ByMaggandeep Singh

September 17, 2019 (IANSlife) Back as a student, a time when I was strangely old enough for college, yet not of legal drinking age, for all purposes legal and practical, Old Monk and Kingfisher were the staple at any hostel party. It was a gift that was never refused. Over a decade later, while all of us had grown to afford other pricier tipples, the joy that could be had from imbibing those nostalgic nips of yore remained unparalleled.

 

Back then, we made a bit of everything, but not all of it was truly world class. What we lacked in the gin and other white spirits department, we more than made up with our whisky prowess. Today, while locally-made whiskies and single malts remain much sought after even in international markets, our gins and agave spirits aren’t too far behind.

Here, without further ado, are a few homegrown brands across spirits and brews, which are made to exacting global standards; stuff that’s definitely worth having at home.

Beer:

 

The category which has seen the fastest growth, one almost at par with the dotcom boom, is this one. It all started with Bira91, and as they charted one successful milestone after another, they lent inspiration to many an entrepreneur who too decided to get a-brewin’! A few years down and we have extremely serious beers on our shelves, from White Rhino to the quirky Goa Brewing Company. Bira91 too has reworked its offerings and added more complex styles, the kind that normally mostly (and only) appeal to the most ardent of beer-lovers. In a country where summer lasts almost nine months a year, beer is the definite choice of beverage.

Gins:

 

Although it remains a distant second to vodka, gin is growing at an alarming rate in India and in no small measure the credit goes to three brands -- Stranger & Sons, Greater Than, Hapusa - which currently dominate the local shelf. Remember that for the longest time gin was a spirit that was only sold at armed forces’ clubs and mostly downed with lime cordial. Today, what we have is a lot more refined and international in style. And let’s not forget that the success of gins in India is symbiotically connected to the appearance of multiple Indian tonic water brands on the scene as well, which have certainly furthered the popularity of this time-tested mix.

Whiskies:

 

Back to the behemoths, our single malts are now raking in the awards at international competitions and Paul John from Goa leads the charge. Other notable brands, include Rampur and a relatively new entrant, Woodburn (also from Goa), which, while it lacks the refinement of Rampur, is still a pretty smokey and sprightly little number.

Wines:

 

The category which was the first to win us international accolade has somewhat languished behind the others in the last few years but wine, unlike many other beverages, takes time, especially when done right. Sula might be a market leader, but Fratelli is close behind. Qualitatively speaking, Fratelli and KRSMA rule roost, followed by York, Reveilo and Vallonne. Sangiovese and syrah seem to be the star performers among the reds, while whites are led by grapes like Viognier and the Sauvignon Blanc.

Others:

And then we have the others -- those that aren’t exactly mainstream but certainly come with a lot of tradition and history backing them up. First up is Desmondji with their Mahua liquor, possibly the world’s only floral distillate and one that is indigenous to India since the time of the Vedas! Desmondji first had success making agave spirits and rums and cocktail mixers and now, after much research and trials, managed to revive this original Indian spirit. Speaking of old, probably nothing is older in the world of drinks than mead, the drink of the Gods, one that comes up in mythologies as diverse as Norse to Hindu. Moonshine Meadery makes not just the OG version, but also a few contemporary ones, ranging from coffee mead to an apple cyder mead as also certain limited release batches.

All in all, there is much to rejoice. If I were in college today (and yet, somehow, of legal drinking age in India), the variety would be mind-boggling.

 

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Editing by Ritu Pandey and N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe