Tag Archives: indri

What India Poured, Sipped, and Loved this Diwali

As India celebrated Diwali, evolving drink trends revealed a preference for fusion flavours, premium spirits, and wellness-driven options, showcasing a significant shift in festive indulgence.

Diwali, one of India’s most important annual celebrations, is a time to reflect, celebrate, and embrace the spirit of gratitude for all the good the year has brought. For the business world, especially those in the food and beverage sector, it is an ideal occasion to tally gains and analyse consumer trends, as Diwali sparks significant economic activity and provides insights into consumer behaviour as the year winds down.

With this year’s Diwali celebration, it is important to examine India’s beverage preferences during the season and how different products perform. Understanding these trends not only highlights drinking patterns, but also equips the beverage industry, particularly alcobev players, to plan effectively for future festivals.

For example, official sources reveal that liquor sales in Delhi set a new record in the two weeks leading up to Diwali, totaling 38.7 million bottles and generating ₹447.62 crore in government revenue through excise duty. This massive feat, recorded between October 15th and 30th, is largely in preparation for the festivities. Interestingly, 2.98 crore bottles out of the total are Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), alongside 89.48 lakh beer bottles.

Similarly, sales recorded between October 29 and November 1 in Uttar Pradesh are 25% higher than in 2023, generating ₹7 crore more compared to the previous Diwali season.

We caught up with some renowned players in the alcobev scene to explore what Indians drank this Diwali and how these choices reflect their evolving preferences for celebratory beverages.

Drinking pattern and preferences

What better way to showcase the success of the alcobev industry during this year’s Diwali festivities than to highlight the remarkable performance of this year’s Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition, priced at ₹15,000? With its presence in Gurugram, Haryana, the collection rises to global acclaim, earning the coveted ‘Gold Medal’ at this year’s Whiskies of the World Awards, further building on the success of last year’s edition.

According to Paul P. John, Chairman of John Distilleries Pvt Ltd., the season saw Indians gravitate towards beverages that symbolise festivity and celebration while blending cultural and contemporary influences. This comes at a time when Indians are demonstrating their growing sophistication and creativity through their evolving alcobev preferences.

“We saw a marked preference for beverages that blended traditional flavours with fashionable Indian twists, such as Indian craft spirits like Malhar Gin mixed with regional sharbats like nannari and fuljar soda from Kerala, kokum from Goa, and thandai malhar from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. These beverages offer a refreshing and festive touch to celebrations. Consumers are increasingly exploring innovative cocktail programmes that emphasise local ingredients and unique flavour profiles,” he explains.

**Rahul Sangoi, CEO & Co-founder of RIO InnoBev Pvt. Ltd**

With this trend, brands are responding with festive-themed offers, which prove effective in attracting both regular and new consumers. Rahul Sangoi, CEO & Co-founder of RIO InnoBev Pvt. Ltd., agrees, noting that Indians’ preferences showcase a fusion of timeless tradition and progressive tastes.

“Indian consumers showed a strong preference for flavours that bridge tradition and modernity. Rich, indulgent essences like mango, mixed berries, guava, jeera, mojito, masala chaas, and kokum remained popular due to their cultural relevance. However, there was also a growing interest in refreshing, exotic profiles, such as tropical fruit blends like acai berries, peach, kombucha, and lemon mojito,” he enlightens.

Rajiv Thadani, Managing Director of Goa-based Fullarton Distilleries, echoes this sentiment, stressing a shift toward nuanced taste profiles. “Consumers are gravitating toward spiced and aromatic profiles, which bring warmth and depth to festive gatherings. At Fullarton Distilleries, we embraced these preferences by highlighting Pumori Gin’s subtle botanicals and Woodburns Whisky’s smokey undertones, both of which offer layered, celebratory tastes.”

“Additionally, cocktails infused with Indian spices, such as star anise, cinnamon, and cardamom, were particularly popular as they enhanced the festive feel,” he adds.

Wines also made their presence felt, adding a touch of sophistication to Diwali gatherings. Kaushal Khairnar, Winemaker at Moët Hennessy India, notes, “Indian consumers showed a preference for refreshing and versatile sparkling wines that complemented the lively, celebratory spirit of the season.”

“At Chandon, we catered to these preferences with a diverse portfolio tailored for the Indian palate. Our Chandon Brut and Chandon India Rosé, crafted with 100% Shiraz, provided a crisp and refreshing taste, ideal for India’s warm climate and festive gatherings. For those desiring a sweeter, aromatic option, Chandon Delice was a popular choice, well-suited to everyday celebrations and Diwali festivities. During the festive season, the interest in premium and craft sparkling wines was evident, as consumers sought unique, high-quality options. Chandon’s Vintage 2015, our first-ever vintage sparkling wine, drew attention as a limited, collectible release,” he says.

