Greater Than Gin: Art of Gin at the bbb Awards 2024
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Greater Than Gin: Art of Gin at the bbb Awards 2024

Greater Than Gin shined at the BBB Awards 2024 (Best Brands in Bars 2024). The much-anticipated awards were announced with full glory at the KTPO Convention Centre, Whitefield, Bengaluru, on 4 September 2024. It was a glittering ceremony that celebrated the cream of beverage alcohol and non-alcoholic drink brands across India for craftsmanship, innovation, and excellence in the country’s best bars. In collaboration with Byg Ventures and Guala Closures, Brews & Spirits hosted the ceremony. It was followed by some of the finest brands from India as they came forth, taking this award home for their worthy contribution to the drinking scene. A major highlight of the night was our very own Editor-in-Chief of The Style. World, Ms. Shrishti Jaiswal, as she took over the stage to facilitate some of the most coveted awards for the night.  Craft, Innovation, and Excellence of Greater Than Gin Greater Than Gin shines bright in the ever-changing world of spirits. This is that gin which, over these years, has continued to uphold both tradition and innovation with aplomb without losing an iota of its sophistication. Founded in India, a country that overflows with a rich and diverse history concerning spices, flavours, and botanicals, Greater Than Gin has been fascinating gin lovers with its specific taste and peculiar process of production. From its inception to the most celebrated gin in India is an interesting story. Origin Story: Greater Than Gin was born with the notion to create a high-quality, locally produced gin that stands shoulder to shoulder with its global counterparts. It is this keenness for distillation that brought founders Anand Virmani and Vaibhav Singh together to create a gin that is Indian at heart but world-wide in its spirit. Thus, they started the parent company of Greater Than Gin called Nao Spirits in 2015 in Goa—popular for its vibrant cultural beauty, coastal beauty, and experimental spirit. In the monopolized Indian market for whiskey, rum, and beer, Greater Than was truly a pioneer. The creators wanted to tap into the gin potential of the Indian market and the great history it enjoys with juniper and botanicals, both being indispensable ingredients to make exceptional gin. A Taste of Indian Gin: The Botanical Blend More than anything, the painful selection of botanicals, local and international, is what sets Greater Than Gin apart. The juniper, which is at the heart of any gin, is from Macedonia, while other botanicals like coriander seeds, fennel, chamomile, and ginger are proudly Indian. This is a deliberate botanical blend that imparts its characteristic flavour profile into Greater Than Gin: citrusy, fresh, and herbaceous with a spice base. Smoothened and crisp, this would work just as well in a classic gin and tonic as in a slightly more involved cocktail, allowing it to please a wide range of gin drinkers. Evolution of Greater Than Gin Quite interestingly, since its birth, the evolution of Greater Than has been witnessed, from first being introduced as a gin for the Indian market to international attention regarding its quality and flavour among the connoisseurs of gin. Soon after, when demand increased, exports began to start to countries such as the UK, Singapore, and Spain, among others, further establishing it as an internationally recognised brand of gin. Besides the classic Greater Than, several limited-edition expressions have been released as a homage to some of the very disparate and exotic flavours of India. And with each new release, the brand furthers its ethos of crafting something greater-whether through unique infusions with chefs or experimenting with innovative ingredients like kaffir lime and Szechuan peppercorns. Bottling Elegance of the Greater Than Gin While the taste of Greater Than Gin is, of course, the number one reason for trying it, its beautiful minimalist packaging makes a very important part of the product’s allure. The tall, slim bottle is meant to reflect this modern, premium character of the gin. The name “Greater Than” is reflected by a striking yet minimalist “>” symbol on the bottle, which truly represents the ambition of the brand to create a gin that is greater than expected and even superior to the ordinary. Transparent glass shows off the clarity of the gin, while a clean and monochromatic label displays a statement of simplicity and elegance. It reflects the purity of the spirit inside but also makes it one of those attractive additions to every bar or drinks cabinet. The bottle design itself—a sleek, handsome echo of the clean, crisp experience that is drinking Greater Than Gin—perfectly captures the ethos of the brand: minimalist and modern, yet with a sense of sophistication that appeals to the casual gin drinker and the aficionado alike. Unwrapping the Limited Editions of Greater Than Gin Greater Than Gin is one such brand that has taken up a new way of marrying traditional craftsmanship with innovative flavours. Therefore, it has widened its arsenal with several limited-edition gins. Each of its expressions oozes an assurance from the brand of being unique and adventurous in spirit-making. Let’s look into the different limited editions as follows: 1. Broken Bat Gin Broken Bat Gin is a true homage to the rich and aromatic heritage of the spirit but with a twist for modern tastes. The name “broken bat” itself was born from classic cricket terminology for its resilience and characteristic. It is a complex blend of traditional botanicals combined with unexpected flavours that provide a robust yet complex profile. Rich and earthy, with just a little hint of spice, it is in a class of its own for gin connoisseurs interested in experiencing something new and memorable. 2. No Sleep Coffee Infused Gin For the true connoisseur, this is where it gets interesting: No Sleep Coffee Infused. This limited edition combines the aromatic richness of fresh-brewed coffee with the crisp freshness of gin. High-quality coffee beans infused in it lend a bold and refreshing flavour profile, representing a perfect blend of the best of both worlds. Smooth, with aromas of gin and the kick of coffee, it

