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Murali K Menon

Articles by Murali K Menon

How bartenders from Mokokchung to Moradabad are making their mark

Bartenders from beyond metros are shaping the drinks scene with homegrown ingredients and fresh perspectives, and India Bartender Week is proof of this shift.

Art and Culture

Updated on Mar 16, 2025 11:58 AM IST

ByMurali K Menon

Celebrate Holi with these 6 premium new spirits

A 31-year-old single malt, a luxury tequila, and a brand new blended Indian whisky – raise a glass to Holi with these exciting new releases.

From rich, wine-cask-finished whiskies to smooth tequilas and bold bourbons, there's something for every taste.(Shutterstock)

Art and Culture

Updated on Mar 12, 2025 02:16 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

Whisky will be a key growth driver for us: Bacardi India’s Vinay Golikeri

Rum powerhouse’s India chief on premium whisky plans; reasons behind impressive performance of its rums and how India is a must-win market for Bacardi globally.

Here's how cocktail culture is driving rum sales.(Image by Bacardi)

Art and Culture

Updated on Mar 11, 2025 03:58 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon, New Delhi

India could be among the top 10 Swiss watch markets: Rado CEO Adrian Bosshard

In this interview with Hindustan Times, Bosshard discusses Rado’s deep-rooted connection with Indian consumers and its unmatched value proposition.

Known for its deep expertise in ceramics, Rado has been at the forefront of material innovation for decades.

Art and Culture

Updated on Mar 11, 2025 03:20 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

Will tariff cuts give bourbon whiskey the boost it needs?

The recent reduction in import duty on bourbon whiskey could offer this long-overlooked spirit a second chance in India— only if brands step up.

Bourbon whiskey represents a small segment of the Indian market, with American whiskey exports totalling approximately $9 million in 2024.

Art and Culture

Updated on Feb 26, 2025 11:50 AM IST

ByMurali K Menon

India has so much cannabis, yet profits so little from it, says new book

Sacred, medicinal, and illegal—cannabis in India is a paradox. In Ananda, Karan Madhok explores our relationship with the plant and its untapped potential.

Art and Culture

Updated on Feb 21, 2025 08:54 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

30BestBars India awards: Delhi bar is crowned India’s best

From tequila-fueled innovation to sustainable mixology, the 2024 30BestBars list reveals how India’s cocktail culture is redefining the way we drink.

30BestBars India awards shares top bars across India along with evolving trends seen in cocktail culture. (Shutterstock)

Recipes

Updated on Jan 17, 2025 03:10 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

Universal Geneve: An iconic watch brand is preparing for a big comeback

Both chic and affordable, Universal Geneve made very coveted mid-century watches before it faded away. Now, Breitling is readying to return it.

Universal Genève Polerouter SAS Tribute Timepieces.

Art and Culture

Published on Jan 09, 2025 03:08 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

Spirits forecast 2025: What you could be drinking this year

More luxury rums, more tequila, and rarer expressions of Scotch whisky are on the menu for 2025.

This year is expected to bring us more rare expressions of whisky, luxury rums, and even elusive Japanese whisky brands. (Pexels)

Art and Culture

Published on Jan 02, 2025 02:07 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

Class differences, prejudices play a role in road rage: Top traffic psychologist

Anagha Pullangotte, one of India’s few traffic psychologists, discusses the lesser-explored reasons behind the rise in road rage.

Anagha Pullangotte is one of the few traffic psychologists in India.

India News

Updated on Dec 22, 2024 08:15 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

Loop: Are the cult earplugs really worth it?

Global bestseller Loop has just landed in India and claims to dull noise across the board. We take it for a spin.

Loop earplugs were launched in India in September this year.

Business

Updated on Dec 26, 2024 12:15 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

Demand for our single malts has shown no signs of slowing down: Paul John

The eponymous founder of the single malt brand on how demand is outpacing supply, getting Indians to like bourbon and his upcoming premium rum offering.

Art and Culture

Published on Dec 03, 2024 01:04 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

47 going on 18: Encounter with influencer aiming to live forever

Bryan Johnson, a tech millionaire, aims to reverse aging and promote longevity through a rigorous regimen.

