Jin JiJi Gin Review: India’s Award-Winning Craft Spirit Redefining Global Gin

Jin JiJi is the first artisanal dry gin to be made in India. It is produced in Goa, where its handcrafted in small batches using a copper pot still. Jin JiJi is renowned worldwide for its commitment to craftsmanship and character. Jin JiJi derives its name from the Hindi word "Jijivisha," which means "a lust for life," and exemplifies the gin's complexity and the celebration of India's biodiversity.

A New Chapter in Indian Craft Spirits

For a long time, India was considered more of a whisky and rum market rather than a gin market. People abroad would enjoy brands like Old Monk and Amrut, while other people continued drinking gin at the bar or at home. All of this started to change, beginning in the late 2010s, when India experienced a renaissance in craft distilling and new, artisanal gin producers began bringing local flavors to the gin category before introducing those to the world. 

Among this new wave, Jin JiJi Dry Gin presents itself both boldly and elegantly. Distilled in Goa, already a region associated with vibrant craft spirits it presents a respect for traditional distillation with distinctly Indian ingredients. The result is a gin that competes with London's classic London Dry gin flavor and offers a drink that, with every sip, tells a story of India's biodiversity.

The Meaning Behind the Name: Jijivisha

Before diving into tasting notes, it’s worth pausing on the name itself. Jijivisha, from Hindi, means “a lust for life.” This philosophy is woven into Jin JiJi’s DNA: every botanical and every detail of its distillation process speaks to vitality, heritage, and creativity. Unlike many modern gins that rely solely on international citrus and juniper, Jin JiJi is an exploration of India’s terroir its mountains, coasts, and gardens.

Distillation: Where Tradition Meets Innovation

Jin JiJi is distilled in Goa in a traditional copper pot still. Copper remains the distiller’s metal of choice for good reason—it reacts with sulfur compounds during distillation, ensuring a smoother, cleaner spirit.

• Base spirit: Wheat-based, providing a soft, slightly creamy foundation.
  
  
• Distillation method: Small-batch, copper pot distillation for maximum control and purity.
  
  
• Focus: Balance between classic juniper-forward structure and India’s native botanicals.
  
  

This process reflects a commitment to quality more often associated with Scotland or England than India—but Jin JiJi executes it with remarkable precision.

The Botanicals: A Journey Through India in a Glass

One of Jin JiJi’s most striking qualities is its botanical bill, a fusion of familiar gin staples and uniquely Indian ingredients.

• Wild Himalayan Juniper – The backbone of the gin, bold yet fragrant, harvested from India’s high-altitude regions.
  
  
• Darjeeling Tea – Known as the “Champagne of teas,” adds tannic elegance and subtle astringency.
  
  
• Tulsi (Holy Basil) – Sacred in Indian tradition, it introduces peppery freshness and herbaceous lift.
  
  
• Cashew Nut – Goa’s local treasure, contributing soft nuttiness and creaminess to the mouthfeel.
  
  
• Chamomile – Gentle floral sweetness, balancing bolder spice and tea notes.
  
  
• Mint – Refreshing, bright, and cooling on the finish.
  
  
• Angelica Root & Orris Root – Traditional gin fixatives that stabilize aromas.
  
  
• Coriander Seed – Warm spice, citrus edges, and structure.
  
  
• Black Tea – Earthy, tannic depth to complement the florals.
  
  

Together, these botanicals create a profile that feels both familiar and exotic—comforting to gin traditionalists yet intriguing to adventurous drinkers.

Tasting Notes: What Jin JiJi Really Tastes Like

Spirits reviews can often sound flowery, so let’s break it down clearly:

• Appearance: Crystal clear, with a clean oily film lining the glass, a boon of quality used in gin production.
  
  
• Nose: The first hit is juniper, then layers of fresh herbs and warm spices from coriander and chamomile floral lift. The remnants of the nose consist of a faint hint of citrus rind and presumably tea.
  
  
• Palate: The viscosity of a wheated spirit combined with cashew nut makes for a silky mouthfeel. Typically gin begins with bold, strong flavors of juniper and then coriander warmth, followed up with floral sweetness and mint coolness. The tannin from the tea comes through and helps structure the composition.
  
  
• Finish: The length allows the combination to be warming in slow motion, with the gentle earthy tones and lasting flavor notes of tulsi and black tea.
  

