World Gin Day: Tracing trends and our guide to events in Mumbai

The serious gindrinkerGinmaker Anand Virmani cocreator of Greater Than and Hapusa believes that itrsquos an exciting time for the industry with the spirit gaining prominence ldquoWersquore definitely going to see a lot more limitededition gins coming out and more experimentation on the distillersrsquo partrdquo he says Meanwhile bartenders will also play around with ginbased conceptsAnand Virmani at the distilleryOver the past two years tipplers have been experimenting with gin at home Virmani is keen to watch what happens now that bars are opening up and people are drinking out again ldquoI think the expectations from a cocktail are much higher now because people have more knowledge about these drinksrdquo he reasons With palates and lifestyle choices evolving therersquos a shift from the classic GampT to gin on the rocks gin and soda and martini which he terms a ldquoserious gin drinkrdquo For such discerning tipplers brands will be creating gin experiences that are more sustainable especially in the drinkingathome space ldquoWith DIY kits and cocktail mixes the idea is to get people to replicate these drinks for the rest of their lives and not be just a oneoff party trickrdquo he addsBroadening bank of botanicalsThe great thing about gin is that it is customisable points out Karina Agarwal vice president at TERAI a craft Indian gin ldquoWersquove almost made a ritual out of how we consume gin mdash be it with tonic mixers infusions or syrups So therersquos more investment in your drink rather than just opening a bottle of beerrdquo she reasons pointing to why the spirit has been gaining popularity Going forward the Indian gin renaissance will witness a focus on more indigenous ingredients she believes whether it is different kinds of fruits spices or vegetables ldquoThe bank of botanicals will broaden and we will also see a lot of flavour mixers coming into play whether itrsquos in the form of tonics or flavoured sodas iced teas and botanical watersrdquoGin on the goWith a rise in boutique gin options gin drinkers are likely to get more vocal for local asserts Dhruv Sachdeva bar manager Perch Wine amp Coffee Bar He forecasts an era of flavoured gins ldquoPeople will be interested in drinking gin not only at a bar but also pouring themselves a drink at home Flavoured gins make life easier especially when say yoursquore having a house party and you would love to make a cocktail but need a lot of ingredientsrdquo he elucidates The gin market will also witness the rise of more and more prebottled ginandtonics ldquoYou just have to chill it and consume it Moreover the DIY cocktail trend is also here to stayrdquo Sachdeva notesTonic twistWith the boom in the Indian craft gin scene therersquos been an evolution in the tonic water space too shares Nilesh Patel beverage head west Impresario Handmade Restaurants ldquoEarlier there was only Schweppes then came Svami Jade Forest and many others who are experimenting with flavoured tonic waters such as elderflower grapefruit jamun and morerdquo he informs us The mixologist observes that Indian spices are taking centre stage in the gin culture Boutique gin distillers are using Indian botanicals as their base flavouring agent and pairing these gins with Indian spices at the bar is an excellent choiceGin on the menu Perch is hosting a bar takeover with Greater Than inspired by English artist William Hogarthrsquos Gin Lane 1751 a work that was published as a pair with Beer Street during a campaign against the uncontrolled production and sale of cheap gin The mood at the resto pub will be far less morbid with new cocktails and interactive activities But if you want to stir your own drink get your hands on a gin box in pic above that they have collaborated with Hapusa to create it comprises a bottle of gin recipe cards tonic gondhoraj cordial camphor syrup orange slices and moreON Today 8 pm onwards AT 12 Union Park Khar WestCALL 9321375915COST Rs 6006 gin boxAt Salt Water Cafeacute indulge in cocktails such as litchi tonic sage smash gimlet and cold brew with Tanqueray doing a bar takeover TILL Today 9 am to 1 pm AT Rose Minar Chapel Road Bandra WestThink you know your gin Svami is back with the third edition of Gin Drinker of the Year that will see a virtual happy hour with gin distillers followed by a quiz ON June 11 630 pm onwardsLOG ON TO svamidrinkscomBuild your own GampT at Saz American Brasserie with the spirit and infusion of your choice Turn bartender and pick your own garnish and tonic tooON Today and tomorrow 5 pm to 8 pmAT Ground floor Jio World Drive BKCCheck out citrus passion cool your sol gin up inset and other cocktails at Smoke House Delirsquos GinDig celebrationsTILL June 11 9 am to 11 pm AT BKCColaba Pali Hill and Lower ParelJamjar has curated a new monthlong ginspecial menu featuring basil smash grand sunset red rider and moreTILL July 15 9 am to 1 amAT Versova and Bandra