The cocktail rave

Properly garnished and visually appealing cocktails and mocktails are another common feature during festivities because they add colour and thrill to celebrations. This Diwali was no different. In fact, things were taken a notch higher as mixologists and bartenders sought to outdo themselves in satisfying consumers. As Hemanshu Badola, Mixologist at VietNom, says, “To capture Diwali’s festive flavours, we incorporated the essence of kaju katli combined with marigold flowers into a unique liqueur. This kaju-marigold infusion paired perfectly with any preferred spirit, a touch of citrus, and a splash of soda.”

Speaking further, he says that many Indians also opted for simple cocktail recipes that could be easily prepared at home to capture the Diwali spirit. These included the Pickleback Shot, made with a preferred spirit containing 30ml of jalapeño juice and 30ml of lime juice, and a beer-based cocktail, requiring 40ml of orange juice, 15ml of lime juice, 15ml of passion fruit syrup, and a beer top-up. Spirit-based cocktails were also popular, but for him, the absolute favourite spirit among consumers during the Diwali season was tequila.

As for Stanley Fernandes, Corporate Bar Manager at Kyma BKC, Mumbai, he treated his customers to a fusion of Indian tradition, seasonal extravagance, and festive nostalgia. “I started with saffron; it’s not just fragrant but luxurious, lending a golden hue that captured the opulence of Diwali. I infused it into gin for a Saffron Gin Fizz, giving the cocktail a floral surprise with rose water and a splash of tonic. Saffron is one of those spices that feels both ancient and festive, and seeing it bloom in the glass creates an instant celebration vibe.

“For a playful take, I brought in chai spices – cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves – which resonate with Indian warmth. Imagine a Chai-spiced Old Fashioned, where the depth of bourbon meets cosy, familiar spice. I served it with a cinnamon stick, so every sip was aromatic and perfect for chilly evenings. And of course, mango had to make an appearance! Though not exactly in season, frozen mango pulp became the star in my Mango Tamarind Margarita,” he muses.

Of premium, craft, and low-alcoholic drinks

Many in the industry believe craft drinks are the next best thing in India’s alcobev industry. Coupled with premium batches, this category offers a distinct experience that denotes luxury and class. As John says, “There’s a clear surge in the consumption of craft spirits during festivals.”

The trend continues as consumers demand quality and a more enriching drinking experience. For Thadani, it is about “the allure of authenticity, exclusivity, and craftsmanship in the premium segment that syncs strongly with today’s consumers, who are shifting away from mass-produced options.”

With a rising consciousness around health and wellness, India is also experiencing a revolution in the beverage industry. Consumers are welcoming low-alcohol and zero-proof cocktails, especially during the festive season, says John. “It’s like they’re finding new ways to enjoy the social side of drinking without always reaching for the high-proof options. People are looking for lighter drinks that still deliver on flavour and experience, allowing them to pace themselves across long nights of celebration and be present for all the events of the season.”

“There’s also an emerging focus on wellness, and people are genuinely appreciating drinks that are lower in alcohol or totally alcohol-free, yet crafted thoughtfully with ingredients that feel festive. Think of herb-infused sodas, spiced tonics, and botanical-based mocktails; these options offer the cocktail experience without the extra kick,” he concludes.

Drinking Trends in India

Indri Indian Single Malt Review

6 Replies

Indri Single Malt comes from the house of Piccadilly Distilleries who also jointly brought us the Kamet Whisky. But Indri is now independently brought to you from the house of piccadilly and what makes this single malt special is that recently it won the top honours catapulting its demand amongst the favourites for consumers. So let’s taste and see how it is and if you like viewing video review then click above and enjoy watching the experience instead of reading it.

The price of this whisky is Rs. 5,100 in Maharashtra and it is much cheaper in some of the other States like Haryana, Goa, UP, Delhi and Bangalore at Rs. 3,100.

What’s in the Name?

Now you might be thinking what’s in this name Indri? It is very unique and different from what we have seen? So the name of the malt is based on Indriya, which are the five golden senses of our body like the smell, taste, touch, sight and sound and also on the name of the distillery based in Indri, Haryana.

