India, Aug. 7 -- Take a shot for each time an Indian liquor brand won some kind of award in the last two years, and you'll be flat on the floor before dessert. Our botanical-infused gins, artisanal single-malts, saffron- spiced vodkas, craft brews and sparkling wines have won medals as far and wide as San Francisco, London, New Zealand, Tokyo and Singapore.

Homegrown booze now includes agave, vermouth, limencello, colour-changing gins, even a Konkani version of sake. Mahua, a fermented flower spirit from central India, is enjoying a trendy second life with some new artisanal branding. Goa's cashew feni, in an upmarket avatar, is being served at hip London bars. And every bottle comes with some kind of blue-ribbon cred, as if to say, "Hav...