Tag Archives: Indian Brands

IDAAYA Rum growing in stature

Karishma Manga Bedi, Founder and CEO, Those Good Distillerss talks about IDAAYA, the multi- award-winning Himalayan sipping rum from India’s artisanal spirits house, Those Good Distillerss. Those Good Distillerss, as the brand marks a significant milestone with its retail debut in Gurgaon.

IDAAYA is a small batch production rum that is made unhurriedly and uncompromisingly. Karishma Manga Bedi, “We use ancient Indian methodologies in our processes that is accompanied with the best-in-class Solera method to bottle our rum. The end result is a product that is highly nuanced and upon tasting is a true discovery.

The creation and launch of IDAAYA was an audacious move, one that created curiosity for it and aided a steady growth in Travel Retail especially when benchmarked against international brands. Repeat consumption has allowed us a small but growing base for loyal patrons for whom the exceptional quality of our spirit has strongly resonated.

Our vision at Those Good Distillerss, is to create speciality spirits, those that represent India or those that bring the best to India. Spirits that are crafted without compromise and are compelling in their story and taste. We create for joy and passion and are committed to deliver an elevated experience with IDAAYA and our new spirits that will be revealed in the near future.

At IDAAYA, we have taken the best of the age-old and new world techniques to create a rum that has exceptional character. During our research we found that the oldest reference to a drink made by fermenting and distilling a drink from sugar cane juice was done in India. Our ancient books, the Arthashastras make reference to this as a kind of Amlasidhu. Inspired by this, we are using two techniques to treat our casks, which is proprietary to IDAAYA, Lepam and Dhoopam. Historically, these were done to treat, disinfect and close gaps in the casks. Such treatments also allow the casks to take on distinct characteristics basis the ingredients used, which in this case are all indigenous to India. Additionally, we work with Sal wood casks for our Solera bottling which is indigenous to India and also grows at the base of the Himalayas.

From the onset, our vision has always been to build brands that elevate the spirits experience. IDAAYA has aimed to do just that by ensuring the use of ancient Indian philosophy and technique in how our liquid is treated, the beauty of our decanter like bottle with the Himalayas flutter across it, and the narrative for our brand which is proudly from India. This modern representation of India has to be taken the world stage where is sits right next to some of best brands from across the world. Today, there is an appreciation for a sensibility that is modern in context yet rooted in culture and I think the appeal for this is evident with the Indian and International Awards that the brand has been awarded in the year since its inception.

IDAAYA has also won many International prestigious awards, those that have been judged by Industry leaders and consumers alike including a Double Gold at the SIP Awards USA, Gold at International Spirits Challenge, The Rum and Cachaca Masters, Silver at The Asian Spirits Masters, London Spirits Competition and Bronze at The International Wines and Spirits Competition, World Rum Awards and San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The brand is currently available across Travel Retail at Duty Free in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. In addition to this Haryana is the first state in India where IDAAYA is currently available. It will be available across key metros in 2026.

Woodpecker Partners Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart 2025

Leave a reply

The Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart (MPTM) 2025 which concluded recently saw over 400 travel agents from India and 27 participate and Woodpecker was a beverage partner, hosted at the Jehan Numa Palace, Bhopal.

The evening showcased Madhya Pradesh on a global platform highlighting the heritage and potential of its tourism. It also displayed a curated culinary spread celebrating the region’s cuisine, and an open-air experience where guests mingled, accompanied by Woodpecker’s refreshing brews.

Deepak Arora, CEO, SOM Group of Companies, said, “Woodpecker’s partnership with the Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart is a celebration of Indian entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, and culture. We are proud to be part of an event that not only showcases Madhya Pradesh’s tourism potential, but also connects India with the world. Jehan Numa Palace provided the perfect setting for Woodpecker, a brand born in India yet global in its spirit to complement the evening’s energy and elegance. The gala dinner became one of the most talked-about highlights of MPTM 2025, where state officials, global travel professionals, and international media representatives shared experiences over fine food and craft beverages. It symbolised the essence of modern tourism, a meeting of ideas, cultures, and shared aspirations for sustainable growth. We are happy to be a part of such an initiative by the Govt. of Madhya Pradesh. With its continued commitment to premium experiences, Woodpecker aims to engage with more lifestyle and tourism-led platforms that resonate with the brand’s philosophy- refreshing, youthful, and proudly Indian.”