Now there is another important thing about this malt, which is the word Trini – which denotes the word three, meaning 3 woods that have been used to mature this malt. Now what’s interesting is that the Kamet whisky was also matured using the same woods. These include ex- bourbon, ex-wine, and PX sherry casks and as we know these add a unique flavour to that blend. And like Kamet this also comes from Piccadily’s Distillery based in Kurukshetra. Indri has been developed by two people, a Master Blender, Surrinder Kumar and a Master Distiller, Graeme Bowie, who was also one of our judges at the Ambrosia Awards this year. They both come from a rich experience and combined they have the capability of blowing your senses away.

Now this malt is made from six-row barley and then distilled in an onion head pot still and then maturing it in 3 casks that adds a unique flavour to the blend.

Packaging

But before we taste it let’s take a look at the packaging and at first look although this is a 750ml bottle it really looks tall and makes you feel like a 1 ltr bottle. The colours are nice soothing beige with a slight gold on the outside with the words Product of India beaming loud and clear. You do have the signature of the blenders as well alongwith all the necessary info.

On the inside it is you have the label and also the packaging material and colour that looks familiar like the Kamet whisky. What we liked is also that there is a QR code that takes you to the dedicated Indri Page. I wish more manufacturers would do this so that the consumer can get more info on the product.

Nosing

Now let’s get to the nosing and at the first instance you get a little bit of those spices, some sweet notes, surely some wood as well. The spirit does seem refined and also doesn’t really hit you hard, which is always a good thing.

Tasting

The spirit does feel really smooth and relaxed. There is a hint of that nutty, caramelly flavour with a little spice. You do get sweet savoury fruit as well which is nice and balanced. Not something that is over powering or over bearing.

Kamet Whisky Tasting

Since we also tasted Kamet Whisky recently, we did a quick taste of that as well to see the difference honestly. Now you do get a nice flavour profile and also those notes of the sweetness, spiciness.

Conclusion

Indri is nice and you can get the sense of the consistency as well from these, which means that there is a method that has been followed while making these malts. And finally what do we think about Indri? It is really good. It is balanced, nice, smooth and also consistent in delivering the taste it does, which naturally explains why it won the accolades. Is it worth Rs. 5,100 in Maharashtra. Not really, especially since you can get it for Rs. 3,100 at other places. So if you can get your hands on this outside of Maharashtra then surely it is something that you should taste because there is something there that will surely satisfy your taste buds.

Indri Trini bags ‘best Indian Single Malt’ @ World Whiskey Awards

2 Replies

Indri Trini is making waves in its nascent years. The new Indian Single Malt, from the stables of Piccadily Distilleries launched in 2021, has been rated as the ‘Best Indian Single Malt’ across all categories by the World Whiskey Awards 2022.

In the first round of World Whiskey Awards Indri Trini won the category winner tag of Gold. Paul John’s Mithuna and Nirvana was tagged silver and bronze respectively. In the second round, Indri Trini walked away with the title of ‘Best Indian Single Malt’ from India across all categories irrespective of being single cask, cask strength or age.

Awakens five senses

True to its name Indri Trini, the Single Malt awakens all the five senses – smell, taste, touch, sight and sound. Indri or Indirya in Sanskrit refers to these five senses. Indri is a quaint little village situated in the catchment area of River Yamuna, nestled in the foothills of the mighty Himalayas. Indri is the place where Piccadily has one of its distilleries, the other two located in Patiala and Bawal.

Indri Trini is truly the new star that the alcobev world is awakening to. Launched recently, its inaugural expression has bagged some of the most prestigious awards globally. Indri has not only got the Indian Single Malt enthusiasts excited, but also has been generating a lot of attention in the international arena.

Indri backed by a mammoth stock of 40,000 barrels with the distillery churning out 12,000 litres of malt spirit every day is all set for the long haul.

The awards have encouraged the distillery to excel. In its debut year, it has also bagged

● Category Winner, No Age statement at World Whiskey Awards 2022 @www.whiskymag.com

● Winner Asian Whisky of the year at Dom Roskrow’s New Wizards Awards 2022 (that is Best whiskey from India/Taiwan/Japan) https://www.newwizards.co.uk/

● Silver, with a 91 score at The International Wine & Spirit Competition 2022

Dom Roskrow, a spirits writer, editor and consultant specialising in whisky, said, “This was one of the most competitive categories in this year’s Awards, with several gold medal winners competing for the title. This, though, was a revelation and joins a growing band of wonderful Indian whiskies. It is matured in ex sherry, ex bourbon and French oak casks so unsurprisingly there’s a lot going on- berry fruits and red peanuts, lemon, grapefruit and tropical notes, all held in place by freshly shaved wood tannins and soft spice.”

