Blue Moon Minty Jamun, a flavoured vodka from NV Group, has won a Gold medal at The Vodka Masters 2026 in London, bringing international recognition to an Indian-inspired flavour profile. The expression was awarded Gold in the Flavoured/Infused Vodka category at the competition organised under The Spirits Business’ Global Spirits Masters Competitions. Announced on October 8, 2026, the achievement highlights the growing potential of Indian spirits brands to compete on international platforms through distinctive flavours and product innovation.
Blue Moon Minty Jamun combines the tart, fruity character of jamun with the cooling freshness of mint, translating a familiar Indian flavour pairing into a contemporary vodka expression. Rather than relying on conventional flavoured-vodka profiles, the product draws on ingredients and taste preferences associated with India, offering a distinctive proposition in the premium and flavoured spirits segment.
The Vodka Masters is part of the Global Spirits Masters Competitions, established by The Spirits Business in 2008. The competition evaluates spirits through blind tastings conducted by independent industry specialists, with entries judged on their individual merits and awarded Silver, Gold or Master medals. The blind-tasting format provides an independent assessment of product quality without relying on brand recognition or marketing narratives.
Commenting on the achievement, Varun Jain, CEO and Founder of Smoke Lab and NV Group, said the recognition was valuable because the product had been evaluated without judges knowing the brand or the story behind it. He explained that Blue Moon Minty Jamun was developed to showcase a distinctly Indian flavour while maintaining the balance and definition expected of a contemporary vodka. According to Jain, the Gold medal provides an external measure of how experienced spirits professionals perceive the product.
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The judging panels at The Vodka Masters 2026 included professionals from across the global drinks industry, such as Melita Kiely, Editor-in-Chief of The Spirits Business and Chair of the Global Spirits Masters Competitions; spirits writer and consultant David T Smith; India market specialist Ruchira Neotia; spirits buyer Bryan Rodriguez-Curtis; and Luciano Marino of The Savoy, London, alongside drinks educators and consultants Marie Cheong-Thong and Matt Chambers.
The Gold medal adds to the growing visibility of Indian spirits on international platforms and reflects the opportunities available to producers that combine local flavour inspiration with contemporary product development. For NV Group, the recognition strengthens Blue Moon Minty Jamun’s international credentials while highlighting the increasing role of Indian-inspired innovation in the global flavoured vodka category
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