Gin is a versatile botanical spirit legally defined by its dominant juniper base, currently experiencing rapid growth in Nepal’s urban market as consumers shift toward premium spirits and craft mixology—a trend mirroring a global market projected to reach $36.5 billion by 2036. The market is primarily divided into distinct styles: traditional London Dry Gin, characterized by its crisp, unflavored 40% ABV profile exemplified by Beefeater London Dry (750ML | NPR 5,380) and its signature Seville orange peel, and Contemporary/Flavoured Gin, which highlights local fruit and floral elements as seen in Nepal’s domestic craft pioneer, Berries & Blues (750ml | NPR 1,386), crafted from Himalayan botanicals at an approachable 34.2% ABV. Other historical categories include Old Tom, Plymouth, and Sloe Gin. Driven by an expanding middle class and the rise of home-cocktail culture, premier international benchmarks and local craft innovations are now directly accessible across Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur through late-night and same-day delivery platforms like Darumandu.
What Is Gin? The Complete Beginner’s Guide
Before the brands, the prices, and the cocktail recipes, the foundation. What are you actually drinking when you drink gin?
Gin is the national spirit of England, mainly produced in the UK, and has changed from being a herbal remedy to a beverage used for mixing in cocktails. Despite the use of botanicals and other sweet ingredients like licorice in its preparation, gin is often not a sweet liquor. To give gin its distinctive pine flavor, extra ingredients; mainly juniper berries, are used. In fact, juniper must be present in gin for it to be legally termed gin.
The process: grain alcohol; typically made from wheat, barley, or corn, is distilled to very high purity, then redistilled with a selection of botanicals. The botanicals can include juniper (mandatory), coriander seed, angelica root, citrus peel, cardamom, cucumber, rose, lavender, and dozens of other ingredients depending on the style and the distiller’s vision. The result is a spirit that carries the character of its botanical recipe; which is why a sip of gin tastes fundamentally different from a sip of vodka even though both start from the same neutral grain spirit base.
Gin’s history stretches back to 17th century Netherlands, where a medicinal spirit called genever was made with juniper for its perceived health benefits. British soldiers discovered it during the Thirty Years’ War and brought it home, where it evolved into London Dry Gin — the style that now dominates global sales and defines what most people mean when they say the word “gin.”
London Dry Gin is anticipated to lead the global gin market with a 35% share of product type in 2026. The gin market size was valued at USD 18.41 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2026 to 2032, reaching nearly USD 26.25 billion by 2032.
The Types of Gin You Will Encounter in Nepal
Understanding gin styles is the difference between buying the right bottle and buying the wrong one for how you want to drink it.
London Dry Gin is the classic. No artificial flavourings after distillation — all the botanicals must be present during the distillation process. Juniper-forward, dry, and clean. Beefeater is the defining example. Works in every classic gin cocktail — Martini, Gin and Tonic, Negroni, Gimlet.
Flavoured / Contemporary Gin is the fastest-growing category globally. The distiller adds fruit, berries, herbs, or spices — sometimes in distillation, sometimes after, to create a specific flavour profile beyond traditional juniper. Berries & Blues is Nepal’s own answer to this style. More approachable, more immediately interesting, better suited to sipping over ice or in simple cocktails.
Old Tom Gin is slightly sweeter than London Dry, a style that bridges the gap between the drier London style and the original Dutch genever. Less common in Nepal but worth knowing.
Plymouth Gin comes exclusively from Plymouth, England. Softer and earthier than London Dry, with more root botanical character. A geographically protected style.
Sloe Gin is not technically a gin, it is a liqueur made by infusing gin with sloe berries and sugar. Lower ABV, sweeter, and usually drunk as a digestif or in a Sloe Gin Fizz.
| Style | Character | ABV Typical | Best Serve |
| London Dry | Juniper-forward, dry, botanical | 40–47% | Gin & Tonic, Martini, Negroni |
| Flavoured / Contemporary | Fruit, floral, or spice led | 34–40% | Over ice, simple cocktails |
| Old Tom | Slightly sweet, softer | 40–42% | Tom Collins, classic cocktails |
| Plymouth | Earthy, softer, rounder | 41.2% | Gin & Tonic, Gimlet |
| Sloe Gin | Sweet, berry, liqueur style | 25–30% | Sloe Gin Fizz, over ice |
Why Gin Is Having Its Moment in Nepal Right Now
There is a particular kind of evening in Kathmandu that belongs to gin.