Another feather in the cap is the Silver with 91 points at the International Wine & Spirit Competition. Tasted by the connoisseurs across the globe such as Ivan Dixon, Dawn Davies MW, Andrea Dionori, Jeremy Stephens and Ludo Ducrocq have all praised Indri stating that it is clean, malty nose with oak sweetness and hints of tropical fruits. They have said it is tannic, yet has delicate mouth feel revealing prunes, figs and dates giving it an earthy finish.

Trini, the Three Wood

Trini – The Three Wood, is curated by the distillery’s master craftsmen. It is distilled using the traditional Indian 6 row barley, matured in selected barrels, and blended carefully to bring out the individual contribution of each wood (first fill bourbon, ex-French wine and PX sherry casks) without overshadowing the original whisky profile. Indri Trini is bottled at 46% ABV and is a non-chill filtered whisky.

Nose: Hints of black tea, caramelised pineapple with a whiff of oak from the barrel comes forward, followed by vanilla and honey from the bourbon oak and traces of spiced tannins from the European oak, finally topped up with vinous raisin and sweet sherry notes. Gentle and mellow on the nose.

Taste: Elegant richness, smooth and warm on the sides of the mouth. Gentle spice and wood characters come through, followed by nutty flavours and hints of burnt pineapple, citrus and raisins.

Finish: A subtle and balanced finish where each flavour compliments one another without dominating. A smooth and long after taste with sweet fruity flavours coming up from the warmth of the throat, lingering long after.

The extreme temperature of the Northern plains helps the malt spirit mature faster inside the barrels, naturally. This also means the angels happily take away their share, leaving behind sweet tropical flavours and rich natural colour. The distillery proudly uses no fossil fuels to generate its power needs.

Piccadily Distilleries growing from strength to strength

Thanks to the vast experience, Piccadily Distilleries have been able to touch one milestone after other. Having started in 1953 as a liquor distribution firm as Kedar Nath & Sons, in 1967 it formally registered as Piccadily. The brand has only grown from strength to strength. In 2008, it became the first Indian company to receive permission to produce alcohol from sugar cane juice and in 2009 it imported oak barrels from the United States and began distilling spirits from cane juice. In 2010, the founders’ envisioned the creation of a distillery on par with those of Scotland. It commissioned Raj Industries to build what would become of the largest malt plants in India.

Importantly, the company embraced in 2018 a new philosophy towards producing premium, high-end spirits that adhere to EU and Scottish standards of production while phasing out the molasses-based whiskeys of the past. In 2020, it launched Whistler blended whiskey and conceived Camikara rum – representing ‘liquid gold’. The following year it launched Indri single malt whiskey and this year it released Camikara rum, India’s first sipping rum.

The malt distillery at Indri, located off the famous Grand Trunk Road (which linked Central Asia to the Indian Sub continent for almost 2500 years) was set up in 2012. The distillery is also home to 6 traditional copper pot stills (designed and made in India) and 40,000 barrels. Today, it is India’s largest independent malt manufacturer and seller of malt spirits. The distillery is rapidly expanding its warehousing capacity to hold another 30,000 barrels. A new visitor center is also under construction and will be open for visitors by the end of the year.

Indri – The Indian Single Malt

4 Replies

Indri – Trini is the first Single Malt expression to be launched from the house of Piccadily, which will be available to select customers in India, the US and Europe by Christmas this year. Trini has been created by its Master Blender, Mr Surrinder Kumar, who has a rich experience of more than 40 years in the Single Malt Industry. This malt manufacturing powerhouse is also set to bring to us soon some new variants of the exotic Indian Single Malt ‘Indri’.

Indri: A Taste through the Five Senses

Indri is a single malt whisky that is aptly named after the area in which it is situated. It is also synonymous with ‘Indriya’ or the five Indris responsible for Touch, Taste, Smell, Sight, Sound. Indri professes to pleasantly evoke all your five senses and make you enjoy the smooth golden liquid on the palate and the burst of flavours that soon follow. Indri – Trini is the first Indian whisky to be launched using the three-wood expression, ex-bourbon, ex-French wine and PX Sherry casks.

Indri single malt has a tropical good taste and it is not harsh. The name Indri is used very thoughtfully because it reflects the senses used in whisky-making at a distillery. Graeme Bowie, who is the Master Distiller and has 32 years of rich experience in the Scottish Malt Industry.

Flavour Profile of the Whisky

Taste: Elegant richness, smooth and warm on the sides of the mouth. Gentle spice and wood characters come through, followed by nutty flavours and hints of burnt pineapple, citrus and raisins.