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Be the Chieftain of the City: Byg Brewski Brewing Company’s Contest for Bengaluru’s Beer Lovers
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Be the Chieftain of the City: Byg Brewski Brewing Company’s Contest for Bengaluru’s Beer Lovers

The contest is open at all three Byg Brewski Brewing Company locations, and the winners will be rewarded with 100 beers, a chieftain’s chest, and other attractive prizes. Bengaluru, Karnataka,  Byg Brewski Brewing Company has announced its first edition of the ‘Chieftain of the City’ contest, celebrating craft beers with the city’s beer enthusiasts. The contest invites participants to drink the most beers at any of its three locations (Sarjapur, Hennur, or Yeshwanthpur) for 45 days starting August 1, 2024. The winner will be crowned and rewarded 100 beers, a chieftain’s chest, and other prizes. Guests can participate in the contest by signing up on the company’s social media handles or through Google Forms on Digitory. Guests can also inquire about enrolment with section executives at the outlets. Registrations are open from July 13 to July 31, 2024. “We have a loyal community of patrons who prefer our craft beers. ‘Chieftain of the City’ is our way of giving back to our community,” said a company spokesperson. “We invite everyone to come down, participate or cheer your friends on, and have a good time. We have new beers on tap to spruce things up and add to the excitement,” they added. The stipulation is that each participant can consume a maximum of 5 beers a day under the contest. This is done to encourage responsible drinking. A single person must drink the five beers; the beers cannot be shared between people at the table. The winner can drink the 100 beers they won and share them with their friends. About Byg Brewski Brewing Company Byg Brewski Brewing Company is one of Bengaluru’s top brewpubs. It is famous for its artisanal beers, global cuisine, and rustic ambience. Renowned for the Al Fresco dining experience, musical nights and concerts, a breathtaking pond lush with aquatic and terrestrial plant life and ample parking space with valet services. Popular beers include Byg Rauch, Hefeweizen, and Coffee Chocolate Stout. The menu comprises Pan Asian cuisine, sourdough pizzas, burgers, creamy pasta, smoky grills, pastries, and pudding.

