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Top Products and People honoured at Ambrosia Awards 2024

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The 16th edition of the prestigious Ambrosia Awards 2024, organized by Ambrosia Magazine – the Wine and Spirits Magazine, celebrated the finest achievements in the Alcobev industry at a gala event. Recognizing excellence in products, packaging, and individual categories, the awards showcased the industry’s best and brightest talents.

Ambrosia magazine, now in its 32 nd year, continues to be a hallmark of excellence in the industry. With a focus on blind tastings for the product category, the awards ensure a fair and unbiased selection process, akin to top international standards.

Trilok Desai, MD and Publisher of SAP MEDIA WORLWIDE LTD, remarked, “The Ambrosia Awards stand for excellence, and our international jury ensures that only the best are honored. Each year, we witness remarkable advancements in product quality, packaging, and technology, setting global benchmarks.

Vijay Rekhi launching Cheers 3rd Edition Coffee Table Book with authors Trilok Desai & Bhavya Desai

Another highlight of the evening was the launch of the 3rd Edition of Cheers – Coffee Table Book, authored by Trilok and Bhavya Desai. The book, inaugurated by Vijay Rekhi, CMD of Vizanar Advisors, and Former President and MD of United Spirits Ltd (USL), commemorates the industry’s journey and milestones.

Shiv Kumar Reddy, MD, Seven Seas Distillery Private Limited accepting the Award
Amar Sinha, COO, Radico Khaitan accepting the Award
Abhishek Khaitan, MD, Radico Khaitan Limited acceppting the Award on behalf of Dr. Lalit Khaitan
Vijay Rekhi and Mr. Gandhi’s family member accepting the Award

Among the individuals recognized, Shiv Kumar Reddy, Managing Director of Seven Seas Distillery Private Limited, was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year. Amar Sinha, COO of Radico Khaitan Ltd, was named Business Leader of the Year. Dr. Lalit Khaitan, Chairman and MD of Radico Khaitan Ltd, received the Ambrosia’s Paramount Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions, achieving the status of India’s newest billionaire. The Lifetime Achievement Award (Posthumous) was presented to Mr. S.S Gandhi, Former President of United Spirits Ltd, honouring his significant impact and achievements in the industry.

This Product Jury included:  

Jury Members at the Tasting Session
  • Bernhard Schafer – A Whisky Expert, Spirit Consulting and A Master of Quaich
  • Stephen Beal – Senior Master of Whisky, Chairman of The Council of Whisky Master 2024
  • Dr. Binod. K. Maitin (PhD) – Technical Expert & Former SVP and Head of Technical Centre USL
  • Eddie Nara – CSE & Spirits Expert
  • Ajoy Shaw – DipWSET Winemaker, Consultant and International Wine & Spirits Judge
  • Julie Lee – Industry Expert and Entrepreneur

This Packaging Jury included:

Jury Members at the Packaging Session

Two Indies Rum Review

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The rum market is experiencing significant growth, but have you ever tried rum made from jiggery? In this article, we will delve into a review of Two Indies Rum, crafted by Amrut Distilleries, the renowned Indian whisky maker known for putting Indian whiskies on the global stage. Interestingly, Amrut doesn’t just produce Two Indies Rum; they also offer another exceptional rum called Old Port Deluxe Matured Rum. However, our focus today is solely on Two Indies Rum, especially as the winter season approaches, making it the ideal time to explore quality rums. This spirit is priced at ₹1,700 in Mumbai, ₹2,200 in Bangalore, and a wallet-friendly ₹850 in Goa. Furthermore, it’s readily available in numerous states.

Why the name?

The Two Indies Rum was actually conceptualised by the now late CMD Shri Neelakanta Rao Jagdale, wherein he was keen to bring a fusion of two rums, a concept that Amrut has also brought to its whiskey’s. The rum is a tribute to India, its farmers and also to the West Indies, which is where Rum originated from. And because this is blended with matured rums that come from these two countries, it got its name ‘Two Indies Rum’. This rum has won a few international awards and also won the Ambrosia Award for the best premium rum in 2021.

Blend

This rum has an interesting and unique story when it comes to its blend. It uses Caribbean rum, specifically from Jamaica, Barbados, and Guyana, which are sent to the Amrut distillery unit in Kambipura, Bangalore where it is mixed and blended with Indian rum, aged about 3 years or less. Also this is made from ‘jaggery’. This approach is pretty different from most manufacturers making rum. For instance, you have rums that are made from molasses, which is used in this also btw. Then you have rum made from cane juices, which is a popular concept. But jaggery is used in making most Indian sweets. So in this case that is the unique blend, which might make this sweet and perhaps this is the only rum in the world that is made out of jaggery.

