In the world of luxury spirits, Quaffine is more than just a premium liqueur – it’s a bold movement. Co-founded by visionaries Isaac Vivek Mani and Olson Pereira, Quaffine is setting out to place India firmly on the global map of high-end liqueurs. With decades of expertise and a steadfast commitment to quality and transparency, this dynamic duo is redefining what it means to indulge in world-class spirits.
As the brand’s consumer base grows and its ambitious expansion plans unfold, Quaffine is not merely a product but a new chapter in India’s alco-bev story, one that blends heritage with modern sophistication. With their innovative spirit and entrepreneurial drive, Isaac and Olson have earned their well-deserved spot in TheGlitz 2025 Catalysts, marking them as the trailblazers to watch as they continue to elevate India’s presence in the international premium spirits arena.
Over To Quaffine’s Isaac Vivek Mani & Olson Pereira
What was the inspiration behind creating Quaffine, and how did you identify this opportunity in India’s alco-bev industry?
Isaac Vivek Mani – The inception of Quaffine could be traced back to our love for Madras Filter Coffee. We saw a great opportunity to create a stand-out brand in India’s alco-bev industry as the filter coffee has a distinctive richness, heritage, and nostalgia element attached to it. Our experience in the spirits industry helped us to understand the nerve of Indian consumers to explore craft products.
The growing demand for specialty coffee culture in the country, along with the inquisitiveness towards the various uses of coffee in cocktails, created a conducive market situation. Bringing India’s first cold brew coffee liqueur, Quaffine fills a huge gap in the alco-bev category, creating an appeal due to its versatility. It can be effortlessly paired with ginger ale and tonic water and incorporated in Espresso Martinis, used as a base for Quaff-groni (our spin on Negroni), or can be complemented with desserts like Affogato and Tiramisu.
We aimed to create an honest Indian product—crafted with utmost care and free from additives—creating a brand for both the local and global palate.
With Quaffine being crafted from 100% Arabica beans sourced from Chikmagalur, how do you ensure the quality and consistency of the product, and what role does Indian terroir play in its distinct flavor profile?
Olson Pereira – Karnataka’s Chikmagalur region is renowned for its coffee, offering one of the most favorable terroirs for the Arabica beans. The rainfall, temperature, and unique soil composition, along with high-altitude estates, help the beans to have rich, chocolatey notes and hints of caramel and fruits.
The Chikmagalur region in Karnataka is renowned for its coffee, offering one of the most pristine terroirs for Arabica beans. The high-altitude estates, combined with the region’s unique soil composition, temperature, and rainfall, result in beans that have rich, chocolatey notes and hints of fruits and caramel.
To ensure quality and consistency:
- We store the beans in a temperature and humidity-controlled warehouse to maintain the quality.
- The beans are roasted until they attain an accurate medium-dark profile. It is a part of the 18-step process that includes brewing, maturation, and bottling.
- We conduct very strict checks to ensure that there is consistency across flavor, aroma, and texture.
The unique Indian terroir gives Quaffine its distinct flavor profile with hints of caramel, roasted nuts, chocolate, and butterscotch, making the drinking experience delectable, reflecting its origin.
The production of Quaffine follows a meticulous 18-step process. Can you share more about this process and how it contributes to the superior taste and quality of your liqueur?
Olson Pereira – Quaffine goes through a thorough 18-step process to ensure that it retains the essence of its premium coffee beans while providing an unmatched flavor.
Some of the highlights include:
- Bean Sourcing: We pick the finest beans from the estates at Chikmagalur in Karnataka, maintaining quality since the beginning of the process.
- Roasting: The beans are roasted till they attain a medium-dark profile to let the optimal flavor linger without over-extraction.
- Brewing: The cold-brewing step helps in the extraction of coffee’s richness while reducing bitterness.
- Maturation: The liqueur that is obtained is stored in stainless steel tanks for the flavors of sugar, coffee, and alcohol to mend together perfectly.
- Filtration: We run a meticulous filtration of any particles without hampering the body or flavor of the product.
This process is essential to not compromise the integrity of the coffee’s original notes while delivering a product that is smooth, balanced, and versatile.
Quaffine has already received multiple international accolades, including a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023. What do these awards mean to you, and how do they reflect the global potential of Indian-made products?
Isaac Vivek Mani – Bagging a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition was both a milestone and a recognition of our vision to position Indian craftsmanship in the global spotlight. These awards and honors represent that Quaffine isn’t only a local favorite but a product that meets and surpasses global standards of excellence.
The accolades also highlight the tremendous global potential of made-in-India products when they are crafted with authenticity, precision, and a commitment to superior standards. For us, they reassert the idea that India can be a leader in premium spirits, especially in niche domains like liqueurs.
In addition to its use in cocktails, Quaffine is also a versatile ingredient for desserts. How do you see Quaffine influencing mixology and culinary culture in India and abroad?
Olson Pereira – Quaffine’s bold, multi-dimensional flavor profile perfectly adapts to both mixology and culinary experimentation.
- In Cocktails: Bartenders are exploring Quaffine in classics such as Espresso Martinis, crafting unique pairings with whiskies and gins, or even incorporating it in spritzes and tonics for refreshing aperitifs.
- In Desserts: Quaffine adds a unique twist to recipes for tiramisu, chocolate mousse, or coffee-flavored cheesecakes, where its rich coffee notes are most prominent.
We anticipate Quaffine becoming a go-to favorite among chefs, bartenders, and even consumers at home who are always on the lookout for premium-quality, multi-purpose ingredients to enhance their craft and drinking occasions. It seamlessly bridges the gap between coffee culture and fine spirits, providing countless possibilities for innovation.
