India has seen an explosion of gin distilleries.
Gin is something that I always believed India would do well - given their expertise with herbs and spices.
Hopefully, one of the big Indian brands takes an interest and revive these liqueurs.
Another article, which mentions other distilleries:
https://www.cntraveller.in/story/rajasthans-heritage-liqueur...
And helpfully compares this stuff to amaro.
So, where can i buy it? Neither Whisky Exchange nor Gerry's list it, so i'm stumped!
I was visiting Jaipur in the early 2000s and recalled the new law allowing heritage liquors had passed.
So I went to a local "wine shop" (which sell spirits, etc.) and asked for some "local liquor". The man handed me an Indian version of whiskey.
No, I said, I don't want IMFL; give me something that's traditional and local.
He sighed, reached down behind the counter by his feet, and pulled out a half liter bottle of a clear liquid which did not even have a label. It was about 25 rupees (around $0.30 today). And sure to blind anyone who partook in it.
No thanks, I said, and passed on that quest.
Surprised to see this on HN.
There are a number of regional liquors across India, but most are looked down upon as the drivel of the poor or the working class.
If you want something that tastes closest to normal traditional North Indian liquor in North America, just drink some Arak or Raki with a side of cucumbers and a bit of tasting salt.
That said, I've seen that Total Liquor has started importing artisanal Indian liquors now too (btw, Old Monk is not artisanal nor are the beers served at Indian restaurants the normal beers that Indians drink)
This looks intriguing but it's missing one key information: Where does one actually buy the stuff out here in the west?
Rajastan is amazing to visit, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, you name it. The last one is a proper desert city near borders with Pakistan, you can have dune safaris with sleeping on dunes and watching various critters roam around. The food there is one notch more spicy above usual Indian already crazy level. They have these various family workshops - jewellery, daggers etc using old family traditions, you can see also workshop or kiln just behind shop. Similar to shopping around for quality nepalese kukri around Kathmandu.
But heat can be brutal out there - one day just sitting on camel around Jaisalmer, I've drunk 6l of water (literally 1l bottles one after another). No pee at all coming out, and even almost had a heat stroke.
India's diversity is stunning, its not just 1 huge country but rather a continent on its own composed out of... 1000 various tribes IIRC? To me, by far the most exotic country (as in different to environment I normally inhabit) globally. Not sure how much of that slowly evaporated in past decade with phones everywhere, I've spent some time there 15 years ago.