A rooftop in Jhamsikhel. The city spread below in its improbable tangle of temples, traffic, and tile roofs. A glass arrives; ice, gin, tonic, a twist of lime, and the botanical complexity of the drink does something remarkable. It slows everything down. The evening becomes deliberate. The conversation gets interesting.
Gin is not new to Nepal. The consumption of gin has been increasing in Nepal steadily as the country’s urban professional class discovers what bartenders in London, Tokyo, and Thamel’s cocktail bars have known for years: gin is the most versatile, most nuanced, and most rewarding spirit to explore.
Customer preferences in Nepal have shifted towards a greater demand for alcoholic beverages. With an increasing young population and a growing middle class, there is greater disposable income available for leisure activities. Trends in the market indicate a growing demand for premium and craft alcoholic beverages in Nepal.
Gin sits at the exact intersection of these trends. Premium enough to satisfy the discerning drinker. Complex enough to reward curiosity. Versatile enough to work in everything from a classic gin and tonic to an elaborate cocktail that a Thamel bar charges NPR 800 for. And now, increasingly, available for home delivery across Kathmandu and in other parts of Nepal as well; so the rooftop experience happens wherever you choose to create it.
Products Based on Types of Gins Available
1. London Dry Gin
- Style Profile: The undisputed classic standard. Strict rules dictate that all botanicals must be present during the distillation process, with no artificial flavors or sweeteners added afterward. Juniper-forward, dry, crisp, and clean.
- Global Benchmarks: Tanqueray, Gordon’s, Bombay Sapphire.
- Available:
- Beefeater London Dry Gin (1L) — NPR 5,380
- The defining standard: Steeped with 9 natural botanicals for 24 hours in London. Juniper-forward with a crisp Seville orange and lemon peel citrus lift.
- Beefeater London Dry Gin (1L) — NPR 5,380
2. Flavoured / Contemporary Gin
- Style Profile: The fastest-growing global category. Distillers introduce fruits, berries, florals, or regional herbs—either during or post-distillation—to build a distinct profile beyond heavy traditional juniper. Highly approachable and ideal for casual sipping or simple mixes.
- Global Benchmarks: Hendrick’s (infused with cucumber & Bulgarian rose), Malfy, Roku.
- Available:
- Berries & Blues Himalayan Botanical Gin (750ml) — NPR 1,386
- Nepal’s local craft answer: Crafted using native Himalayan flora. Bottled at an approachable 34.2% ABV to emphasize berry sweetness and soft floral notes over harsh alcohol burn.
- Berries & Blues Himalayan Botanical Gin (750ml) — NPR 1,386
3. Old Tom Gin
- Style Profile: Slightly sweeter and softer than London Dry, bridging the gap between crisp modern gin and historic Dutch Genever. A critical ingredient for classic 19th-century cocktails.
- Global Benchmarks: Hayman’s Old Tom Gin, Ransom Old Tom, Ableforth’s Bathtub Gin.
4. Plymouth Gin
- Style Profile: A geographically protected style produced exclusively in Plymouth, England. Slightly sweeter, softer, and earthier than London Dry, with a higher concentration of root botanicals (like orris and angelica root).
- Global Benchmark: Plymouth Gin Original Strength (41.2% ABV)
5. Sloe Gin
- Style Profile: Technically a gin-based liqueur made by infusing gin with wild sloe berries (blackthorn fruit) and sugar. It features a lower ABV (25–30%), a deep red color, and a sweet, tart berry profile traditionally served as a digestif or in a Sloe Gin Fizz.
- Global Benchmarks: Plymouth Sloe Gin, Sipsmith Sloe Gin, Gordon’s Sloe Gin.
Gin and Its Botanicals – What Makes Each Gin Taste Different
This is the question that separates curious gin drinkers from casual ones, and answering it makes every future gin purchase more rewarding.
Every gin distiller starts from the same neutral grain spirit at high purity. What they add to that spirit; the botanical recipe, determines entirely what the finished gin tastes like. The distiller is essentially a flavour architect, choosing which botanicals to use, in what quantities, and at which stage of production.
