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

Product Information

The Indian pepper and spices comes out nicely – not too intrusive and gives the gin a very potent aroma, but is deceptively mild to taste. With the growing number of gin enthusiasts, we are constantly looking to innovate and explore new extensions and product ideas. 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.

At the annual 2021 Gin Masters competition, Stranger & Sons Gin secured a coveted Gold medal in the Contemporary category. The judges were enamoured with the gin’s aromas of “earthy juniper” and flavours of “dried citrus peel” and “bold, vibrant” character on the palate. It was agreed the expression would “stand up well mixed in a gin and tonic” and that it offered something “unique” to the gin world. 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 reviewDistillation: The macerated spirit is then distilled in a copper pot still. The still is heated, and the vapors produced are condensed and collected. The first and last portions of the distillate, which contain impurities, are discarded.

India is known as a mass liquor producing market where quality isn’t key. Further, we are primarily a whiskey-drinking nation and alcohol is largely a taboo subject here. Though we know that our laws here are framed around prohibiting the consumption of liquor, they are even worse if you want to make high-quality liquor, which is why as a country we’re known for the quantity or volume of things we produce rather than the quality of our products. So, there are a lot of challenges in setting up your own distillery for small-batch spirits in India. Today, Stranger and Sons Gin has become one of the most popular gins in India and is gaining recognition around the world. The gin has won several awards, including a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2020. 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. Craft brands have helped redefine the perception of premiumness. It no longer needsto be just about the ‘bling’ but much more about the authenticity, the craftsmanship, and embracing more creativity in terms of flavors and botanicals to produce something unique and groundbreaking. Gin in India is still a very niche market that is evolving and where there aren’t just new consumers every day but new gins too. So over the next couple of years, we expect to see a lot more craft distilleries coming up in India as well as an increase in imported gins. The increasing number of new gins on the market would seem to pose a threat to established brands, but so far almost everyone is reaping the rewards of the gin renaissance. The definition of ‘premium’ no longer has to be old and stuffy: it can be contemporary and urban but must be crafted and presented in a superior way. I know that this time will define a new way altogether for how our customers choose products and how we attempt to capture their attention. Where can people buy your Gin in Mumbai? Which bars have it?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 gin that is distilled in India. The gin is made using a blend of botanicals that are sourced from across the country. The gin is known for its unique flavor profile and is a popular choice among gin enthusiasts. Indians have a fondness for storytelling that is inherent and inherited – with rich mythological lores passed down from one generation to the next. These tales of politics, philosophy, and love, offer a microcosm of India’s unique culture. Instead of demystifying the mystique, myths and wonder of India, Stranger & Sons has added their own story – that of a three-eyed, two-tailed tiger that makes the gin in the jungles of the Western Ghats, and how she passed on her recipe to them.

The founders of Third Eye Distillery spent over two years perfecting the recipe for Stranger and Sons Gin. They experimented with different botanicals and distillation techniques to create a gin that would reflect the flavors and aromas of India. Earlier this year, Stranger & Sons won gold at Gin Masters 2021 after competing with 472 entries from 233 different companies. This is just the latest of multiple awards and gold medals won by this debut spirit. 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? 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. Gin is definitely having a moment! Discerning drinkers still can’t get enough of gin, gin, glorious gin.This all changed in 2018, when three relatives, Sakshi Saigal, Rahul Mehra and Vidur Gupta recognised a worldwide thirst for quality craft gins and wanted to create one of the first fully Indian gins since the 1940’s. Together they founded Third Eye Distillery and Stranger & Sons Gin was born in Goa on the southwestern coast of India. Stating that multiple tasting panels were captivated by the aromas and tasting notes, she adds, “Our gin goes beyond the customary juniper and plays up Indian botanicals and spices.” – adding a distinctive twist to the gin category. Stranger and Sons gin is a premium Indian gin that has gained popularity in recent years. It is a product of Stranger and Sons, a distillery based in Goa, India. The company was founded by three friends who were passionate about crafting unique spirits that reflected the flavors and culture of India. 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.

Their reason to also start with gin was because while Saigal was studying for an MBA in Barcelona, she had seen the market explode, and Gupta’s stay in the UK had him obsessing about the spirit. They enjoyed drinking it, but also thought that it was a lesser-explored market in India. Along with the spices that are sourced locally, they were also particular about using Indian botanicals. They use Indian bergamot, Indian lime or nimbu, Nagpur oranges and gondhoraj (a fragrant lemon variety from Bengal) in the citrus peel mix. Explaining the botanicals, all of which are sourced from India, one of the founders, Sakshi says, “We use a unique citrus peel mix: Gondhoraj lebu, the commonly found nimbu, Indian Bergamot and Nagpur oranges. With it go coriander seeds, angelica root, cassia bark, liquorice and warm spices such as pepper, mace and nutmeg.” Stating that multiple tasting panels were captivated by the aromas and tasting notes, she adds, “Our gin goes beyond the customary juniper and plays up Indian botanicals and spices.” 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.Where is this wondrous exotic world of Stranger & Sons? Located in the Western Ghats, Goa offers access to a bounty of spices along the Konkan and Malabar coasts and holds 3000 years as a key player in India’s spice trade. A former Portuguese colony and centre of commerce, Goa adopted much of their way of life, including their liberal attitude towards alcohol consumption – thus remaining the seat of alcohol trade in India. Distillation has long been one of Goa’s most traditional occupations, and so it was natural for Stranger & Sons to establish the brand in the sunshine state. Rahul Mehra, Sakshi Saigal and Vidur Gupta What do you think has contributed to gin’s resurgence in recent years in India?