The millionaire tech entrepreneur and bio hacker is 47 but claims to have reversed his epigenetic age by 5.1 years. (Wikimedia Commons)

India News

Updated on Nov 30, 2024 06:48 AM IST

ByMurali K Menon

From Indri’s Diwali Edition 2024 to Amrut’s Bella, spirits to sip this winter

Here’s a round-up of the most interesting launches of the season.

From the Macallan Rare Cask 2023 and Indri’s Diwali Edition 2024 to Amrut’s Bella rum, new spirits to sip this winter

Art and Culture

Published on Nov 18, 2024 02:01 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

The Mohinder Amarnath interview: On cricket politics, 'bunch of jokers' and more

In Fearless, his recently released autobiography, Mohinder Amarnath provides a candid account of his cricketing life.

Mohinder Amarnath played 69 Tests and 85 ODIs for India(Getty)

Cricket

Updated on Nov 18, 2024 02:43 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

Glenlivet: From smugglers’ whisky to global giant

As one of the world’s most famous single malts celebrates its 200th, we dip into its origins and sip on its oldest release ever.

Owned by Chivas Brothers, Pernod Ricard’s dedicated Scotch business, Glenlivet sells over 20 million bottles annually.

Art and Culture

Published on Nov 09, 2024 07:00 AM IST

ByMurali K Menon

Luxury retail infrastructure in India is becoming sophisticated: Panerai CEO

Panerai CEO Jean-Marc Pontroue about India’s potential as a luxury watch market, material innovation, and the experiential watch business.

Fashion

Published on Oct 09, 2024 03:14 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

Inside the world of niche perfumes: The rise of exclusivity in luxury fragrances

There is a world beyond Tom Ford and Jo Malone. Scentido founder Shishir Mehta takes us on a quick, fragrant tour of the exclusive world of niche perfumes.

Niche perfumes, characterised by exclusivity and complexity are gaining popularity in India.

Fashion

Published on Oct 01, 2024 06:23 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

HMT Revival: Lessons from other state-owned watchmakers

H.D. Kumaraswamy aims to revive Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) and its watch division, sparking interest in the potential of nationalised watch brands.

The revival of nationalised watch brands, from HMT in India to Raketa in Russia, showcases a growing trend of breathing new life into legacy timepieces.

Fashion

Published on Sep 26, 2024 01:41 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

Old Monk still hot favourite in Delhi-Mumbai, young crowd chooses agave over gin

71 Indian brands feature in the annual What India is Drinking survey that reveals new insights about the country’s most preferred tipples.

Don Julio Blanco and Don Julio Reposado are still the go-to choice?

Lifestyle

Updated on Sep 18, 2024 12:33 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

Johnnie Walker’s latest is a Blue Label with umami

The Elusive Umami, which will only be retailed in Mumbai and Gurgaon , is a delicious attempt at capturing the luxurious savouriness of the fabled fifth taste

Bottled at 43% ABV, the whisky was co-created by Johnnie Walker master blender Emma Walker and Michelin-starred Japanese chef Kei Kobayashi.

Art and Culture

Published on Aug 30, 2024 08:27 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon, Delhi

How the stitched ship project is reviving a distinct Indian Ocean tradition

Why did our sea-faring ancestors choose to largely stitch their ships together instead of using nails? A government-backed project could unlock some clues.

The design of the 'stitched ship' is based on the mural of a 4th century ocean going ship at the Ajanta Caves. (Murali K Menon)

Art and Culture

Published on Aug 26, 2024 06:37 AM IST

ByMurali K Menon, New Delhi

Why an Indian-American whiskey industry icon is training his sights on India

Raj Bhakta scripted the rye whiskey renaissance in the US. Now, with the oldest-ever Indian single malt launch in the US, he is taking a look at Indian market.

Art and Culture

Published on Aug 10, 2024 01:01 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon, New Delhi

From Audemars Piguet to Berneron, finding beauty in asymmetry

The recently launched Audemars Piguet (RE)Master02 provides a window into the golden age of watch design

Art and Culture

Published on Jul 31, 2024 08:15 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon, Delhi

‘Working to protect Indian single malt category’: Radico's Abhishek Khaitan

Radico’s Abhishek Khaitan opened up on protecting the Indian single malt category and the company's strategic shift towards the premium and luxury segments.