Juniper is non-negotiable. By legal definition in most markets, a spirit cannot call itself gin without juniper being the dominant botanical flavour. But beyond juniper, the possibilities are almost limitless.
Up to 200 samples of juniper are tested at Beefeater each year, ensuring that the same quantity and style of juniper is continuously used for the brand, bottle after bottle. This is the level of attention that separates a great gin from a generic one — quality control not just of the production process but of the raw ingredients that define the flavour.
The key botanical categories and what they contribute:
- Citrus botanicals (lemon peel, orange peel, grapefruit) — brightness, freshness, the lift that makes gin refreshing. Beefeater’s Seville orange peel is its most distinctive citrus note.
- Root botanicals (angelica root, orris root, licorice root) — structure, earthiness, texture, and the dry finish that makes London Dry gins distinctly “dry.”
- Seed botanicals (coriander seed, cardamom seed) — spice, warmth, complexity. Coriander is present in almost every gin recipe.
- Floral botanicals (rose petal, lavender, elderflower) — delicacy, fragrance, the softer contemporary gin character. Hendrick’s rose and cucumber is the most famous example.
- Fruit botanicals (cucumber, berries, sloe) — freshness, modern accessibility, the flavoured gin category that Berries & Blues represents for Nepal.
5 Gin Cocktails to Make at Home
All ingredients available at any market in Nepal. Both gins available in Darumandu work beautifully in every recipe below.
1. Classic Gin and Tonic — The Perfect Serve
2 oz Beefeater London Dry · 4 oz good quality tonic water · ice · lime wedge · cucumber slice
Fill a glass with ice — a large glass, more ice than you think you need. Pour the gin over the ice. Add the tonic water in a slow pour down the side of the glass to preserve the carbonation. Squeeze the lime over the top. Add the cucumber slice. Do not stir. In a gin and tonic, the flavours of the gin match up harmoniously with the tonic. It becomes one brightly fizzy drink that has calming, earthy tones that land at the finish.
2. Beefeater Martini — For When You Mean It
2.5 oz Beefeater London Dry · 0.5 oz dry vermouth · lemon peel or green olive
Stir — never shake a Martini — in a mixing glass with ice for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe or Martini glass. Express a lemon peel over the surface to release the oils, then drop it in or discard. The Martini is the purest test of a London Dry gin’s quality. Beefeater passes it cleanly.
3. Berries & Blues Spritz — Summer in a Glass
2 oz Berries & Blues · 3 oz sparkling water · 1 oz elderflower cordial · ice · mixed berries
Build in a large wine glass over ice. Add the gin, elderflower cordial, and sparkling water. Drop in a handful of fresh or frozen berries. No stirring needed — the gentle carbonation does the work. This is the cocktail for a Kathmandu afternoon that needs to feel more like summer than it actually is.
4. Gin Sour — Elegant and Simple
2 oz Beefeater London Dry · ¾ oz fresh lime juice · ¾ oz simple syrup · 1 egg white
Dry shake all ingredients without ice for 10 seconds — this creates the foam. Add ice and shake hard for 15 seconds. Double strain into a chilled glass. The egg white produces a silky foam on top. The juniper and citrus of Beefeater against fresh lime and the foam is one of the most satisfying gin cocktails you can make at home.
5. Berries & Blues Negroni Riff
1.5 oz Berries & Blues · 1 oz Campari · 1 oz sweet vermouth · orange peel
Stir all ingredients with ice in a mixing glass for 30 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass over a large cube. Express orange peel over the top. The berry and floral notes of Berries & Blues replace the typical gin’s dry juniper character — producing a Negroni that is fruiter, more accessible, and genuinely surprising.
Real Questions People Ask About Gin in Nepal
What is the best gin in Nepal for beginners?
Berries & Blues 750ML at NPR 1,386 is the best starting point — lower ABV at 34.2%, a fruity and approachable flavour profile, made in Nepal, and priced accessibly. Once comfortable with gin’s botanical character, move to Beefeater London Dry for the full classic London Dry experience.
What is the price of Beefeater gin in Nepal?
Beefeater London Dry Gin 750ML is priced at NPR 5,380. Available for delivery across Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur.
