The Brews&Spirits Expo 2025 (November 27-29) in Bengaluru once again brought together craft producers, beverage experts, marketing strategists, technology experts, global suppliers, and industry leaders for a dynamic and impactful edition of the B2B show for the beverage alcohol industry in India.

This time around, the 3-day show attracted over 4,000 industry visitors and more than 80 exhibitors, representing more than 20 countries. The conference on ‘Liquid Experiences’ drew 60-odd experts and speakers and was attended by more than 300 delegates.

The inaugural session witnessed an insightful, context-setting address by Narayan Manepally, CEO of Geist Brewing Co. and Patron of Brews&Spirits Expo. This was followed by a special address, ‘Redefining Hospitality through Exceptional Liquid Experiences’, by Sanjay Gupta, Cluster General Manager at Sheraton Grand Bengaluru, highlighting the role of innovation and experience-led offerings in the hospitality industry.

The session also featured a thought-provoking keynote on the same theme by Paul P. John, Chairman & Managing Director of John Distilleries, offering strategic perspectives from one of the industry’s most respected leaders.

The inaugural session featured a formal address by Manoj Kumar, Managing Director of Mysore Sales International Ltd. It was followed by a comprehensive overview of the Indian alcobev market presented by Amulya Pandit, Senior Consultant with Euromonitor International.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

• The commendable line-up of more than 80 exhibitors showcased cutting-edge products and services, emerging trends and innovative solutions shaping the production side of the alcobev industry worldwide.
• There were engaging discussions from ‘Liquid Innovation/ Inspiration’ to ‘Emerging Trends and Operational Excellence in Hospitality Sector’ by thought leadership panels, which offered strategic insights into market expansion and industry evolution.
• Workshops and masterclasses comprised of expert-led curated sessions delving into whiskey profiling, mastering the art of brewing, and advanced distillation techniques. Specially designed tasting sessions allowed participants to discover distinctive flavours and deepen their appreciation of diverse beverage profiles.
• A key highlight of the expo was the ‘bbb Awards’ ceremony, recognising India’s top-performing beverage alcohol brands across leading bars nationwide.
• The inaugural edition of Sip&Savour Hospitality Awards 2025, organised by Brews&Spirits Expo, honoured excellence across Bengaluru’s hospitality spectrum, celebrating brands and leaders who set new benchmarks in service, innovation and unforgettable guest experiences.

THOUGHT LEADERS

India’s alcobev landscape is rapidly evolving, with storytelling and experience gaining importance alongside liquid quality, provenance and packaging. Brands are spotlighting Indian ingredients and narratives, while engagement is shifting toward immersive bartender experiences, enhanced retail formats, and the rise of brand homes as destination experiences.

The ‘Liquid Experiences’ conference served as a dynamic knowledge platform, featuring engaging and insightful panel discussions that sparked meaningful dialogue and shared forward-looking perspectives on the beverage industry. These drew handsome attendance, reaffirming their position as a must-attend forum for thought leadership and industry exchange.

(See following pages for quick reads on the panel discussions).

Among the panellists were Anand Virmani of Nao Spirits, Bhavesh Patel from World of Wines, Gagan Sharma of Indulge India, Geetanjali Chhabra from Diageo India, Hansel Vaz of Vaz Liquor Industries, Heemanshu Ashar from John Distilleries, and Steve Wright of Spiritech Solutions.

Others taking the stage were Natalya Watson from WSET, Vishal Deorah of Global Spirits India, Gurmeet Johal from GD Alcobrew, Hemang Chandat of Monika Alcobev Ltd, Jonas Ax from Bacardi India, Rajesh Mohan and Robert Piggot from Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits, and Karina Agarwal of Gigglewater Beverages.

Among brand owners participating in the panel discussions were Lolita Sarkar from Unusual Spirits, Nakul Bhonsle of Great State Aleworks, Priyen Patel of Paapi Coffee Absinthe, Vaniitha Jaiin from Revelry Distillery, Varun Jain of NV Group, and Yoginee Budhkar from Cerena Meads.

WORKSHOPS & MORE

The sessions featured expert insights on yeast-driven innovation in distilling, with Rajesh Mohan, Business Area Manager (India) at Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits, speaking on ‘Driving Innovation in Malt Distilleries with Premium Yeasts and Technical Know-How’.

This was followed by Joseph Pitt, Director of Sales (APAC) at Fermentis by Lesaffre, who explored ‘Distilling the Essence: Assessing Yeast Strain Impact on Congeners in Bourbon and Malt Whiskey’.

A technical session by VLB Berlin’s Gayatri Mehta offered a practical introduction to micro-biological quality control, an essential component of ensuring beer safety, stability and consistency in beer. Participants gained insights into contamination sources, critical control points, spoilage organisms, and rapid detection methods such as ATP testing and flow cytometry, supported by live demonstrations.

Masterclasses led by sommeliers, brewmasters, distiller, and technical experts examined processes, barrel expressions, terroir influence, plant-to-bottle journeys, and category fundamentals. Among them were Steve Wright of Spiritech Solutions Inc., Robert Piggot of Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits, Lolita Sarkar from Unusual Spirits, Nguyen Duc Huy of Fermentis and Natalya Watson from WSET.

The Indian Bartenders’ Guild showcased the art, precision and showmanship of India’s top bartenders, blending speed, skill, and creativity on one dynamic stage. The high-energy Flair Challenge competition celebrated flair bartending at its finest, drawing strong industry attention and audience excitement.

Held alongside the Brews&Spirits Expo, the World Tea & Coffee Expo brought together growers, processors, exporters, buyers, retailers, flavour developers, packaging innovators, and technology specialists under one roof. This convergence created an integrated beverage ecosystem where cross-learning across tea, coffee and beverage alcohol became both seamless and strategically valuable.

WHAT NEXT?

The Brews&Spirits Expo 2025 was supported by leading industry bodies, including the All-India Distillers’ Association (AIDA), Apex Wine Club India, Brewers Association of India, Craft Brewers Association, Indian Malt Whiskey Association, Karnataka Wine Board, Sake Club India, UP Distillers’ Association, and Wine & Spirits Club of India.

The enthusiastic response and appreciation from exhibitors, visitors and delegates reaffirmed the expo’s role as a premier platform for business exchange and industry learning. Building on this momentum, the 7th edition of the Brews&Spirits Expo will return to Bengaluru (9-11 September 2026), with an even richer showcase of innovation, collaboration and international participation.