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Brews, Community, and Nature: Welcome to the GCBC
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Brews, Community, and Nature: Welcome to the GCBC

On a very special day, I happened to go to a very secluded yet wonderful place in Bangalore. Say hello to the first of its kind, Garden City Beer Collective (GCBC), a new microbrewery that reflects the true essence of Bengaluru in almost every way. The entire establishment is an ode to Garden City, not only in terms of flavours, cuisine and cocktail programme, but also in a lung space reminiscent of old Bangalore before it evolved into the vibrant metropolis it is today. Located in Yelahanka on a beautiful 3 acres of land, GCBC aims to create bonds while keeping them natural and friendly, with the aim of bringing people together and exploring and celebrating big events and small joys in the lap of nature, all with equal enthusiasm. Why Garden City Beer Collective (GCBC)? A space that welcomes breweries into a conspiracy, an exploration of beer styles and a tribute to Garden City. The creators of this space took a page from nature and planted a large wild garden with many things growing. GCBC introduces India’s first sushi and dim sum garden and brewery to take root here. Like natural factors, GCBC is a garden of branching paths, where all paths lead to a good time.While the microbrewery is slated to open later this year, the mission of the GCBC  is to create a world-class community for craft beer enthusiasts and ultimately bring exciting collaborations, including newly minted international beer brands. Garden City Beer Collective was created with the ultimate goal of creating an experience for beer lovers where they can sample, taste and learn about beers from different parts of the world. My Cocktail: Gummy Bear Hadu: This place offers a huge variety of cocktails. But I picked something that was delicious and very refreshing. And it came in a coupe with a cherry in cherry! The drink was a grand mix of Gin, Hibiscus Tea, Lemongrass, Cherry Syrup, Grapefruit juice, Lime juice, Sweet Vermouth and Milk. Mocktails: Pina Colada: GCBC has something for everyone! You are not in a mood to have a cocktail, then Mocktail menu is right there. A mix of coconut milk, pineapple juice and lots of ice! The Food: Don’t worry, even the biggest appetites can be satisfied at GCBC. Their extensive menu includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, so whether you’re a die-hard vegan or just want a lighter meal, you won’t be left out. For starters, I checked out their delicious selection of starters and opted for the Vegetarian Chilli Corn and Malai Tandoori Paneer. Vegetarian Chilli Corn: The baby corn is fried and deep fried until crunchy on the outside to retain some of the crunchiness. Once cooked, it is tossed into the prepared sauce for a delicious topping. Overall, Chilli Baby Corn is a nice combination of sweet, salty and spicy with a satisfying crunch. Malai Tandoori Paneer: Malai Tandoori Paneer is an Indian vegetarian dish that combines the creamy richness of “malai” (cream) with the smoky flavor of tandoori food. It has fresh cubes of paneer cheese, a soft and fluffy cheese that perfectly absorbs flavors, marinated in a creamy sauce, often made from yogurt or cream, ginger and garlic. Thai Green Curry: I also ordered, Thai green curry! It is a vibrant and delicious dish simmered in fragrant green curry paste. This aromatic paste is usually made with a blend of herbs such as lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf and chili pepper, creating a complex flavour profile with a hint of heat. The curry itself is rich and creamy thanks to the coconut milk and often includes vegetables. It’s a nice balance of sweet, salty and spicy and is usually served with rice for a satisfying and comforting meal. Egg Fried Rice: Egg fried rice was another dish that I ordered. A classic Asian dish featuring fluffy cooked rice stir-fried with scrambled eggs and various other ingredients. It is one of the most versatile dishes that I eat and it is one of the staples I order wherever possible. Hakka Schezwan Noodles: I wanted a slight spice in my lunch menu for the day so I order these slightly spicy noodles. It was a fried noodle that combines the salty and chewy texture of Hakka noodles with the kick of Schezwan sauce. Imagine thin, springy noodles in a brightly colored sauce bursting with bold flavors – spicy, spicy and garlicky. It’s a crowd pleaser with a satisfying balance of texture and flavor profile that will tempt your taste buds. The Ambience, food, drinks everything just made the day a bit more special! Me and my family had a great time at GCBC! The staff’s hospitality was outstanding! My time at GCBC Bangalore will remain untainted and I will be returning for more soon!   Disclaimer: This article/review is a personal opinion and experience of M/s Shravya Yamujala.

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