Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin was recently launched in the UK to coincide with the recent Diwali celebrations. It is available exclusively at The Whisky Exchange and rolling out to retailers throughout the UK in time for Christmas. The gin is a product of Radico Khaitan, one of the oldest whisky distillers in India with a reputation for quality and innovation and the ability to grow brands internationally.
Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin is triple-distilled and handcrafted in a traditional copper pot still in small batches by Master Distiller Anup Barik at Rampur Distillery – the makers of Rampur Indian Single Malt Whisky. The distillery is one of India’s oldest, located in the foothills of the Himalayas.
Anup Barik, who comes from a family of Indian master distillers, wanted to retain the classic gin flavour using juniper berries whilst adding a refreshing twist with Indian botanicals. He has chosen seven of the 11 botanicals used in the distillation from all four corners of India. The Coriander and Vetiver, a complex spice with intriguing peppery notes, are grown in the fields around Jaisalmer in the North of India. The sweet orange peel, which complements the citrus and floral tones of the gin, comes from Central India. Cubeb Pepper berries and Lemon Grass from Southern India, Darjeeling Green Tea leaves from Eastern India and Lemon Peel from Western India make up the remaining Indian-sourced botanicals.
Other botanicals include angelica root, liquorice and caraway seeds which lend a spicy, slightly anise-tinged flavour to the gin and the all-important juniper berries from Tuscany.
Sanjeev Banga, President – International Business at Jaisalmer’s owners Radico, says, “We’re delighted to be launching our first Indian Craft Gin and are excited about the heritage behind the brand as well as the Indian craftsmanship our Master Distiller uses to distil our new gin. Jaisalmer’s signature serve, the Jaisalmer Gin and Indian Tonic tastes like an oasis in the desert and we describe it as a drink fit for Royalty, harking back to the imperial age of the Maharajas and their moments of leisure and pleasure. Jaisalmer also makes an excellent base for exotic gin cocktails to be enjoyed by consumers especially in the UK, USA, the rest of Europe and other countries worldwide.”
