Luxebook June 2022

Bars turn their focus on gins Gin-focused bars fuel the popularity of the beverage in the country. BY ARUSHI SAKHUJA A people’s spirit The quintessential British spirit is elevated in the modern day with a fascinating range of garnished and flavoured tonic water. Given the spread of gin culture, bars across the country have been forced to stock up on their gin collection. After the huge success of the Gin Explorer’s Club in New Delhi and Mumbai, Shuchir Suri, Co-founder, Gin Explorer’s Club and Founder, Jade Forest said, “This uprising in gin culture among urban youth has led to a surge in exclusive gin bars and cocktails across the country, and it’s here to stay. This is just the start. There’s much more experimenting to be done, many more flavours and botanicals to be discovered and of course, a lot more gin to be had!” While international gins do hold a special place, the emergence of homegrown gins has seen an upward trend in the last few years. It is now a given for bars in all metropolitan cities to have a well-stocked bar with a choice of Indian and international gins to choose from. “There has been a shift driven by consumers leaning towards more creative choices. Today, we see that a lot of Indian consumers are excited to try a good homegrown product without feeling like it’s a compromise, and a brand like ours can communicate and ensure high- quality standards,” added Saigal. Spoilt for choice RakshayDhariwal,Founder and MD Pass Code Hospitality further gave a nod to ‘giniassance’. “The resurgence of gin can be credited to the nature of the spirit. It became a hot favourite due to its simplicity in the production process, and its ability to showcase many variations. It’s ‘cool’ to be able to showcase something unique.” Buzzwords such as ‘small batch’ gives the consumer a sense of exclusivity, which is very desirable, especially for youngsters, who can get their hands on something ‘exclusive’ at a cheaper price point. Added Dhariwal, “As a restaurateur, it makes sense to jump onto a trend that is easy to execute. There are also so many options out there that one can really choose to showcase all the different brands on a single platform.” The depth of its flavour and low sugar content make it a popular choice. If you’re looking to try an exciting cocktail in the capital, he suggests the the Truffle Negroni at PCO, a gin-based cocktail which in his worlds “is like a truffle bomb” and the olive-infused gin martini that’s extra dry, and extra dirty. “S haken, not stirred” the classic phrase from the James Bond movie holds more import today. Gin-and-tonic seems to be the choice of beverage of the decade, and while some prefer a stiff drink on the rocks, others like a blend of harmonious flavour notes. No matter which category you fall in, gin bars across the country have ample options to serve you what your palate desires. “Gin has fitted well into cocktail culture. As any gin fan will know, its highly adaptable flavour makes it a perfect infusion for just about any cocktail. And often, only a splash is needed to shape a cocktail, making it an affordable addition to the cocktail scene,” said Jitender Semwal, Head Mixologist, Andaz Delhi. The presence of gin and gin-based cocktails is limited to the main metro cities and it’s still got a long way ahead, pointed out Sakshi Saigal, Director & Co-founder, Third Eye Distillery. She further added, “Although the gin consumption style in India is slowly evolving, we believe that the journey for gin in India is just beginning. Currently, consumers are exploring styles that fit them best. India continues to be a largely brown spirits market. However, with gin-based cocktails being amongst the best-selling drinks on the menu, more bars and restaurants are looking to include a variety of gins in their offerings.” Andaz Delhi, Delhi’s Fire Juniper Bar Jade Forest 24| L U X E B O O K | J U N E 2 0 2 2 J U N E 2 0 2 2 | L U X E B O O K | 25 GINAI S SANCE