The Spirit is distilled in both pot and column spirit stills such that the natural congeners of molasses are retained and then skilfully blended after maturation in select oak wood barrels that give a dash of sweetish oakiness on the palate. The rum is made by blending it with molasses ENA and no artificial flavouring has been added, although the bottle says that permitted colours are.

Packaging

It’s a nice looking bottle, at first glance the bottle actually reminds me of the Gianchand Indian Single Malt, of course Two Indies Rum was launched before that. This is also its new packaging and new avatar, which came in 2020. Earlier this use to come in a different bottle. This is a rum like bottle and the words Rhum-Ron are written since the Caribbean’s has the influence of both French as well as Spanish former colonies. It has 42.8% ABV and the bottle is nice and sleek.

Nosing

Coming to the nosing, you’ll notice a sweet scent, and it’s pretty strong at 42.8% alcohol. There’s also a hint of nuttiness in the background, but you might need to take a closer sniff to pick it up because the overall dominant aroma is sweetness with some spice notes.

Tasting

The rum has a nice taste – it’s not too mild or too strong. It’s just right, and it gives you a nice kick of flavour without being too much strong. When you sip it, the taste sticks around, and you can feel a bit of spiciness in your mouth. At first, you might notice a bit of banana flavour, kind of like when you eat the skin of a banana. It also makes your throat feel a little dry, which means it’s a dry drink. There’s also a tiny hint of saltiness, like the taste of nuts with a pinch of salt, but it’s not too strong. One cool thing about this drink is that it starts with a bit of sweetness from the wood it’s made from, like oak. The sweetness starts small and then gets spicier, so it changes as you sip it, and that’s what makes it interesting.

Conclusion

What do we think about Two Indies Rum? Well, let’s talk about rum and how people feel about it. Just like with whiskey or vodka, many people usually have their favourite brands. Some people prefer Old Monk, while others like a stronger taste, especially in the winter. But Two Indies Rum is a bit different. It’s like those fancy single malt whiskeys – it’s an acquired taste. It might not be the rum for everyone, especially if you’re used to regular, mass-produced rums. But if you’re a rum enthusiast and appreciate high-quality products, you should definitely give Two Indies a try.

Barents Whisky Review

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Barents whisky comes from Rock and Storm Distilleries and the reason for its name is that it is dedicated to famed Dutch Arctic explorer of the 16th century, Williem Barentsz, who searched the Northeast Passage From Europe To Asia. And Yes it is Williem and not William. Now this is available in few States currently like Delhi for a price of this is Rs. 840. It is also available in Uttrakhand, Punjab, Jammu and Telangana and will soon be available in Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and CSD stores as well. There is a specific reason why this was made in this article we will decode that. And incase if you like viewing video reviews then click above and check that out as well.

So this is a small-batched distilled whisky that was made with an inspiration as a premium whisky. Now of course this is very competitively priced and it competes with the likes of Blenders, 8 PM and so on in the premium Indian whisky market. Infact the idea behind this whisky was to benchmark its packaging and give the feel to the consumer which is on the lines of popular scotches and single malts. And to achieve this the makers followed Williem Barents discovery voyage and his enthusiasm and zeal that led to the creation of this blend.

Now of course targeting products into the premium market has become the go to thing for most makers as the Indian consumer is now looking for better experiences. Infact the premium market segment has expanded rapidly and is growing faster than any other segments of the beverage industry.

Nosing

In terms of nosing you have the aroma of sweet spices with a hint of that floral hit. It is also smoky, you surely getting that peat.

Tasting

In terms of tasting you get that Nutty and Toffee flavour, that slight fruity punch also hits you in the middle and it ends with a smoky aroma. The finish is very smooth and you can understand that it is being made with good malts.

Conclusion

So how do we find the Barrents whisky? Honestly for a price of Rs. 880 we think it is able to give you a decent experience. But we love the fact that they have been ambitious and looked at possibilities to do new or different things. So if you are a regular at using products in this price bracket or category then we think there is enough here to atleast taste this product.

Ambrosia Awards 2021

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The 14th edition of INDSPIRIT 2021, organized by Ambrosia, the wine and spirit magazine, held on December 17th 2021 in New Delhi, came as a much needed breather to the alcobev industry. Industry leaders and other stakeholders descended upon Hotel Andaz for IndSpirit 2021, primarily to ‘reconnect’ with the alcobev community.

