India's Bandarful Named World’s Best Liqueur with Gold Medal at USA Spirits Ratings 2025

Bandarful, the artisanal cold-brew coffee liqueur from Himmaleh Spirits, has been awarded a Gold Medal and declared the World’s Best Liqueur at the 2025 USA Spirits Ratings. The prestigious competition, judged in San Francisco by leading U.S. industry leaders & trade buyers, evaluates spirits on quality, value, and packaging — with gold medals reserved for entries scoring between 90 and 95 points.
The 2025 edition was one of the most competitive to date, attracting hundreds of entries from various countries, including some of the world’s most established liqueur brands. Bandarful’s triumph places it among a select group of spirits recognised not just for exceptional taste, but for commercial appeal in one of the world’s largest and most discerning spirits markets.
Crafted using single estate 100% Arabica coffee beans from the plantations of Chikmagalur in Karnataka — one of India’s most celebrated coffee-growing regions — and pure Himalayan Spring water, and pure Himalayan Spring water, Bandarful is cold-brewed to create a smooth, velvety texture with nuanced coffee and cocoa notes. The name and playful branding take inspiration from the spirited Himalayan langur, celebrating the sense of adventure at the heart of the brand’s story.
“Bandarful was born from a simple belief that India could craft a coffee liqueur to stand alongside the world’s finest,” said Ansh Khanna, Co-Founder of Himmaleh Spirits. “Every sip carries the altitude of the Himalayas, the richness of coffee, and the spirit of a country unafraid to reimagine global classics.”
The win marks a milestone for India’s place in global coffee and liqueur culture. Long dominated by European and American names, the category now makes space for India’s unique terroir, artisanal methods, and layered storytelling. The single-estate beans — nurtured in mineral-rich soil and cool, high-altitude conditions — lend a flavour profile that is unmistakably Indian yet universally appealing.
“Earning the title of World’s Best Liqueur is as much a celebration of our farmers, craftspeople and team as it is of the brand,” said Samarth Prasad, Co-Founder of Himmaleh Spirits. “From the coffee slopes of Chikmagalur to the peaks of the Himalayas, this is proof that when crafted with heart and heritage, India’s best belongs everywhere.”
​(excerpt from a release)