This balance is what elevates Jin JiJi. It’s complex without being overwhelming, structured yet playful—a gin that rewards both casual sipping and mindful tasting.

Also Read: Rampur Select Indian Single Malt Whisky: A Complete Tasting Guide

How to Drink Jin JiJi

One of Jin JiJi’s strengths is versatility. Unlike some niche gins that struggle outside specific cocktails, this spirit adapts beautifully.

1. Neat or on the Rocks

For purists, Jin JiJi is best enjoyed neat or with a single large ice cube. The cashew nut base and wheat distillate give it a creamy softness that makes sipping pleasurable without dilution.

2. Classic Gin & Tonic

• Pairing suggestion: Premium Indian tonic water.
  
  
• Garnish: A sprig of mint and a twist of lemon peel.
  This highlights the herbal and citrus notes while letting the tea and tulsi subtly shine.
  

3. Martinis & Negronis

Jin JiJi’s spice and tea elements work particularly well in spirit-forward cocktails:

• Dry Martini: Accentuates the floral and herbal balance.
  
  
• Negroni: The nuttiness and tea notes complement vermouth and Campari beautifully.
  

4. Creative Cocktails

Bartenders globally are experimenting with Jin JiJi in tea-infused highballs and herbal spritzes. It’s a gin that invites experimentation without losing its identity.

Awards & Global Recognition

The quality of Jin JiJi has garnered attention. In 2025, it won Gold at the London Spirits Competition, where it was recognized as the highest-rated gin in the world, and it was also the first Indian spirit named "Spirit of the Year." 

That's a remarkable accomplishment for a brand that is not yet a decade old. It shows that India can produce spirits that are equal to or better than European quality standards.

Why Jin JiJi Matters in India’s Craft Spirit Renaissance

India's alcohol market is shifting. Consumers, particularly younger urban consumers, look for high-end products that are real. Whisky still drives volume sales, but craft gin is emerging as the primary product representing India's premiumization trend.

• Regional identity: Botanicals like Darjeeling tea and tulsi root Jin JiJi in local culture.
  
  
• Global ambition: Winning awards abroad puts India firmly on the international gin map.
  
  
• Craft narrative: Like Greater Than and Hapusa, Jin JiJi embodies India’s artisanal push, but with a richer, more layered profile.
  

In many ways, Jin JiJi isn’t just a gin—it’s a symbol of how Indian craft spirits can merge heritage with modernity.

Expert Perspectives: Why Enthusiasts Rate It Highly

Industry experts have praised Jin JiJi for its:

• Balance: Juniper-led but not overpowering.
  
  
• Innovation: Use of botanicals like cashew and Darjeeling tea is inventive without being gimmicky.
  
  
• Versatility: Equally enjoyable in cocktails and neat pours.
  
  
• Craftsmanship: Copper pot distillation ensures purity and smoothness.
  

Compared to many “new Western-style” gins that emphasize florals or citrus at the expense of structure, Jin JiJi feels complete. It respects tradition while gently expanding it.

The Verdict: Should You Buy Jin JiJi?

If you’re a gin enthusiast, the answer is yes—without hesitation.

• For classic gin lovers: You’ll find familiar juniper strength with added layers of spice and tea.
  
  
• For adventurous drinkers: The cashew, tulsi, and tea botanicals create an experience unlike any other gin.
  
  
• For cocktail makers: It’s versatile, structured, and expressive, opening new flavor dimensions in familiar recipes.
  

Most significantly, Jin JiJi exemplifies the craft spirit renaissance in India. Every bottle narrates a story, not just of botanicals and distillation, but also of India’s creative determination to define itself in the international spirits landscape.

Final Thoughts

More than just India’s finest gin, Jin JiJi represents India's developing confidence in craft distilling. Through its special botanical profile, attention to detail, and worldwide recognition, Jin JiJi deserves a place in any serious collector’s gin cabinet. 

Just as at home neat, in a martini, or in a G&T, Jin JiJi offers fresh sensory experience, showing off both India’s plant diversity and modern ambitions. A thirst for life, distilled into a glass.

Also Read: Hendrick’s Gin Brings Oasium to India: A Citrus-Forward Limited Edition That Redefines Freshness