The Rise Of The Indian Homegrown Gin

Indian gin has transitioned from a low-prestige drink in the 1990s to a premium, sought-after craft product. The shift mirrors what has happened across many premium consumer categories in India. Consumers today are far more experimental, globally exposed, and curious about craftsmanship, provenance, and quality. Gin benefits hugely because it is one of the most versatile and expressive spirit categories, both in production and in cocktails. “Indian craft distilleries stopped trying to replicate Western styles and instead began expressing India’s own ingredients, regions, and stories through gin. That changed the perception of the category completely. The idea behind Vanaha Gin was never to create another conventional gin but to express the layered character of the forest through ingredients like Palash flowers, Deodar wood, pine tips, and cacao nibs combined with multiple distillation techniques. That depth and originality is what has helped Indian gin move into a far more premium and globally relevant space,” says Vaniitha Jaiin, Founder & CEO, Vanaha Gin, Revelry Distillery.

The most active consumer right now is urban, between 25 and 38, and genuinely curious. They research before they drink: botanical profiles, distillation methods, and sourcing stories. They are not impressed by foreign labels alone; they want to know what is in the bottle and why. “Products priced above ₹2,000 per bottle have seen steady sales growth, with local craft brands gaining traction as consumers embrace quiet luxury and niche small-batch production, a trend that aligns with India's cultural preference for products with strong origin stories and artisanal qualities. Women consumers are a meaningfully growing part of this audience, increasingly present across premium bar and hospitality spaces,” says Prem Dewan, Chairman and Managing Director of DeVANS Modern Breweries Ltd. Rahul Agre, Senior Manager, Someplace Else, Jio World Drive, BKC, adds, “The biggest driver is the growing appreciation for local ingredients and homegrown craftsmanship. Indian consumers are proud of regional flavours and are looking for more authentic, elevated experiences. Gin has become a very creative category for distillers because it allows them to experiment with botanicals that reflect different parts of India while still appealing to global palates.”

Unique, unconventional Indian botanicals are being used by craft distillers, which is positively impacting the flavour profile of the drink. Additionally, the list keeps growing, which is part of what makes this category so exciting. “Gondhoraj lime from Bengal brings an intensely aromatic, almost floral citrus quality that you won't find in any European gin. Himalayan juniper, which we hand-forage for Hapusa, has a more complex, resinous character than the Macedonian juniper most gins are built around. Turmeric adds an earthy warmth. Darjeeling tea brings tannins and delicacy. Hibiscus introduces a natural acidity and tartness. Each of these ingredients tells you something specific about the place it comes from,” says Anand Virmani, Co-Founder & Master Distiller, Nao Spirits & Beverages.

Nilgiris Gin uses botanicals inspired by the Nilgiri Hills, including regional herbs and citrus elements that lend freshness, floral complexity, and earthy depth. “Tea-inspired and paan notes often create a softer, aromatic mouthfeel, while spices like cardamom add warmth and structure. These unconventional botanicals allow Indian gins to deliver layered flavour experiences suited to tropical climates and food pairings. The result is a style of gin that feels brighter, more aromatic, and often more spice-forward than classic London Dry expressions, giving Indian craft gin a unique global identity,” says Rakshit Jagdale, MD, Amrut Distilleries.

The Gin & Tonic is still relevant because it kept evolving alongside the gin. Earlier, it was a predictable drink, but once Indian craft gin started taking off, the serve changed with it. “The range of botanicals and flavour profiles coming into Indian gin made the G&T much more layered and interesting. Tonic naturally opens up the gin and brings those flavours forward, so when you suddenly have gins built around different spices, citrus, herbs, flowers, and regional ingredients, the drink itself starts tasting very different depending on the gin being used,” says Vikram Achanta, Founder & CEO of Tulleeho and Co-Founder of 30BestBarsIndia and the India Bartender Show.

Sustainability in craft spirits isn't just about packaging. It's also about how seriously you take the ingredients before they ever reach the still. At smaller scales, you are forced into a closer relationship with growers, harvest cycles, and seasonal variation. “You start treating botanicals less like commodities and more like produce, because rainfall, soil, and timing directly affect what ends up in the glass. That kind of attention is both better for the environment and better for the spirit. At Stranger and Sons, a lot of it comes down to being intentional rather than performative. Small practices like recycling water, reducing packaging waste, and being conscious about the materials we use and how we manage our waste reflect how we think about the people and ecosystems around where we're made and are an essential part of what makes the product worth making,” says Rahul Mehra, CEO & Co-founder, Third Eye Distillery.

Sustainability is becoming an important premium differentiator, largely led through the sourcing of home-grown botanicals, leading to reduced import dependency. “Many Indian gin makers source most botanicals domestically, giving them greater authenticity and traceability. Brands are also investing in low-impact production and embracing methods like rainwater harvesting, small-batch production, seasonal ingredient sourcing and farmer partnerships, all of which lend to sustainable sourcing,” says Abhishek Shahabadi, Head of Marketing, John Distilleries.

The India gin market, estimated at USD 1,789.8 million in 2025, is expected to reach USD 2,952.0 million by 2032 at a CAGR of 7.4%. (Source: Coherent Market Insights) Premium-and-above gin volumes in India grew by 8% in 2023 and are forecasted to sustain around a 5% CAGR through 2028. Safe to say that India’s craft gin wave is just getting started.