As we inch closer to the third edition of Delicious Dining Awards 2022, acquaint yourself with the spirits nomination jury members who lent their expertise for shortlisting the deserving in the category, and learn about how they culled out the chosen few spirits for you to vote. By Bayar Jain
The Indian culinary scene has many maestros, who are constantly bringing in innovations and helping Indian food and beverages transcend geographical boundaries. Choosing the best-of-the-best among this lot can be confusing, to say the least. In the repackaged avatar of Delicious Dining Awards 2022, Travel + Leisure India & South Asia is not only introducing a whole new category for homegrown spirits and beverages, but the publication has also on-boarded a panel of jury members to help shortlist the deserving in this section. The winner, however, is yours to choose, dear readers! While the jury members have handpicked the spirits and beverages, the winners of the Delicious Dining Awards will be chosen basis reader votes.
What are the Delicious Dining Awards?
Delicious Dining Awards (DDA) 2022 highlights, celebrates, and awards India’s best restaurants, bars, beverages, and personalities, as chosen by our readers through an online voting process.
“It is the celebration of the best tastemakers, mixologists, and restaurants in this fast-evolving industry,” says restaurateur and spirits nomination jury member, Ashish Kapur.
Yangdup Lama, (bartender and co-founder of Sidecar, Cocktails & Dreams Speakeasy and Café Lungta; and jury member at the awards), weighs in. “It’s basically a recognition. I think awards are about encouragement and recognising talents. Therefore, I think it helps in the industry to grow in a more constructive manner.
Karina Aggarwal, the third spirits nominations’ jury member and Founder- Director of Gigglewater Beverage Concepts Pvt Ltd, rightly sums it up. “The best food and drink experiences for your palate that satiate both the tastebuds and the soul!”
Here’s all that you need to know about the spirits nomination jury
Ashish Kapur
Restaurateur and Founder (Whisky Samba, Antares Beachclub, The Wine Company, Cafe Mez)
With four restaurants credited to his name, Ashish Kapur is no stranger to the gastronomy world in India. Besides serving as the founder of the Yo! China chain in India, the serial entrepreneur has today mastered the art of chic bar-meets-dining concepts.
To him, these concepts are equally important in the spirits industry as well. When choosing the nominations for the category, he reveals he took a four-pronged approach: “I looked at availability, craftsmanship, popularity, and uniqueness. I think these are four important markers of good spirits.”
Karina Aggarwal
Founder- Director (Gigglewater Beverage Concepts Pvt Ltd)
A certified beverage writer and educator, Karina Aggarwal today scouts for the best distilled, brewed, and fermented beverages and spirits with her portal Gigglewater. Independently, the wine-lover comes with more than a decade-long experience in consulting brands across wine, beer and spirits segments — making her the ideal spirits nomination jury member at Delicious Dining Awards!
When making her list, Aggarwal put quality centre-stage. “I looked for brands that had a unique offering and had the potential to be powerful players in their respective categories—brands that stood for quality and had succeeded in creating a good, if not great, product.”
Yangdup Lama
Mixologist and Co-Founder (Sidecar, Delhi; Cocktails & Dreams Speakeasy, Gurgaon; and Café Lungta, Gurgaon)
A bartender, bar owner, author, entrepreneur and mixologist, Yangdup Lama seamlessly blends into the alcobev industry. With over two decades of experience in bartending, Lama is nothing short of an expert in the field. No wonder, then, his bar Sidecar has ranked 14 at the coveted Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022!
Personal experiences aside, Lama shortlisted the deserving in the list basis public opinion: “Since I’m from the industry, I meet a lot of people and take their opinion — whether it’s a new spirit or a drink in town. I shortlisted the ones that are making the right noise and whether they are appealing [to the audience].”
To vote for your favourites in the beverages/spirits at Delicious Dining Awards 2022, click here.
Stay tuned to our Instagram account as we unravel more details.
Related: All Your Questions About The Delicious Dining Awards Answered