Radico Khaitan launches New Luxury Vodka – The Spirit of Kashmyr

Leave a reply

Radico Khaitan has announced its entry into the luxury vodka segment with the launch of ‘The Spirit of Kashmyr’. Having established itself in the premium whisky segment, Radico Khaitan now broadens its focus with an entry into high-end vodka.

Drawing inspiration from the cultural richness and natural heritage of Kashmir, the new vodka positions itself in the top-end of the Indian vodka category. The Spirit of Kashmyr is a small-batch, grain-based vodka distilled five times and charcoal-filtered for clarity. According to Radico -what sets it apart is its visual and vibrant packaging, a floral motif rendered in papier-mâché style, influenced by the artisanal legacy of Kashmir.

Available in two variants — Natural (Classic) and Saffron — the vodka is currently being introduced in select markets including Goa, followed by other key states in the coming months. Priced at ₹2,500 for a 750 ml bottle in Goa, the brand will be competing in the luxury tier, where vodka consumption in India has seen growing interest among urban consumers.This launch is in line with a broader trend of Indian players tapping into the country’s own cultural narratives to build globally relevant premium brands. With The Spirit of Kashmyr, Rooted in Indian heritage, the launch reflects a growing focus on blending premium craft with cultural authenticity.

India’s First Homegrown Vermouth Launches in Bangalore

2 Replies

After a successful debut in Goa, Davana Vermouth Indica – India’s first 100% homegrown vermouth, is now available in Bangalore. This expansion brings the brand’s expressions, Bianco and Rosso, to the garden city.

Davana is crafted using a Chenin Blanc wine base and infused with 21-23 native botanicals, including its namesake ‘Indian wormwood’ known as ‘davana’. Available in two distinct styles — Bianco, a light and floral blend with citrus and spice, and Rosso, a deep, spiced, and bittersweet offering — the brand presents an aperitif that’s versatile, elegant, and unmistakably Indian.

While vermouth has long held its place in cocktails like the Negroni, Martini, and Manhattan, it has rarely taken centre stage in Indian bars or conversations. Davana is looking to change that. The brand is not only looking to offer a local alternative to imported vermouths but also aims to educate consumers about vermouth as a category — as a pre-dinner ritual, a low-ABV sipping experience, and a key cocktail component.

Adarsh Gadvi, Co-Founder, Davana Vermouth Indica, says, “After Goa, we decided to bring Davana to a market that would spark conversations around vermouth. We’re excited to showcase a new generation of Indian spirits made for the world — but rooted at home.”

Founded by Adarsh Gadvi and Evgenii Savvateev, Davana took shape after over two years of development and more than 50 recipe trials. The bottle is a visual ode to India — adorned with intricate illustrations of lotus, peacocks, tigers, and the aromatic davana herb. The embossed Devanagari logo on the textured, cork-sealed bottle embodies bold design, artisanal craftsmanship.

Radico Khaitan, eyeing ₹500 crore from premium brands

Leave a reply

Radico Khaitan expects sales of ₹500 crore from its luxury brands in the next fiscal, according to its Managing Director Abhishek Khaitan. The premium brands are the famous Indian single malt ‘Rampur’ and the artisanal gin Jaisalmer Indian craft gin. The company has plans to add to more brands in the next fiscal.

The company has been experiencing robust sales and expects 8 to 9% growth in volumes and by 12 to 15% in terms of value. The prestige and above segments have been registering double digit growth and the company expects to close in the same range of about 15%.

Radico Khaitan’s luxury portfolio consists of Rampur Indian Single Malt, Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin, Sangam World Malt and Spirit of Victory 1999 Pure Malt. “For the first time in Q3 (December quarter) we achieved a turnover of ₹100 crore (from premium) and for the nine months of FY’24, we have achieved ₹250 crore (turnover). We are very confident that for FY’26, Radico Khaitan should achieve ₹500 crore of turnover, just for the luxury segment only,” said Khaitan.