The liquor industry has been expanding marvellously overseas, with an abundance of new spirits hitting the market, be it single malts, gin or tequila. The Indian liquor market does not fall back. This year, we have seen some of the most impressive launches including X by Glenmorangie, curated by master distiller Bill Lumsden, Stranger & Sons’ new collaborative launches and more. Take a look at some of the new and exciting liquor launches of 2022 below.
Rémy Cointreau METAXA
Photo Courtesy: Remy Cointreau
Rémy Cointreau Group (headquartered in Paris, France), has a portfolio of exceptional spirits which draw their strength from authenticity and originality. And like all Rémy Cointreau Group brands, their latest METAXA is rooted in the depths of terroir – in this case, the Greek island of Samos, which lies in the Aegean Sea. METAXA 12 Stars is the first from the METAXA collection to be launched in India with a unique taste. At the very heart of METAXA’s exceptional smoothness is the prized Muscat wine of Samos. The Muscat wines and wine distillates are aged separately in oak casks until they are ready to be emulsified in Limousin oak casks. A bouquet of Mediterranean botanicals brings the final touch to the smoothness to METAXA. The spirit’s mature and distinctive character is best to be explored neat or on a single rock.
Price: ₹6,900/-
Stranger and Sons x The Bombay Canteen Gin Perry Road Peru
Photo Courtesy: Stranger and Sons
Stranger and Sons and The Bombay Canteen collaborated to curate Gin Perry Road Peru, a spirit that celebrates both companies’ love for the city of Mumbai. Perry Road Peru is the first of its kind in India – a single-batch, limited edition distilled cocktail, inspired by seasonal pink guavas, the perfect muse to capture the spirit of Bombay. Fresh, balanced and luscious, Perry Road Peru has an intoxicating aroma with a ripe, robust flavour that combines the nine Indian botanicals in the Stranger & Sons gin. The perus are handpicked and peeled when ripe, macerated for six hours, and then distilled for another 18. And in typical Bombay fashion, this seasonal distilled cocktail comes with a generous pinch of chilli-salt mix.
Price: ₹5,000/-
Stranger & Sons x Four Pillars Gin
Photo Courtesy: Stranger & Sons
A collaboration between expert distilleries on either side of the Indian Ocean, Stranger & Sons collaborated with Four Pillars Gin to create two quality and flavourful gins inspired by with the tides and coast that connect them. The collaboration between the two contemporary distilleries was initiated during the lockdown via email correspondence with a firm intent to create two expressions of gin that capture the spirit of both India and Australia. The reating curations were two flavorful gins, Spice Trade Gin and Trading Tides. With turmeric, finger lime, teppal, long peppers, red chilli and black cardamom, FourPillars created Spice Trade Gin, which is their take on modern India. Spice Trade Gin is a kaleidoscope of flavours, with fragrant aromas and big, bold spices on the palate. Trading Tides on the other hand, used Australian lemon myrtle, anise myrtle and river mint along with the Indian flavours of mangosteen, kokum and tamarind—creating a coastal dry gin which served as an ode to this rather strange trade. Trading Tides Gin is a bright bouquet of citrus notes that’s vibrant with a refreshing hint of mint and a soft, spiced finish.
Price: ₹3,500/- each
Third Eye Distillery x Plantation
Photo Courtesy: Third Eye DistilleryPhoto Courtesy: Third Eye Distillery
French Artisanal Rum brand ‘Plantation’ has made its India debut in collaboration with Third Eye Distillery. The French rum brand’s launch in India is said to be an attempt to spark the rum conversation in India. The brand will introduce India to the varieties of Rums from the French discipline and tropical passion of ancient craftsmanship. The two entrants of Plantation Rum, 3 Stars and Original Dark are available in Mumbai and Goa and will be launched across Maharashtra, Delhi & Bangalore with ThirdEyeDistillery as the official partner for the brand in India. 3 Stars is a suave blend of aged and unaged rums from three primary terroirs: Barbados, Trinidad & Jamaica. While Barbados delivers a rich and balanced palate, Trinidad adds finesse, and Jamaica provides an emphatic structure. The final product is filtered to remove color making it a smooth-tasting white rum that blends well with your cocktails. A perfect rum for Daiquiris. The blends of Original Dark are initially aged in the tropical regions of Barbados & Jamaica and then its taste is further enhanced by double aging in the wooden barrels of France. notes of plum, banana, and vanilla, spiced with a hint of cinnamon and clove makes Plantation Original Dark an ideal companion for cocktails.
Woodburns A Tale of Oak
Photo Courtesy: Woodburns
Fullarton Distilleries, in collaboration with All Things Nice, has launched a limited-edition, single malt whisky called Woodburns: A Tale of Oak. A 250 bottle exclusive, this limited edition single malt is inspired by the wordsmiths that told their own tales ofoak. With a history that begins with the Greeks, the oak tree has been a symbol of might, endurance, and wisdom. The single malt comes with no additives, is non-chill filtered and comes with an ex-bourbon cask finish. On the nose, it has a fruity aroma with candied red fruits reminiscent of sherry, while it opens with sweet fruit and oaky vanilla. It has a well-rounded mouthfeel with robust notes of piquant sweet spice and pleasant oiliness with a lingering finish, a perceived sweetness and notes of liquorice & mace flower.
Price: On Request
X by Glenmorangie
Photo Courtesy: Glenmorangie
A celebrated single malt, Glenmorangie’s new X by Glenmorangie is a single malt Scotch whisky that is made especially for mixing. Keeping up with the times and the latest trends in mixology, the new single malt is a controversial twist from how the liquor is traditionally consumed. Developed in consultation with top global bartenders, X by Glenmorangie’s sweeter, richer taste is perfect for tall, simple serves, which promise to refresh the way single malt whisky is enjoyed. The whiskey’s rich flavour comes from the swirling aromas of pear and vanilla, setting the stage for rich orange sherbet and fudge. This versatile single malt offers a rich taste that not only complements, but also cuts through all kinds of mixers, for delicious drinks. The X by Glenmorangie is said to be a recreation of the original 15 year single malt, but with a more earthy and spicy flavour palate.