INDSPIRIT 2021, a mix of conference, exhibition and awards, was a runaway success, not just because ofthe huge number of attendees, but because it set a ‘positive tone’ for the industry.

The Managing Director of SAP Media Worldwide, Mr. Trilok Desai, set the tone for INDSPIRIT 2021 by talking about how the alcobev sector was bouncing back with a positive outlook, after a lull of almost two years adversely affected by the pandemic.

Braving the Delhi winter, industry stakeholders turned out in good number, endorsing the spirit of Ambrosia to move on, overcome the challenges and grab the opportunities. The coming together of the industry was heartening to note for a sector which has so much to offer, thanks to quality enhancements, innovation and camaraderie. Cheers to the Alcobev sector, INDSPIRIT and Ambrosia for saying ‘goodbye to 2021’ and welcoming 2022 with a lot of hope.

Ambrosia Awards 2021 Winners

Category – Beer

BEST MILD BEER

Tag Premium Lager Beer

BEST BEER – STRONG CATEGORY

Bira 91 Gold Wheat Strong Beer

BEST BEER – STRONG CATEGORY

Sterren 8 Premium Strong Beer

Category – Wine

BEST POPULAR WHITE WINE

Fumé Blanc

BEST PREMIUM WHITE WINE

Soma Chardonnay Reserve

BEST PREMIUM INDIAN RED WINE

Reveilo Reserve Syrah

BEST POPULAR IMPORTED RED WINE

Born West Cabernet Sauvignon

BEST SUPER PREMIUM IMPORTED RED WINE

Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

BEST SPARKLING WINE

Casablanca Spumante Sparkling Wine

Category – Vodka

BEST POPULAR VODKA

One More Pure Craft Vodka

BEST PREMIUM VODKA

Smoke Classic Vodka

BEST SUPER PREMIUM VODKA

Stolichnaya Premium Vodka

BEST SUPER PREMIUM VODKA

Juno Premium Pink Flavoured Vodka

BEST PREMIUM FLAVOURED VODKA

Magic Moments Verve Cranberry Tease Premium Flavoured Vodka

BEST SUPER PREMIUM FLAVOURED VODKA

Absolut Grapefruit Vodka

Category – Gin

BEST PREMIUM GIN

Beefeater London Dry Gin

BEST SUPER PREMIUM GIN

Roku Japanese Craft Gin

BEST FLAVOURED GIN

Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb And Ginger

Category – Rum

BEST POPULAR BLACK RUM

Commander N Chief Caribbean Gold XXX Rum

BEST PREMUIM BLACK RUM

1965 Spirit Of Victory Premium XXX Rum

BEST PREMIUM RUM

Amrut Two Indies Rum

BEST WHITE RUM

Aspira Lemon Twist Rum

Category – Brandy

BEST POPULAR BRANDY

British Empire Brandy

BEST PREMIUM BRANDY

Courrier Napoleon Finest French Brandy

Category – Whisky

BEST IMFL REGULAR WHISKY

Royal Green Whisky

BEST IMFL POPULAR WHISKY

Oaksmith International Blended Whisky

BEST IMFL SEMI PREMIUM WHISKY

Single Reserva Premium Whisky

BEST IMFL SEMI PREMIUM WHISKY

Whistler Blended Malt Whisky

Best IMFL PREMIUM WHISKY

Signature Premier Grain Whisky

BEST FLAVOURED WHISKY

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple Flavoured Whisky

BEST BLENDED SCOTCH BII

Grant’s Distinction Blended Scotch Whisky

BEST SCOTCH (BIO) ABOVE 12 YRS WHISKY

Dewar’s 15 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky

BEST INDIAN SINGLE MALT

The Three Monkeys Indian Single Malt Whisky

BEST SINGLE MALT

Bowmore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Aged 12 Years

PACKAGING AWARDS INDSPIRIT 2021

BEST PACKAGING AWARD (UNIT PACK)

United’s Epitome Reserve Rare Grain Whisky

BEST PACKAGING AWARD (UNIT PACK)

Glenfiddich Limited Edition Gift Pack

BEST PACKAGING AWARD (GRAPHICS)

8 PM Premium Black Whisky Cricksaw and Howzat

BEST PACKAGING AWARD (IDEA)

Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin

BEST PACKAGING AWARD (BEER CANISTER)

Bira 91 Gold Wheat Strong Beer

BEST PACKAGING AWARD (CANNISTER)

Morpheus Blue XO Premium Brandy

BEST PACKAGING AWARD (BEER BOTTLE)

Sterren 8 Premium Strong Beer

BEST PACKAGING AWARD (BOTTLE SHAPE)

