrant, flavorful beverage is staging a comeback. Catapulted into the limelight by the recent surge in micro-distilleries, gin has not only shaken off its outdated image but also openly embraced the trend for craft cocktails and gin bars.

New to Gin? Let your ima-gin-ation run wild with four-ingredient or less cocktails that get right to the point. Whether you are toasting a special occasion with pals, having a romantic evening for two or mixing up a batch of drinks for “girls night in”, Blame TheGlitz for your newly-discovered gin addiction on World Gin Day.

GREAT INDIAN GIN

Great Indian Gin (GiG) is the latest homegrown spirit to come out of Goa. This juniper-laced spirit is extremely versatile and is experimenting with new flavours to entice tipplers. Great Indian Gin deviates from the path taken by most other gin manufacturers. Attracting a whole new demographic: vodka lovers. Great Indian Gin is available in three variants: the flagship product, Shimla green apple, and Nagpur orange.

“The word ‘gig’ often comes to mind when you think of going out and having a good time, because it involves song and dance.” What began with GiG as a moniker, developed over time to Great Indian Gin to represent a story of celebration and good times.”

Great Indian Gin

GREAT INDIAN GIN SUNDROP

Fresh juice, the precise ratio of ingredients, and optimum dilution are all essential components to enjoying this easy summer sizzle.

Preparation: Start by adding Great Indian Gin to the ice filled glass. On top of that pour fresh orange juice. Add to that Tonic water. Stir to mix. Garnish the drink with a orange slice. Look no further for parings, the tangy nature of Gin Sundrop harmonizes beautifully with seafood. For the vegetarians, pick any soft, creamy cheese which also pair well

GREEN INDIAN GIN COCO ORO

A simple combination of GiG and coconut water, but it’s more about the execution.

Preparation: Add GiG Nagpur Orange to the ice filled glass. Pour fresh Coconut water into the glass. Stir to mix. Garnish with Orange slice.

HAPUSA

Derived from Sanskrit, Hapusa means ‘Juniper’. A Himalayan dry gin using Himalayan juniper berries. Distilled by Nao Spirits, Hapusa is a modern, juniper-forward spirit which includes raw mango, Gondhoraj limes and almond in the botanical mixture with floral notes that shine through.

Cocktail suggestion: Straight up with a garnish of mint.

MALHAR

Malhar is another modern creation from the makers of Paul John Whisky. The Malhar Classic Dry gin is vapour infused with fifteen botanicals and juniper being the driving flavour. The aromas on the nose come from rich herbs, soft florals, to peppery spice finish. Equally marvellous is Malhar Citrus which is vapour infused with eleven botanicals with intense lime aroma on the nose. There’s nothing flashy about this gin. Refreshingly zesty with hints of hibiscus and angelica.

Classic Gin Martini

Ingredients:

75 ml Malhar Classic gin,
15 ml dry vermouth
1 dash of orange bitters

Preparation:

Pour gin, dry vermouth in a glass over ice , top it with a dash of orange bitters, stir briefly, quaff. Garnish with olives or lemon twist.

AMRUT NILGIRIS

A refreshingly herbal forward gin from the makers of Amrut Single Malt Whisky. While juniper remains front and center of this dry handcrafted gin, the botanicals includes coriander, lemongrass, angelica, orris root, cinnamon, mace, nutmeg and tea. Its botanicals are grown in the pristine Nilgiris (Blue mountains in the Western ghats of India at 7000 ft above sea level.

Cocktail suggestion: Nilgiris + Tonic = Bliss

TAMRAS

Derived from Sanskrit, Tamras means “copper extract“. Produced in Goa using sixteen-botanicals, its a bright fresh expression with notes of juniper, lotus fennel, grapefruit and some nilgiri tea on the finish. Tamras is quite unique with the base spirit steeped in Basmati rice sourced from punjab.

Tamras Hibiscus Gimlet

A simple combination of 50 ml Tamras gin, 25 ml hibiscus cordial, 5 ml Lemon juice, Ice cubes. Hibiscus pet for decoration.
Add Tamras hibiscus cordial and lemon juice to a shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with petal.

Remember, there is a gin-based cocktail for everyone; go find your gravitas. Like we at TheGlitz like to put it, GINdagi phir milna dobara!