What is the difference between London Dry Gin and flavoured gin?
Despite the use of botanicals and other sweet ingredients like licorice in its preparation, London Dry gin is often not a sweet liquor. London Dry must derive all its flavour from botanicals added during distillation — nothing added after. Flavoured gin allows post-distillation additions of fruit, colour, or flavouring. London Dry is drier and more complex. Flavoured gin is more approachable and fruit-forward.
What is Berries & Blues gin?
Berries & Blues is a Himalayan Botanical Gin crafted to show off the incomprehensible richness of Nepalese botanicals, produced in Nepal at 34.2% ABV. It is Nepal’s domestic entry into the flavoured botanical gin category — made with locally sourced botanicals and priced to be accessible to Nepal’s growing gin audience.
Is gin stronger than vodka?
Most gins and vodkas available in Nepal are bottled at 40% ABV — the same strength. However, Berries & Blues is an exception at 34.2%, making it lighter than standard spirits. The perceived difference in strength comes from flavour — gin’s botanical complexity makes it seem more intense than vodka’s neutral profile, even at the same alcohol percentage.
What is the cheapest gin in Nepal?
The cheapest gin in Nepal starts at NPR 349 for Blue Riband Gin in smaller sizes. For 750ml bottles, Blue Riband and Snowman Gin represent the budget domestic options at NPR 1,500–1,900. Berries & Blues at NPR 1,386 is the most affordable botanical craft gin available for delivery.
What mixer goes best with gin?
It is a good idea to have gin with mixers that will complement its juniper flavours, such as tonic water, citrus juices, and vermouth. Tonic water remains the classic pairing. Ginger beer works beautifully with most London Dry gins. Cucumber water, elderflower tonic, and berry sodas complement flavoured gins like Berries & Blues particularly well.
Can I order gin online in Nepal with late-night delivery?
Yes. Both Beefeater London Dry Gin and Berries & Blues are available for order with same-day and late-night midnight delivery across Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur through online liquor delivery services.
The Global Gin Boom – And Why It Matters for Nepal
The gin market is expected to expand from USD 25.3 billion in 2026 to USD 36.5 billion by 2036, registering a 3.8% CAGR. London Dry Gin is anticipated to lead with a 35% share. Cocktail experimentation is expected to support gin consumption across urban bars and home-mixology occasions. Premiumisation(a pricing strategy to sell more expensive, and more profitable, versions of a product) is likely to move more consumers toward craft, small-batch and botanical-forward gin formats.
Increasing utilisation of gin in premium and trendy cocktails is driving market expansion. On the basis of type, London Dry Gin accounted for the highest market share. Depending on price point, premium gin accounted for about 43.35% of market share.
Nepal is not a passive observer in this story. Trends in the Nepali market indicate a growing demand for premium and craft alcoholic beverages. Consumers are becoming more discerning and seeking out unique, high-quality products.
The emergence of Berries & Blues as a locally produced botanical gin — using Nepal’s own Himalayan botanicals and positioning itself at an accessible price point — is exactly the kind of category development that the global gin boom has catalysed in market after market. Nepal is following the same pattern that has played out in India, Japan, Australia, and throughout Southeast Asia: first, international brands establish the category; then, domestic craft producers emerge to offer a local alternative rooted in local character.
Both movements are happening simultaneously in Nepal right now. Beefeater represents the established international standard. Berries & Blues represents the emerging Nepali craft response. Having both available for delivery across Kathmandu in 2026 means the full gin conversation is now accessible from your living room.
Order Gin Tonight – Same Day and Midnight Delivery
The gap between wanting gin and having gin in Nepal has never been smaller.
Both Beefeater London Dry Gin and Berries & Blues Himalayan Botanical Gin are available for order online, with same-day delivery across Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur, and late-night midnight delivery for those evenings when the craving arrives after the shops have closed.
No hunting through different stores for a specific bottle. No price uncertainty. No wondering whether the seal has been tampered with.
Order online. Receive at your door. Make a gin and tonic that is better than the one you paid NPR 800 for last weekend.
Order Beefeater London Dry Gin 750ML — NPR 5,380
Order Berries & Blues 750ml — NPR 1,386
Drink responsibly. Drink legally.
Updated on: 7/28/2026
Written by: Anisha Bhandari