NAO OR NEVER
Made in India, destined for the world, Nao Spirits, an independent start-up, was set up with the aim of crafting spirits from India for India and the rest of the world. The founder duo, Vaibhav Singh (an F&B entrepreneur) and Anand Virmani (an old liquor industry hand), launched their first London Dry Gin in September 2017. This was followed by a contemporary gin this year.
Distilled in India with foraged Himalayan juniper and locally sourced botanicals, the uniquely Indian gin Hapusa (juniper is called hapusa in Sanskrit) gives it not only its name but its distinctive aroma and flavour as well. According to Virmani, “Sourced from near the snow line in the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh, the elusive juniper berry provides a beautiful structure around which the rest of our botanicals are purposefully arranged.” Other ingredients sourced locally include coriander seeds, turmeric, mango, ginger, cardamom, almond and the gondhoraj lemon popular in Bengal. As far as local agriculture is concerned, “we are making a small impact, but it’s just the beginning. In time, when we are able to justify the time and effort with sufficient volumes, we hope to have dedicated farmers for each individual botanical,” he says.
These botanicals journey from across the country to meld together the distilled spirit. The inclusion of turmeric and mango make it one of the more savoury gins today. Virmani and Dhawan highly recommend Hapusa as a dry martini or with ice and tonic topped with 15 ml of dark-roast cold brew coffee. The brand has put out 5,000 bottles this year and currently exports to Singapore and Norway.