Roku Japanese Craft Gin

BEST PACKAGING AWARD (BOTTLE SHAPE)

Bacardi Reserva Ocho Aged 8 Years

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS INDSPIRIT 2021

FASTEST GROWING BRAND

Rockford Reserve Whisky & Rockford Classic Whisky

EXCELLENCE IN BRAND PROMOTION AND MARKETING

1965 Spirit Of Victory Premium XXX Rum

EXCELLENCE IN BRAND PROMOTION AND MARKETING

Oaksmith God International Blended Whisky

EXCELLENCE IN RETAIL AND DISTRIBUTION

STAR Agencies

NEW PRODUCT OF THE YEAR

United’s Epitome Reserve Rare Grain Whisky

SPECIAL FELICITATION FOR COMPLETEING 11 YEARS

Hospitality Purchasing Managers & Forum (HPMF)

START-UP OF THE YEAR

Kimaya Himalayan Beverages

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Ankur Jain

Founder & CEO

Bira 91

BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

Abhishek Khaitan

Managing Director

Radico Khaitan Limited

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR

Shobhan Roy

Meet the Eminent Jury of Teacher’s Golden Thistle Awards 2019

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Bollywood Superstar Anil Kapoor, Cricketing Legends Harbhajan Singh and Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Dance Icon Geeta Chandran, Amongst Other Celebrities, Part of the Panel of Judges for the Awards

For the first time, superstars and celebrities from all walks of life – from Bollywood to Cricket, from India Inc. to F&B – came together to discuss, debate and short-list the nominees for the Teacher’s Golden Thistle Awards 2019. The winners will be announced on 16th November at an illustrious ceremony in Mumbai.

The iconic platform of Teacher’s Achievement Awards has celebrated the spirit of achievement since 2001 with an illustrious list of winners in the past including Ranbir Kapoor, Anupam Kher, Shabana Azmi, Boman Irani, Rahul Dravid, Abhinav Bindra, among others. The long-awaited awards are back in a refreshed avatar as Teacher’s Golden Thistle Awards to recognize and celebrate high-achievers with rare and exemplary achievements across seven categories: Business, Sports, Entertainment, Culture (Culinary Excellence), Genuine Impact (Growing for Good), Forever Genuine (Life Time Achievement) and Teacher’s GQ Special Award. To ensure a fair and thoroughly audited process, Pricewaterhouse Cooper (PwC) was appointed as the Process Validator.



The jury in-charge of making some tough decisions are as follows:



Acclaimed actor and producer, Anil Kapoor has a career that has spanned over 40 years! He is Bollywood royalty and actor par excellence who through discipline and hard work has managed to stay relevant and fit all these years.

A player with equal parts passion and talent, Harbhajan Singh is one of India’s most successful off-spin bowlers. He is a live wire on and off the field and is loved by audiences across the country.

Geeta Chandran is one of the most celebrated classical dancers in India and has been decorated with a Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in the country, for her contributions to the field of art. The Bharatanatyam master has also trained a whole generation of artists.

Known as the Indiana Jones of Indian cricket, and rightly so, Krishnamachari Srikkanth is a former captain of the Indian cricket team and former chairman of the BCCI selection committee. His off-pitch personality matches his batting style – entertaining, innovative and explosive.

Manjit Gill is the man behind some of the most iconic restaurants of India – Bukhara and Dum Pukht – that have been delighting foodies for close to 30 years now. The highly acclaimed chef has over four decades of excellence in the culinary profession and has won numerous awards for his work.

While each one of us would have thought of starting a restaurant, some people actually do it and with such success as Farrokh Khambata. He wears many hats – an entrepreneur, restaurateur, chef and caterer – but he has dominated the world of food through his company ‘Catering & Allied’, which owns five restaurants in Mumbai apart from one of the best celebrity catering service.



D. Shiva Kumar is the Group Executive President of Corporate Strategy and Business at Aditya Birla Group. He is helmed as the leader who built Nokia as the most trusted brand in India at one point of time. Known for his inspirational leadership skills, D. Shiva Kumar was awarded ‘Distinguished Alumnus’ by IIT Madras and IIM Calcutta.

Handling finances is not everyone’s cup of tea but not for Nimesh Shah, Managing Director and CEO at ICICI Prudential AMC. With over 25 years in the banking and finance sector, he is known to provide the best solutions for investors while maintaining high levels of transparency.

Known as the man behind the largest events in India, Wiz Joseph Sabbas, Founder of Wizcraft, lends his strategic foresight for all major brand launches and corporate events in India.