The spotlight on Gin has never been stronger, till now. Made from the humble juniper berry and developed in the Netherlands in the 17th century, the current reigning hero of Tipplewood is making it’s presence felt on every bar menu & home bar. Introduced to our shores by the British Empire, Winston Churchill’s words about the glorious Gin & (malaria-killing quinine) Tonic couldn’t be more fitting, “The gin and tonic has saved more Englishmen’s lives, and minds, than all the doctors in the Empire.” With sales crossing £1 million just in England last year, the world is starting to sit up and acknowledge this crisp white spirit. Elbowing its way into a traditionally whisky market, gin is becoming the mainstay tipple for a growing demographic in India.
Addressing the gin-craze in the capital, we finally have a bar that pivots on the clear spirit in a dark spirit-loving country. Having dug that unique flag in Delhi, Juniper Bar at Andaz Hotel has helped #OurCity realise its love for the spirit, and in a short six months it’s ‘clear’ that this tipple heaven is a winner. An all day gin bar, Hyatt took the road not taken with Juniper, and has helped the capital realise its love for gin. Our penchant for shining light on the great work of good folks drove us to Aerocity (or was it our obsessive love of gintos?), and we got chatting with Vimal Verma (F&B Director, Andaz Delhi) to stir & shake up the genesis, pours, and more about this iconic bar.
Vimal Verma
“Gin is the drink of the current generation,” says this biking-enthusiast when asked what made them pick gin. He attributes the millennials’ increased travels across the world as a key catalyst in this gradual shift in alcohol preferences, “When all you’ve seen is what’s available at home, you don’t know what to ask for. But once you’ve been exposed to different cultures, you want to replicate at home what you liked there.” Admitting to not being a gin fan himself till a few years back, Verma talks about how he turned him into a gin worshipper, “An episode of self-experimentation in London led me to try quality gin at the behest of a friend. And just like a religious conversion, I was a gin convert with a new faith!” It was one of those life experiences that stuck with Verma, and he put his learning to good use, turning non-believers into gin enthusiasts over tastings at Juniper, “I have a 100 percent success rate, even those who believe themselves to be non-gin drinkers are now happy converts post the tasting,” he says.
As Juniper wrapped its hands around the steering wheel to drive Delhi’s gin explorations, they were certain of fashioning a bar with a soul. Thus came the 39 infusions, shaken and stirred to stimulate the patrons. Created in collaboration with London Bar Consultants, 140 trials and many more hours later the Juniper folks were ready with the concoctions, about 10 each for the four different taste notes on the tongue. “Inspired from the four most prominent taste bud notes, these infusions are divided into citrus, floral & fruity, spices, and herbs,” Vimal shares as he talks passionately about making products with character. “If your product doesn’t have a reason for people to be engaged, it’s easy for them to get disconnected,” he sums it up.
Experience the infusions first hand at Juniper Bar
Not limiting itself to infusions, Juniper went the extra mile and came up with a gin of its own – Delhi Sapphire. Taking birth from a cheeky idea to compete with Bombay Sapphire, the gin doesn’t shy away from emblazoning ‘Kicking Bombay’s Ass Since Inception’ on its striking orange and gold bottle. Again, engaging all four prominent taste notes, it’s made using orange peel, vanilla, cinnamon, and cumin. Add to that a design inspired from Delhi baolis, signifying that the spirit in the bottle and the spirit in you (the tippler) shall never dry up. It’s the passionate storytelling that highlights the thought and mindfulness that went behind conceptualising the drink.
Speaking of mindfulness, there’s no dearth of scrutiny invested by Andaz Delhi into creating this property that’s as with-the-times as can be. A short walk from their fluid spaces, which take form as workstations and lounges to AnnaMaya, their foodhall dedicated to artisanal produce, will leave you sans doubt that the new age patron hasn’t skipped their minds for a nanosecond. It’s fresh, it’s on-trend, and it’s leading the pack for a hotel revolution in the making. As Andaz matches the millennial beat with each step, it’s no surprise that the aim to tap into and amplify Delhi’s growing gin community, with a touch of ace craftsmanship is what Juniper embodies. From a bitter medicinal tipple to a mainstay go-to beverage across the country, gin is finally having it’s well-deserved moment in the sun. And with Delhi’s only gin bar paying homage and championing the cause of this glorious spirit, the cards for the capital’s next beverage breakaway have been dealt.
If you’ve sipped their tipples, you know it to be true, if you haven’t, you’re guilty of The gin sin that needs to swiftly transform into a gin win. #DSSCRecommends writing your next tipple tales at this bar that’s raising Delhi’s spirits like never before.
Head here: Juniper, Andaz Delhi, Asset 1, Aerocity New Delhi
