The story of India’s spirits scene used to be simple: whisky ruled, while most other spirits were destined for export. But that script is changing. Over the last decade, a confident new wave of small distillers and now even major players have showcased the true craftsmanship of Indian producers, proving that India can create premium, terroir-driven spirits with distinct identities. What’s fascinating is the approach they’re taking: the very strategies that placed Indian single malts like Amrut, Paul John, and Indri on the global map are now being reimagined by premium gins and agave-based spirits. The result: a homegrown premiumisation story that feels both modern and proudly local.

Why the “malt blueprint” matters

When Indian single malts started winning awards and export attention, they did more than win medals. They proved that a combined locally sourced raw material, clearly defined regional identity, careful maturation or production craft, world-class quality control, storytelling that leans into place. Indian malt brands began investing in quality casks and experimenting with maturation techniques that suited the warm conditions of Indian warehouses. Instead of seeing tropical aging as a challenge, they embraced it as a strength and it worked beautifully.

The same structural approach is visible now in premium gin and agave spirit makers. For single malts, international recognition helped sales and distribution; for gins and agave spirits, that pathway is being actively followed.

Numbers that explain the momentum

India’s premium gin market is growing noticeably: premium-and-above gin volumes in India grew in the early 2020s and analysts project steady growth for the rest of the decade, while some market reports peg India’s gin market at several hundred million USD in 2024 with mid-single-digit to high-single-digit CAGRs ahead.

On the agave side, which was traditionally dominated by imports of tequila and mezcal, the global demand for agave spirits is booming. Analysts estimate that the global agave spirits market is valued in the multiple billions, roughly in the USD 10–14 billion range, and is expected to grow at close to a double-digit rate in the coming years. India itself has seen agave-related sales multiply in recent years. Imports and local craft launches have both surged, and brands producing 100% agave spirits from Indian-grown plants are exporting to markets such as the US and Singapore.

Learning from the history and evolution of India’s distilling craft

Before India became known for its single malts, the country already had a quiet, centuries-old relationship with fermentation and distillation. Traditional Indian spirits like feni from Goa, mahua from central India, and arrack from the south were early examples of how local ingredients like cashew fruit, mahua flowers, and sugarcane were transformed into regional liquors. These indigenous practices formed the cultural foundation for today’s premium spirits movement, even if they were long overlooked in global conversations.

What the single malt revolution did was give these forgotten skills a framework proof that India could not only produce but perfect fine spirits. Now, gin and agave producers are rediscovering that same local ingenuity through a modern lens. The craft gin distilleries in Goa or Rajasthan, for instance, are echoing what local feni producers mastered generations ago: harnessing terroir, temperature, and time to produce spirits that reflect their place of origin. Similarly, India’s early experiments with agave in dry belts like Gujarat and the Deccan Plateau mirror how traditional spirit-making once adapted to the land’s rhythm.

Future outlook where this is headed

Expect three things over the next 3–7 years.

• First, premiumisation will accelerate: Consumers with high disposable income and cocktail culture in urban India will lift premium gin and agave categories faster than mass segments.
• Second, hybrid identity spirits will appear: Agave distilled locally and finished in Indian casks; Gins that are part-Juniper, part-traditional Ayurvedic botanical blends.
• Third, exports will rise: as Indian producers build consistent quality, they’ll pursue duty-friendly markets and collaborate with global distributors who already moved Indian malts overseas.

Market forecasts support steady growth for both gin and agave globally, and India is positioned to capture a slice if producers keep quality and storytelling aligned.

What gave India its perfect blend

What made Indian single malts credible was the marriage of craft attention with export-grade systems. Gins and agave spirits adopting the same DNA-rooted terroir, experimentation, disciplined quality control, and smart scaling partnerships can repeat that success. For consumers, that means more world-class bottles that taste of a place: India. For producers, it means a route map already proven by their malt predecessors. The race isn’t to copy Scotland or Mexico, it's to be authentically Indian while meeting premium global expectations. When that balance is found, the world will notice.

(This article has been drafted by Mr. Prasann Kedia, Managing Director at Associated Alcohols & Breweries Ltd.)