Camikara Rum and Fort city brewing unvail india's first EX-Rum barrel aged beer - `MRIDYA`
India’s first and only pure cane juice aged rum, Camikara is proud to announce an exciting collaboration with Delhi’s very own, Fort City Brewing, a leading innovator in the craft beer industry. Together, the brands are unveiling an exclusive and handcrafted selection of beer matured in Camikara casks, poised to captivate the palates of aficionados.
In 2023, two trend-defining teams got together and laid the foundation of Indias first ever ‘Barrel Aged Beer Program’, combining Piccadily’s craftsmanship and innovation with Fort City’s passion to craft unique and flavourful brews. This collaboration was born from a shared vision: to blend tradition with modernity, crafting beers that reflect exceptional quality, rich character, and the artistry of barrel aging.
Following the success of Dhumri—an Imperial Stout aged for three months in Ex-Indri Single Malt Whisky barrels—Fort City Brewing and Piccadily Distilleries have unveiled their latest creation, ‘Mridya’. This unique Indian take on a Belgian Dubbel has been aged for 15 months in Ex-Camikara Rum barrels, allowing it to develop rich raisin and dried fruit notes, echoing the depth and complexity imparted by Camikara’s aging process.
This remarkable collaboration brings together Camikara, India’s first and only pure cane juice aged rum, with Fort City’s beloved Jaggernaut—a brew crafted with palm jaggery from the coast of Andhra. The result is a masterpiece of depth and complexity, where the rich, complementary profiles of both base liquids intertwine, further enhanced by the nuanced character imparted by American oak aging.
The beer flows like liquid poetry into a crimson red glass with a fleeting off-white head. Every sip of the beer bursts on your palate with profound notes of toasted oak, caramel, plum, raisins and dark fruits. Slight oxidation adds to the complexity of flavours. The beer finishes on the sweeter side with a medium to full body. The beer is available at Fort City Brewery at a nominal price of INR 595 + GST.
"We are excited to embark on this journey with Camikara Rum by Piccadily Distilleries for our first-ever Barrel-Aged Beer Program. This collaboration is more than just aging beer in barrels—it’s about blending traditions, pushing boundaries, and crafting something truly exceptional for beer, whisky, and rum aficionados alike," said Gautham Gandhi & Ashish Ranjan, co-founders of Fort City Brewing.
"Our partnership with Camikara is a tribute to time, patience, and craftsmanship. Every barrel tells a story, and through this program, we are creating beers that embody depth, complexity, and character," added Ishaan & Sannat Chandhok, co-founders of Fort City Brewing.
Adding to this, Shalini Sharma, Head of Marketing, Piccadily Distilleries, said, "As a homegrown brand, we are thrilled to continue our collaboration with the passionate team at Fort City Brewing for yet another pioneering initiative. Mridya, aged for 15 months in ex-Camikara barrels, beautifully showcases the depth and complexity that barrel aging can bring to craft beer. This marks our second barrel-aged beer, offering consumers a unique confluence of rum and brewing artistry. Such collaborations allow us to push the boundaries of innovation in both the Indian rum and craft beer industries, bringing extraordinary and memorable experiences to our discerning audience.”
Fort City Brewing’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of flavour and creativity perfectly complements Camikara’s pursuit of purity and Indri’s vision of excellence. The result is a selection of beers that not only embody the rich heritage of India, but also showcases a harmonious blend of flavours and craftsmanship.
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