We Ask Founder Varun Jain about Innovation and Smoke Lab Vodkas

For Smoke Lab, innovation isn’t just a goal—it’s a driving force.

As a hub of creativity and experimentation, Smoke Lab is committed to refining and enhancing concepts, flavors, and designs. Founder Varun Jain and his team are currently expanding the Smoke Lab portfolio with uniquely Indian flavored vodkas. We ask Jain to tell us more about the inspiration behind these district flavor profiles.

Talk to us about what is new at SMOKE LAB.

Our mission at SMOKE LAB is innovation – it is the core of what we do. SMOKE LAB is our incubation laboratory where unconventional and innovative minds come together to deliberate and develop new concepts, products, flavors, and designs. Through SMOKE LAB, we not only develop new concepts, but we continuously revisit our existing brands to make them better. Currently the team is focused on building the SMOKE LAB portfolio of uniquely Indian flavored vodkas and launching a portfolio of international spirit brands which we will bring to the US market, beginning in the spring of 2024.

Tell us how the flavors of India/Indian palate have inspired many of your expressions.

Our objective behind the SMOKE LAB flavor range was to introduce authentic Indian flavor vodka expressions to consumers around the world. Aniseed was the first and has been very widely accepted in both the international and domestic market. SMOKE LAB Saffron debuted with great success in the US in August 2023, and we have additional flavor expressions in development.

Talk to us about the flavor profiles of SMOKE LAB Vodka expressions

SMOKE LAB VODKA Classic, 40% ABV, is an ultra-pure spirit immersed in intrigue. It opens with fresh nutty aromas and hints of citrus fruits and unfolds into an intensity and complexity on the palate. The finish is subtle citrus fruits with hints of nutty characters.

SMOKE LAB Aniseed Vodka, 37.5% ABV, is a playful exploration of a much-loved Indian herb with refreshing notes of fennel and licorice finishing with a creamy, sweetness and delicate fennel blossom note on the palate.

SMOKE LAB Saffron marries India’s finest, award-winning vodka with Kashmiri Saffron, the rarest and most coveted type of saffron cultivated from the valley of Kashmir. The result is a luxurious spirit that delivers subtle, sweet earthy notes that give way to a delicate floral finish.

We continue to experiment with a range of Indian flavors and look forward to releasing the next SMOKE LAB flavor expression in the future.

What sets SMOKE LAB Vodkas apart?

We are not trend-followers. We believe in authenticity and creating brands which stand the test of time.

Unlike any other vodka on the market, SMOKE LAB Vodka is crafted with pure Himalayan spring water and locally sourced superior-quality Basmati rice. Basmati rice was chosen because of its distinctive flavor and unique floral aromas. Once harvested, the fresh Basmati rice is steeped in pure Himalayan natural spring water followed by a traditional 5X distillation process and then finished in an ultra-modern two-step Sparkle Filtration system. Every bottle of SMOKE LAB Vodka is made in India’s first zero carbon footprint distillery. .

What should bartenders know about your brands?

We want bartenders to know that SMOKE LAB Vodka is highly versatile making it a great choice for mixing up popular classic and contemporary cocktails while also offering an exciting new palette for creating cocktails that highlight the distinct flavors of India.

The success of our SMOKE LAB vodka is largely because of the love we received from the bartending community. We value their support and are very open to their suggestions on how we can continue to build and expand our award-winning SMOKE LAB Vodka brand.

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