Matinee to Rahasya, freshly brewed Indian spirits defy Covid pandemic blues

These new launches may seem surprising given that the pandemic has hit the alcohol industry harder than most other sectors, though there are signs of a recovery

Winston Churchill, as only his wicked humour would allow, once said: “The gin and tonic has saved more Englishmen’s lives, and minds, than all the doctors in the Empire.”

He was perhaps alluding to the quality of tonic water — it originally contained large quantities of quinine — to fight life-threatening diseases like malaria, a reason why British officers posted in India relied heavily on it. Because tonic water was too bitter to be consumed neat, officers started mixing it with gin. 

And so was born a classic.

Over time, however, gin, increasingly seen as a drink devoid of excitement