India, June 26 -- In a landmark moment, Nao Spirits & Beverages, India's craft spirit pathbreaker and the makers behind Greater Than and Hapusa gins, has officially become part of the Diageo India (United Spirits Limited) family. Following a majority acquisition by the latter valued at INR 130 cores, it joins an iconic band of liquids.
Founded in 2017 by Anand Virmani, Aparajita Ninan and Vaibhav Singh; and later joined by Abhinav Rajput, Nao Spirits began with a simple but audacious dream: to create India's first craft gin from the ground up. From a small distillery in Goa, they distilled more than just spirits - they distilled the movement that would later be celebrated as 'Indian Craft Spirits'. 'Nao', derived from the word 'boat' in Portuguese is a nod to Goa's history as a trading port and a play on the English word 'now', capturing the spirit of a confident, modern India. Nao Spirits wasn't looking to copy tradition; it aimed to reimagine gin with local ingredients, honest methods, and a proudly modern Indian perspective.
With Greater Than (2017), they introduced India to its first homegrown London Dry gin made with botanicals from around the world. With Hapusa (2018), they broke new ground with the world's first Himalayan Dry Gin, bottling the wild spirit of the mountains with a premium, sipping gin. While Greater Than built the foundation, Hapusa gave gin a voice rooted in local flavor. Together, these helped build India's craft gin category from scratch. From narrative-building to bold innovation, Nao Spirits' approach to gin has consistently pushed the envelope to redefine what an Indian gin can be known for.
As part of its pursuit to create iconic, design-led spirits for a new India, Nao Spirits launched a series of imaginative limited editions-each one crafted to stand apart, both in flavor and in form:
Juniper Bomb (2020) - born from an accidental extended botanical soak that led to thrice the juniper flavour.
No Sleep (2021) - India's first coffee-infused gin.
Broken Bat (2022) - the world's first gin, aged using Kashmir Willow cricket bats.
Punk Gin (2023) - India's first naturally infused pink gin made with real Mahabaleshwar strawberries, born from a place of rebellion.
These never-before-seen limited editions broke convention and captured attention, each bottle a celebration of India's biodiversity, ingenuity and evolving palate.
Over the years, Nao Spirits has become more than just a craft distiller. It has evolved into a symbol of a modern India that is quietly and confidently rewriting the rules of innovation stemming from the country. Its brands, rooted in contemporary modernity
and Indian provenance, have resonated with gin drinkers and a growing global audience hungry for originality and authenticity. This landmark acquisition reflects a broader shift in how India consumes - and creates - alcohol. Consumers are increasingly looking to 'drink better', gravitating toward premium, purpose-driven brands representing culture and craft.
"We started with a copper still named Agotha and a dream to make India proud. Today, we're humbled and energised with Diageo India stepping in as a full partner and investor. Along the way, we realised that gin isn't just about what goes into the bottle - it's about the culture you build around it. From day one, we've been deeply focused on nurturing a community of bartenders, servers, and craft champions who could carry the story of Indian spirits forward in ways we never imagined. We're proud that many of the original hands and hearts that built Nao Spirits are still with us today, and this next chapter gives us a chance to grow the culture we've helped shape with even greater reach and purpose. This isn't the end of a journey, but the beginning of a new chapter; powered by the same people, the same purpose, and the same belief - that modern Indian spirits deserve their place on the world stage," said Anand Virmani, co-founder & chief executive officer, Nao Spirits & Beverages.
Importantly, even as the company enters this new phase, its founding vision remains intact. The original team continues to lead Nao Spirits with the same creative direction and cultural clarity that have defined its journey from the start - now supported by Diageo India's robust distribution network, production capabilities, and leadership strength. But Nao Spirits has always been about more than just innovation in liquid. It's about building platforms, creating community, and shaping the culture of modern Indian hospitality from the ground up.
This cultural ethos is reflected in everything from Bar Wars, India's first team-based hospitality competition that celebrates front-of-house talent and redefines how we view service, to the Forager's Championship, a cross-continental cocktail competition that unites bartenders from India, the UK, and Italy through wild ingredients and a circle of inspiration in the Himalayas. With Crashing Greater, Nao Spirits has invited gin lovers into the process - through cocktail workshops and guided tastings that bring them closer to the craft, offering a rare, hands-on understanding of botanicals, balance, and the art of blending. And with the launch of MTW, Nao Spirits' gin-focused bar inside their Goa office - part test kitchen, part hangout, where ideas take shape the Nao way - through experimental cocktails, spirited conversations, hands-on workshops, and late-night tinkering with recipes. Whether it's a tasting, a blending session, or a quiet pour at the bar, MTW brings people closer to the spirit, in every sense.
All of this has contributed to Nao Spirits becoming India's most awarded gin brand with close to 100 accolades, recognised not only for its products - but also for the distillery itself, now acknowledged as one of the most exciting in Asia. As Nao Spirits turns a new page, it brings with it not just the weight of its achievements but the energy of a growing ecosystem - one filled with bartenders, distillers, and beverage entrepreneurs who now have a roadmap and, perhaps, a role model.
About the Acquisition
Diageo India (United Spirits Limited) has increased its equity stake in Nao Spirits from 30% to approximately 97.07%, making it a subsidiary of the company. With a final tranche pending, Diageo India is set to hold 100% ownership, bringing one of India's most influential craft spirits startups fully into its fold. The transaction includes a secondary share purchase of Rs.53.79 crore and a further infusion of Rs.56 crore in growth capital - a strong commitment to scaling what began as a bootstrapped dream of India's first homegrown gin.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from FoodTechBiz.