Brands
Bonga Bonga toasts triple win, putting Indian liqueurs on global map
MUMBAI: Raise a glass! India’s first homegrown liqueur has gone global in style. ‘Bonga Bonga Mystery Liqueur’, the debut brand from Indobevs, has made history by becoming the first Indian liqueur to win accolades across three of the world’s most prestigious spirits competitions in the same year.
Launched in 2025, Bonga Bonga clinched silver at The Spirits Business Global Asian Masters, silver at the World Liqueur Awards, and bronze at the International Spirits Challenge. For a debutant label, that’s a hat-trick many established global players would envy.
These aren’t just any awards. The International Spirits Challenge, now in its 30th year, attracts thousands of entries from more than 70 countries, judged by distillers, bartenders and design experts. The World Liqueur Awards benchmark the very best against Europe’s legacy names, while the Asian Spirits Masters strips branding away to judge on taste alone.
“From day one, Bonga Bonga was imagined for the world,” said Indobevs, cmo, Anupam Gurani. “We wanted something global, alive and true to Indobevs’ DNA of innovation. Winning across three of the industry’s most credible stages affirms that ambition and shows a readiness among drinkers to embrace brands that tell new stories.”
What makes Bonga Bonga different is its secret blend of over 40 botanicals: rosemary, thyme, lavender, cinnamon, ginger, honey and more, crafted into a layered, sharp profile. Served at –10 degree celsius as a pure shot, it’s not designed as a mixer but as a ritual: crisp, bracing and unapologetically bold. Each bottle comes with an infuser that lets drinkers add dried herbs to invent personal flavours, turning every pour into a canvas for creativity. Even the bottle itself is designed to live on: reused, repurposed and reimagined long after the last drop.
For Indobevs, best known for cult favourite Brocode, Bonga Bonga is a category-bender, refusing to fit neatly into the global spirits playbook. With futuristic design, playful irreverence and a focus on participation as much as taste, the brand positions itself as a “category of one.”
Brands
Amol Parashar invests in Nisaki Gin as strategic stakeholder
Actor shifts from endorsements to ownership with colour-changing craft gin
MUMBAI: Actor Amol Parashar has taken a spirited new turn off screen, investing in premium liquor label Nisaki Gin as a strategic stakeholder. The move marks a clear pivot from brand ambassador to brand believer, signalling a more hands-on chapter in how the actor engages with businesses.
Best known for his performances in the web series Tripling, the historical drama Sardar Udham, and the streaming title Gram Chikitsalay, Parashar has steadily built rapport with younger audiences. An IIT Delhi graduate, he pairs creative instinct with analytical rigour, and says he prefers partnerships rooted in conviction rather than mere visibility.
That thinking found a match in Nisaki Gin, a homegrown label that quite literally changes colour. The spirit shifts hues when mixed with tonic or citrus, turning every pour into a small spectacle. It is chemistry with character, and a conversation starter in a glass.
“Transformation has always been central to my journey as an actor,” Parashar said. “What drew me to Nisaki was the way it captures that spirit through its evolving hues and layered character. India’s premium spirits space is at an interesting inflection point, and I see this as a long term journey rooted in culture, quality and conviction.”
The brand is built around the philosophy ‘Love Every Hue’, celebrating nuance and layered experiences. In a market where identity and taste are increasingly fluid, the gin’s shifting shades mirror the evolving preferences of modern consumers.
Founder Sanchit Agarwal believes the partnership goes beyond capital. “Amol represents versatility and a strong connect with young audiences, which aligns well with how Nisaki is building its brand. His involvement brings not just investment, but insight as we grow across key markets,” he said.
India’s premium gin segment has gathered pace in recent years, buoyed by curious drinkers and the rise of craft labels. With Parashar now on board, Nisaki appears ready to raise a glass to its next phase, proving that sometimes the most interesting transformations happen off screen.
