It’s looking good for homegrown spirits, with Maya Pistola Agavepura (Pistola), Asia’s first premium aged 100% agave spirit, receiving two awards at the Asian Spirit Masters 2025. The brand won a gold medal for its Extra Añejo expression and a silver for its Añejo at the Asian Spirits Masters 2025. These recently launched high-end variants, aged in Virgin American Oak and ex-Bourbon casks, are sipping expressions, and remain a standout in Pistola’s portfolio. The spirits have received accolades for their depth and the complexity of their flavour profiles. With these wins, Maya Pistola’s tally of global and national awards now stands at over 40 since launching in 2022.
The Asian Spirits Masters, organised annually by The Spirits Business, is a prestigious competition that recognises excellence in Asian spirits through rigorous blind tastings by an international expert panel. Established for over 8 years, the platform awards Silver, Gold, and Master medals in different categories, with top winners competing for the prestigious ‘Asian Spirits Taste Master’ title. In 2025, the competition introduced the ‘Speciality Spirits’ category for the first time, marking a significant expansion to include a broader range of unique and innovative spirits. Pistola’s winning expressions stood out in this new category, hinting at an increasing appetite for high-quality craft spirits.
Establishing a first-of-its-kind category of aged 100% agave spirits in India, Pistola is crafted using Wild Agave Americana grown in the arid Chittoor region of Andhra Pradesh. The agave is harvested and transported to Goa, where the spirit is aged in a variety of oak casks with no artificial ingredients and carefully matured, blended, resulting in high-quality, small-batch expressions. Since its launch in 2022, Pistola has expanded to eight Indian and four international markets. Its portfolio includes five expressions—Joven, Reposado, Rosa, Añejo, and Extra Añejo—each offering a distinct take on premium agave spirits.
Rakshay Dhariwal, Founder & Director of Maya Pistola Agavepura said – “From day one, our focus has been on building not just a product, but a category — one that challenges conventional geographies of agave and expands what craft spirits from India can represent. As more consumers and connoisseurs explore new-world spirits, and with the growing international acclaim that Pistola continues to receive, we see a growing opportunity to innovate, engage wider audiences, and take Indian craft to spaces it has never been to before.”
On the other hand, Otherside also won big at the Asian Masters 2025, proving that good whiskey isn’t just about age—it’s about character, craft, and a unique identity that is rooted in provenance.
Otherside Whiskey was awarded a prestigious Gold Medal at the Spirits Business Asian Spirits Masters 2025—standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the world’s most revered spirits, and doing so within just three months of launch.
Crafted and matured entirely in India, Otherside is proof that India’s whiskey conversation and identity requires it to acknowledge its unique terroir and climate, not just age statements.
Born from the extreme conditions of the Deccan Plateau and the Sahyadri Range, Otherside is shaped by India’s scorching summers and heavy monsoons. This intense tropical maturation accelerates aging naturally, delivering the kind of depth, structure, and complexity that would take years longer to achieve in other whiskey making regions. In fact, Otherside’s rich character and balance can rival spirits three times its age—claim its makers.
Using the Solera method to finish the whiskey and aging in charred ex-bourbon barrels, Otherside has a layered, complex profile: dark fruit richness, warm spice, and a light peat on the nose. It’s a whiskey built for versatility—serious enough to savor neat, lively enough to shine in a highball, and complex enough to elevate any well-made cocktail.
“Otherside was never about chasing the old rules of whiskey-making,” said Rahul Mehra, CEO and Co-Founder of Third Eye Distillery. “It’s about highlighting the land we come from, trusting the process shaped by India’s unique climate, and creating a spirit that speaks to today’s drinkers—those who value authenticity over convention. Winning Gold so early on isn’t just a proud moment for us—it’s a recognition that Indian whiskey can lead, not just follow.” see a growing opportunity to innovate, engage wider audiences, and take Indian craft to spaces it has never been before.”
“Each of our variants is crafted with a specific intention, to reflect the diversity of global palates while staying true to the craftsmanship we stand for,” adds Kimberly Pereira, Chief Operating Officer of Maya Pistola Agavepura. “Awards like these validate the quality of what we’re creating, but more importantly, they signal a growing curiosity and openness toward Indian spirits on the world stage. It’s an exciting time to be building a category from the ground up, and we’re committed to shaping a space where Indian agave stands shoulder to shoulder with the best of global craft.”
