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

Product Information

Stranger and Sons Gin and Tonic: This is a pre-mixed gin and tonic that is made using Stranger and Sons Classic Gin and tonic water. It has a refreshing and crisp flavor profile, with notes of citrus and juniper.Stranger and Sons Gin is known for its high-quality ingredients and unique flavor profiles. Each type of gin is crafted with care and attention to detail, resulting in a premium product that is enjoyed by gin lovers around the world. 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. 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. Interview with Sakshi Saigal founder of Stranger & Sons Gin - Third Eye Distillery, Goa, India. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

This all changed in 2018, when three relatives, Sakshi Saigal, Rahul Mehra and Vidur Gupta recognised a worldwide thirst for quality craft gins and wanted to create one of the first fully Indian gins since the 1940’s. Together they founded Third Eye Distillery and Stranger & Sons Gin was born in Goa on the southwestern coast of India. For this exact reason, Dhall & Nash did not want to hitch our gin wagon to any old distillery. What we came to realise in our spirits research, was that the ‘new’ Gin boom has seen consumers moving away from established brands on store shelves and towards small batch gin distilleries and artisan craft gin makers. This has been partly driven by the “craft” movement, which saw the rise of coffee roasteries, craft beer breweries, natural wines, and farmers’ markets. The focus now being on artisanal products, with people valuing authentically, locally produced products, where they can see and get to know the individuals making these products and partly driven by the realisation that gin can be so unique. Yes, us gin lovers already knew that the joy of gin is that no two gins are 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.”

Reviews

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? Developed by the new distillery, the Third Eye Distillery range hit a homerun with their first major release – Stranger and Sons. More internationally, do you think that Indian Gin is now on the map (for the record, we do) and what do you think the main challenges are to build even more awareness around it? We at Dhall & Nash are equally as proud to be the New Zealand distributors of a prestigious new gin brand creating waves on the global spirits scene. Stranger and Sons Gin is a premium Indian gin that is crafted in small batches. It is produced by Third Eye Distillery, which is located in the Indian state of Goa. The gin is made using a blend of Indian botanicals, including coriander, angelica, and Indian citrus peels.

Although, we’re glad that there was nothing at the time to cloud our judgement, allowing us to build a truly Indian gin. One that fits as seamlessly in the colourful and vibrant bars of Goa as it does proudly in the top bars of the world. If you look at the math and volumes behind the brands that fall in the above category, we could be considered by many to be doing something stupid and risky, but having said that we are very excited by the response we have received so far and have been able to get some early adopters. We are constantly trying to grow our customer base by ensuring that we keep them entertained through our events, social media channels and of course our Gin! Where and how far you want to go with your Gin brand? Distillation: The macerated spirit is then distilled in a copper pot still. The still is heated, and the vapors produced are condensed and collected. The first and last portions of the distillate, which contain impurities, are discarded. Stranger and Sons Gin is a premium gin that is distilled in India. The gin is made using a blend of botanicals that are sourced from across the country. The gin is known for its unique flavor profile and is a popular choice among gin enthusiasts. 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.

Stranger and Sons gin is made in Goa, India. The distillery is located in the village of Pilerne, which is surrounded by lush greenery and tropical fruit trees. The distillery is run by a team of passionate gin enthusiasts who are committed to producing high-quality gin using traditional methods. What is the difference between Bombay Sapphire and Stranger and Sons gin? Furthermore, India follows a federal system of laws when it comes to alcohol, the guidelines and regulations vary across states in India and each local market brings a new, diverse consumer base which makes the experience, well, lets just say thrilling!

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. 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.With the growing number of gin enthusiasts, we are constantly looking to innovate and explore new extensions and product ideas. 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? 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. I primarily drank this as a simple gin & tonic with some lime as a garnish. I did the initial taste without any lime and a neutral tonic, but gradually turned to a lime garnish after I experienced it enough.

Stating that multiple tasting panels were captivated by the aromas and tasting notes, she adds, “Our gin goes beyond the customary juniper and plays up Indian botanicals and spices.” – adding a distinctive twist to the gin category. This gin produced in India has world-class influences; from maker Sakshi Saigal’s time living in Barcelona, a distilling course in the Netherlands and finally the relaxed Portuguese vibe where it is distilled in Goa. Stranger & Sons capture the true essence of India by using botanicals native to every household - the citrus peel mix of the Indian Bergamot, Nimbu, Nagpur oranges & gondhoraj and spices like the local pepper, coriander mace, licorice, cassia and nutmeg grown in Goa. 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. From starting out as early innovators in the craft gin industry to winning a Gold medal at Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in 2019 to bagging another Gold at Gin Berlin International Spirits Competition and being declared one of the 8 best gins in the world by IWSC in 2020, we’ve had an eventful journey so far.

Review and Tasting

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.