Nao Spirits & Beverages

Nao Spirits & Beverages, founded in 2016, is a notable player in the burgeoning Indian craft spirits market. The venture was started by Anand Virmani, his wife Aparajita Ninan, and Vaibhav Singh, who were later joined by Abhinav Rajput. The founders, with backgrounds in hospitality and marketing, identified a gap in the Indian market for high-quality, locally produced gin at a time when global interest in the spirit was resurging. Anand Virmani, a commerce student turned distiller with experience at firms like William Grant & Sons and Deloitte, along with Singh, ran a bar in Delhi where they noticed increasing customer demand for interesting gin options. This firsthand observation, coupled with the lack of compelling domestic offerings, spurred them to create their own spirits.

The company operates a distillery in Goa, producing spirits that are distributed across India and exported to over 14 countries. Nao Spirits' business model revolves around the production and sale of premium craft spirits, targeting discerning consumers who are moving towards premiumization and appreciate locally sourced products. The company generates revenue through the sale of its products in both on-trade (bars and restaurants) and off-trade (retail) channels. After raising approximately $15.1 million over six funding rounds, the company was acquired by Diageo India in June 2025 in a deal valued at around ₹130 crore, though the founding team continues to lead the company's operations.

Nao Spirits has two flagship gin brands: Greater Than and Hapusa. Greater Than, launched in September 2017, was India's first craft London Dry Gin. It is crafted with nine botanicals sourced from India and globally, including juniper, coriander seeds, fennel, chamomile, ginger, and lemongrass, offering a clean, citrus-forward profile designed to be versatile for cocktails. Hapusa, launched in 2018, is distinguished as the world's first Himalayan Dry Gin. Its name translates to 'juniper' in Sanskrit, and it is made using foraged juniper from the Himalayas. The botanical mix for Hapusa is entirely indigenous to India, featuring ingredients like turmeric, raw mango, ginger, cardamom, and gondhoraj lime, which impart a unique, earthy, and savory flavor profile, making it suitable for sipping neat. The spirits are distilled in a copper pot still, a method that helps maintain the integrity of the botanicals. Beyond its core products, Nao Spirits has released several limited-edition gins, such as a coffee-infused gin and another aged in barrels made from cricket bats, showcasing its experimental approach.

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