Nikhil Agarwal Founder, All Things Nice, International Wine and Spirits Judge, A well-known personality in the industry, Nikhil Agarwal is a trained sommelier, travel, wine and spirits writer and an international wine and spirits judge who earned his sommelier degree in London. He also holds a Diploma in Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Edinburgh Whisky Academy. Agarwal is best known for All Things Nice, one of India’s leading wine, spirits and luxury marketing and consulting agencies founded in 2010. Agarwal has been in the wine, spirits and luxury business for over 19 years. His work profile combines some of India’s top companies such as Sula Vineyards, LVMH and Diageo. He was appointed as Program Director of the Wines of India Program and has conceptualized path breaking event properties like Wine Week, Cognac Week, Malt Week and the Indian Wine Consumer’s Choice Awards. His most recent successes include The Wine Cellar by All Things Nice, launched in 2020, where people can shop for some bespoke wines and spirits. “Work very hard, be very sincere towards people, make enough time for friends and family, and most of all enjoy what you’re doing.” Rakshay Dhariwal Founder & Managing Director, Pass Code Hospitality, Maya Pistola Agavepura and India Cocktail Week Rakshay Dhariwal is a Delhi-based entrepreneur, whose ventures focus on the food and beverage industry. In 2012, he made his mark on the F&B industry in India by launching India’s first speakeasystyle cocktail bar, the award winning PCO. Over the next few years, he has launched some of India’s most exciting boutique F&B brands including, Ping’s Cafe Orient, his casual fun dining concept that does Healthy Asian Street food, Jamun, an Indian regional-specialty funfine dine restaurant and SAZ, a contemporary take on an American Brasserie. Currently, Rakshay manages 19 restaurants and he plans to launch 30 new restaurants and bars all over the world in the next 5 years. In 2019, Rakshay co-founded India Cocktail Week, a large-scale festival that travels to Delhi, Goa, Bangalore, and Bombay, celebrating all things cocktails. Furthermore, during the lockdown, Rakshay decided to use his new-found time to launch India’s first aged 100% agave spirit. When he discovered that very good quality agave grows in India, he thought he would try his hand at distilling, ageing and blending the spirit. “In life I don’t really have regrets as everything shapes and moulds you to become who you are. In business, only work with like-minded partners.” What started out as a passion project is now becoming one of India’s most talked about new craft spirits — Maya Pistola Agavepura. His accolades include being in GQ’s 50 Most Influential Young Indians in 2018 list, GQ’s 30 Most Influential Indians List in 2022 and being awarded Economic Times Restaurateur of the Year - West in 2022, and Food Connoisseurs Restaurateur of the Year - Male in 2023. 112 | | 113
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