​Beverage News from India & the World

Mont Saint Guibert, Belgium 
In an effort to better serve the global brewing community Yakima Chief Hops (YCH), the largest grower-owned hop supplier based in Yakima, Washington, has completed construction of a state-of-the-art cold storage warehouse in Belgium.
Yakima Chief Hops has been supplying brewers worldwide with quality hops for more than 30 years. Developing some of the most cutting-edge products in the market, YCH has become a driver for creativity and innovation in the global beer industry. The expansion into Europe will greatly improve the YCH customer experience, including increased access to their extensive portfolio of products and varieties as well as improved logistics and faster delivery times to brewery customers.
“Establishing a foundation here in Europe speaks to the commitment YCH has to delivering the highest quality hops directly to its global brewing customers,” said Denis Gayte – Managing Director for YCH Europe. “Our new facility ensures that our hops grown in America’s Pacific Northwest can be stored here in Europe and delivered to customers in the best possible condition.”
Located in Mont Saint Guibert, the 6,600 sqm2 warehouse includes cold storage capacity to house up to 8,800 pallets of hops, office space, a taproom and a visitor center where customers can learn about hops and sample beers using YCH products. YCH also invested in a homebrew production line allowing the ability to offer high-quality hop pellets in smaller size packaging for home and nano brewers. 
The facility was also designed with sustainability in mind, as it supports an 1800-panel solar array, producing 750 MW of energy, or about half of the building’s total consumption. The green construction, design and operation plan centers around waste diversion, water conservation and healthfulness of interior spaces. The building runs on renewable energy and uses higher efficiency fixtures that reduce energy and water consumption.
(Excerpt from a release)

​For a second time this year, Campbeltown-based Glen Scotia has been recognised for its whisky-making abilities after scooping yet another prestigious award. The distiller has been named the Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Scottish
Whisky Awards, an accolade it receives just seven months after being crowned as the ‘Best in Show’ and thus Best Whisky In The World 2021 at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) for its Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old expression.
It is the first time that one distillery has won both awards in the same year, demonstrating the increasing stature and visibility of the Campbeltown whisky producer. Glen Scotia hails from Scotland’s smallest whisky-producing region. Once known as the “Victorian Whisky Capital of the World,” in its heyday, the small coastal town was home to over 30 distilleries. Today, Glen Scotia is one of just three surviving distilleries but through a programme of continued investment and local effort, Glen Scotia is growing its presence in the UK and international markets, allowing the potential of Campbeltown to once again be realised.
Iain McAlister, Master Distiller and distillery manager at Glen Scotia, said: “For a long time Campbeltown was the forgotten whisky region, however, in recent years there has been a real resurgence in interest in the type of whisky we produce here. From the Victorian era until the present day, whisky has always been at the heart of this
community. The techniques and craftsmanship that make our whisky so unique have been passed through generations, and I am thankful that we have managed to revive the whisky- making heritage of Campbeltown long after many of its distilleries fell away."
Excerpt from a release
( Glen Scotia is represented in the sub-continent by Fermentras India)

After a hugely successful first edition that ranked and celebrated the 30 best bars in the country in 2019, Tulleeho and Man's World Magazine in association with Teacher’s now announce the second edition of 30 Best Bars India 2021.
Based on a nationwide poll of more than 200 bar enthusiasts and industry experts from a countrywide longlist of over 500 bars, the rankings and awards show honours India's 30 best bars, bartenders and bar teams whose impeccable service has set new standards in the country. The ranking for the year will be unveiled at the 30 Best Bars India 2021 Awards ceremony at The Leela Ambience Gurugram on January 19, 2022.
Announcing the second edition of India's 30 best bars, Mr Vikram Achanta, Founder  and CEO Tulleeho  says,"The past two years have been extremely hard for everyone, and the bar industry was no exception. It saw its share of business devastation with many bars shutting shop for good, a flurry of job cuts and staggering losses. It was certainly a grim phase for the businesses to navigate ,yet most sailed through despite the hard times, which is worth every bit of appreciation.30 Best Bars India 2021will be a celebration of the bar industry's resilience and its promising future."
Award Categories & Voting Process:
The first stage of thepoll over the last few months led to the creation of a Long List of
over 500 bars spread over more than a dozen cities in the country, based on the recommendations of 11 jury chairs and 70 bar enthusiasts & experts from across the country. The Long List is currently being pruned to a Short List of 100 bars based on three criteria, vote each of the bars got in the Long List jury poll, the size of the
bar industry in the individual cities, and geographical representation.
In the second stage, a jury of more than 200 bar enthusiasts, industry experts, connoisseurs and writers will vote for the 30 Best Bars in the country from the 100 bars ShortList, as also the best in the following categories,
Best Hotel Bar
Best Independent Bar
Best Microbrewery
Best Cocktail Menu
Best Bar Design,
Best Restaurant Bar which will recognize the best of bars in restaurants which are otherwise known for their dining experience.
Besides the awards listed above, five more important awards will be presented at the ceremony.
People's Choice Award for the Best Bar
Best Microbrewery based on a national online poll
Best Vintage Bar will recognize a bart hat has been at the forefront of service and quality for more than 30 years and selected by MW & Tulleeho teams with inputs from industry experts.
A second nominated award will be the Industry Legend Award, which recognizes the lasting contribution of an industry veteran.
A one-off special award for 2021,Best Pandemic Response, will honour a bar that "turned defeat into victory" by reinventing itself during the pandemic through innovative new lines of business, which not only helped them survive the bad times but also saved jobs and continues to be an essential revenue stream
Cocktail Carnival:
In the run-up to the 30 Best Bars India 2021 awards, 30 Best Bars in association with our sponsor partners will host a series of Masterclasses  for the bartending community, Cocktail Workshops for consumers and a vibrant, week-long celebration of the best of the bar scene across 6 to 7 cities in India.
(Excerpt from a release)
Top 100 Bar shortlist 2021 

​Estuary is the first of its kind blending water that focuses on letting you taste the drink in its most original form. 
What is blending water?
A term coined for water which is used to mix with your favourite whisky or malt such that the water maintains the integrity if the original spirit and elevates your drinking experience. 
Estuary Water - Made in Ahmedabad, India
Blending water is toned to remove unwanted salts and minerals that compromise with the flavor of your drink. The unique formulas of blending waters maintain the original balance crafted by the distillers and master blenders. Estuary blending water has been designed to complement the flavor-producing phenolic compounds while also containing the guaiacol dispersion within your glass.
The bottle packaging gives a royal feel, and is designed to be eco-friendly. The eco conscious packaging prevents plastic chemicals and unwanted minerals from making their way into this pure water. From ethically sourcing water to reducing waste and creating a sustainable production cycle, Estuary blending water is an environmentally conscious product. Estuary blending water is certified to global safety standards and is tested and approved by FSSAI, GMP, HACCP, and ISO. 
They have 4 variants and price the following for 750 ml
Whisky Water: Rs 375
Single Malt Water: Rs 450
Vodka Water: Rs 350
Coffee Water: Rs 190 (330 ml)
(based on a company release)