Stranger & Sons Gin, Premium Indian Spirited Aromatic Citrussy Dry Gin – 42.8% ABV, 70cl

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Rahul Mehra, Sakshi Saigal and Vidur Gupta What do you think has contributed to gin’s resurgence in recent years in India?

Just as master weavers of the traditional Indian sari use rich colours, silky textures, embellishments, and beautiful motifs, so too the skilful distillers at Stranger & Sons – masterfully create a magically almost ‘mythical’ gin through distilling alchemy of exotic spices, colourful citrus, and invigorating juniper. Although, we’re glad that there was nothing at the time to cloud our judgement, allowing us to build a truly Indian gin. One that fits as seamlessly in the colourful and vibrant bars of Goa as it does proudly in the top bars of the world.I primarily drank this as a simple gin & tonic with some lime as a garnish. I did the initial taste without any lime and a neutral tonic, but gradually turned to a lime garnish after I experienced it enough. This gin produced in India has world-class influences; from maker Sakshi Saigal’s time living in Barcelona, a distilling course in the Netherlands and finally the relaxed Portuguese vibe where it is distilled in Goa. Stranger & Sons capture the true essence of India by using botanicals native to every household - the citrus peel mix of the Indian Bergamot, Nimbu, Nagpur oranges & gondhoraj and spices like the local pepper, coriander mace, licorice, cassia and nutmeg grown in Goa. Stranger and Sons gin is made in Goa, India. The distillery is located in the village of Pilerne, which is surrounded by lush greenery and tropical fruit trees. The distillery is run by a team of passionate gin enthusiasts who are committed to producing high-quality gin using traditional methods. What is the difference between Bombay Sapphire and Stranger and Sons gin? Immediately on first taste, I felt this was a pretty standard spiced gin that follows the usual direction of Paper Lantern gin or other spiced gins. But, as I mentioned above, I consider this gin to have multiple layers.

They are also focusing on renewable energy with solar panels and reducing their water usage to a tiny fraction compared to other distilleries. This makes Stranger & Sons Gin one of the most sustainable gins in the market at the moment. The review Described as ‘bold and delicious’, the spirit has also won a Master medal at The Asian Spirits Masters 2021. “The palate is wonderful – smooth and silky mouthfeel with no sharp edges or volatile alcohol”, said one of the judges, Bryan Rodriguez, wine and spirits buyer for Harvey Nichols. Being absolutely aware that it has been an extremely tough phase for the hospitality industry and brands including ours, thanks to our teams’ sheer creativity and persistence, we never lost sight of our consumers, favourite bars and bartenders. But much is owed to the Indian subcontinent for other gin-fluences. The ubiquitous Gin & Tonic had its origins in India as a more palatable way for Victorian colonialists to down the bitter quinine that protected them against malaria. And exotic Indian botanicals are used for many gins as a point of difference. Indeed, around the world there is a long list of popular brands that tout Indian inspiration, yet Bombay Sapphire, Sikkim, Jodhpur, Opihr and Gin Wala are all distilled in Britain. So, despite India’s role in popularising gin, it has taken many years for home-grown firms to join the party.What are the aspects and trends that are going on that you feel most strongly favour this wave of enthusiasm towards gin and craft producers growing and growing in the country? Stranger and Sons Gin is a premium Indian gin that is crafted in small batches. It is produced by Third Eye Distillery, which is located in the Indian state of Goa. The gin is made using a blend of Indian botanicals, including coriander, angelica, and Indian citrus peels.

Vapor Infusion: The remaining distillate is then infused with additional botanicals and spices using a vapor infusion method. The botanicals are placed in a basket above the still, and the vapors from the distillate pass through the basket, extracting the flavors and aromas of the botanicals. Absolutely, it is a good choice if you’re looking for something different and interested to try gins that involve different taste profiles into their distilling. I am quite excited to see what else they have coming up, because the methodology and their thought process behind the gin should mean that they have many more amazing drinks up their sleeves. With the growing number of gin enthusiasts, we are constantly looking to innovate and explore new extensions and product ideas. With you and a few others at the helm of such dynamic brands, there’s a lead group that’s trailblazing away for a new generation. Do you feel that there is a sense of a craft Distilling ‘scene’ starting in India or is it too early to tell?

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From starting out as early innovators in the craft gin industry to winning a Gold medal at Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in 2019 to bagging another Gold at Gin Berlin International Spirits Competition and being declared one of the 8 best gins in the world by IWSC in 2020, we’ve had an eventful journey so far. It’s been a phenomenal experience right from the start to be honest. The terrific response we got from our consumers helped us build an exciting, entrepreneurial team, all of whom feel very strongly about the brand.