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

Product Information

There’s no denying that gin is one of the fastest-growing spirits in the world. There really is an exciting ‘Gin-naissance’ hitting the shop shelves, trendiest bars and coolest clubs making it the drink du jour for both hipsters and discriminating imbibers alike. 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.” The lion’s share of any distillery’s route to market will remain bars and shops, but in the UK the Covid pandemic has fundamentally changed the connection brands have with their fans. It also accelerated expectations and trends around buying direct and being able to engage with owners digitally and that's set to continue. So last but not least… How are you finding this shift and how are you adapting to it?

I think it’s quite accurate to say that ignorance is bliss. Had we known that we would have had such a great impact on the trend in India and Indian gins, we would have been more cautious with our branding and business decisions and definitely not as impulsive. Managing water waste at the distillery– Most distilleries use a constant flow of cold water, which is drained out. To reduce and preserve the amount they use for the 16-hour distillation run, they have invested in a tank that recycles the water. With their chiller and tank, they are able to save 10,000 litres of water per run and the drained water is directed to their botanical garden. Stranger & Sons was the first Indian gin to win a Gold-Outstanding medal at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) in 2020 in London. It happened to be one of the only 8 gins in the world to receive this award out of 800 brands that participated that year. This was followed by multiple gold medals at The Drinks Business Asia Summer Tasting in Hong Kong (2021), followed by a handful of silver medals at the London Spirits Competition 2021 and San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2021. 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. The gin has a smooth and complex flavor profile that is characterized by notes of juniper, coriander, and citrus. The juniper flavor is prominent, but it is well-balanced by the other botanicals. The coriander adds a spicy note to the gin, while the citrus provides a refreshing and zesty flavor.

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. 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.

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? The US has varying laws and distribution requirements state by state, Scandinavia has the Monopoly system - For those not so familiar with the country, what are the particular challenges that India faces that make it hard for craft distilling to flourish? Stranger & Sons is an Indian spirited gin that captures the essence of India in every bottle for a curious and discerning consumer; we celebrate the transmission of centuries-old traditions while recognizing the contemporary India we live in today. India is indeed land with a suffusion of diverse festivals, politics, religions, colors and cuisine with traits, practices and characteristics each more unique and peculiar than the other. The many quirks and eccentricities of all generations play a part in our daily lives. This was the inspiration that led to “Stranger”, as we believe that India is wonderfully strange! The “& Sons”, perfectly encapsulates and pays homage to the multiple businesses in India that are passed down from generation to generation. Launched by three family members, Stranger & Sons is a tribute to these businesses and the entrepreneurial spirit inherent in most Indians. Global sales of premium gin bottles are growing at around 20% annually, says IWSR Drinks Market Analysis firm, two-and-a-half times the rate of overall spirit sales.Just as master weavers of the traditional Indian sari use rich colours, silky textures, embellishments, and beautiful motifs, so too the skilful distillers at Stranger & Sons – masterfully create a magically almost ‘mythical’ gin through distilling alchemy of exotic spices, colourful citrus, and invigorating juniper. Stranger and Sons Barrel Aged Gin: This gin is aged in oak barrels for six months, which gives it a unique flavor profile. It has notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak, along with the classic gin botanicals. Ultimately though, the Stranger & Sons trio wanted to represent the new face of India, with all its quirks that people may not know about. Not just the old-fashioned colonial view of India. This is a cool, modern, and forward-looking India.

Gin is definitely having a moment! Discerning drinkers still can’t get enough of gin, gin, glorious gin.There is indeed a shift that has happened with consumers themselves leaning towards more creative choices. Craft brands in India are currently redefining the perception of premiumness; it is now much more about authenticity, craftsmanship and embracing innovation to produce something uniquely groundbreaking. Having said that, we believe that the journey for Indian gins is just beginning. As the world realizes that there is more to India than just the stereotypical Palaces, Himalayas, Mathematics and a dozen other clichés, they’ll see that there’s a lot more that we can bring to the table. 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.

With the growing number of gin enthusiasts, we are constantly looking to innovate and explore new extensions and product ideas. 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. Maceration: The botanicals and spices are first macerated in a neutral spirit for around 24 hours. This process allows the flavors and aromas of the botanicals to infuse into the spirit. Described as “bold and delicious”, the spirit has also won a Master medal at The Asian Spirits Masters 2021. “The palate is wonderful – smooth and silky mouthfeel with no sharp edges or volatile alcohol”, said one of the judges, Bryan Rodriguez, wine, and spirits buyer for Harvey Nichols in London. 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.Developed by the new distillery, the Third Eye Distillery range hit a homerun with their first major release – Stranger and Sons. When was the last time you tried an Indian gin? Probably not in a long time or ever, in fact, most of us didn’t even know India produced quality gin. Well, that’s not the case any longer as Third Eye Distillery’s very own Stranger and Sons Gin is now a global darling. This cookie is set by Rubicon Project to control synchronization of user identification and exchange of user data between various ad services.