Abhishek Khaitan, Radico Khaitan's managing director.

Art and Culture

Updated on Jul 21, 2024 05:38 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon, New Delhi

We’re all feeling more algorithmic anxiety now than five years ago: Kyle Chayka

Kyle Chayka has been writing columns for The New Yorker and books about the unrelenting tricks of the ‘algorithm’ in the age of the internet.

Kyle Chayka has written the book Filterworld, about how online and offline spaces alike have been engineered for seamless consumption, giving rise to anxiety among people,

Art and Culture

Updated on Jul 14, 2024 06:08 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

A young Indian luxury shoe brand from Chennai is acquiring a global appeal

Bridlen, a luxury shoe brand from Tamil Nadu, blends British and Japanese craftsmanship to produce high-quality shoes that cater to clients worldwide.

A pair of Bridlen shoes is a beauty to behold.

Fashion

Published on Jun 30, 2024 05:07 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

Want to make India 1 of our top 5 markets: Frederique Constant’s Williams Besse

The ‘affordable luxury’ brand’s director of business development on cracking the Indian market and the tough environment for bridge-to-luxury brands.

William Besse talks about Frederique Constant’s 20 years in India.

Fashion

Published on Jun 30, 2024 04:56 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

Best watches of 2024 for all budgets

From affordable elegance to premium picks, here’s a list of some of the hottest drops of the year so far.

Trust Audemars Piguet to always come through with a great watch.

Fashion

Published on Jun 30, 2024 04:41 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon

From Kottayam to Kolkata, on the trail of the planter’s chair

Sarita Sundar and Rachel Lee’s research project is unearthing new insights into the life and times of a chair that was synonymous with the colonial lifestyle.

Sarita Sundar and Rachel Lee check out planter's chairs at an antique store in Kochi. (Crafters, Kochi)

Art and Culture

Published on May 29, 2024 12:55 PM IST

ByMurali K Menon, New Delhi

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Murali K Menon

Bartenders from beyond metros are shaping the drinks scene with homegrown ingredients and fresh perspectives, and India Bartender Week is proof of this shift.

A 31-year-old single malt, a luxury tequila, and a brand new blended Indian whisky – raise a glass to Holi with these exciting new releases.

Rum powerhouse’s India chief on premium whisky plans; reasons behind impressive performance of its rums and how India is a must-win market for Bacardi globally.

In this interview with Hindustan Times, Bosshard discusses Rado’s deep-rooted connection with Indian consumers and its unmatched value proposition.

The recent reduction in import duty on bourbon whiskey could offer this long-overlooked spirit a second chance in India— only if brands step up.

Sacred, medicinal, and illegal—cannabis in India is a paradox. In Ananda, Karan Madhok explores our relationship with the plant and its untapped potential.

From tequila-fueled innovation to sustainable mixology, the 2024 30BestBars list reveals how India’s cocktail culture is redefining the way we drink.

Both chic and affordable, Universal Geneve made very coveted mid-century watches before it faded away. Now, Breitling is readying to return it.

More luxury rums, more tequila, and rarer expressions of Scotch whisky are on the menu for 2025.

Anagha Pullangotte, one of India’s few traffic psychologists, discusses the lesser-explored reasons behind the rise in road rage.

Global bestseller Loop has just landed in India and claims to dull noise across the board. We take it for a spin.

The eponymous founder of the single malt brand on how demand is outpacing supply, getting Indians to like bourbon and his upcoming premium rum offering.

Bryan Johnson, a tech millionaire, aims to reverse aging and promote longevity through a rigorous regimen.

Here’s a round-up of the most interesting launches of the season.

In Fearless, his recently released autobiography, Mohinder Amarnath provides a candid account of his cricketing life.

As one of the world’s most famous single malts celebrates its 200th, we dip into its origins and sip on its oldest release ever.

Panerai CEO Jean-Marc Pontroue about India’s potential as a luxury watch market, material innovation, and the experiential watch business.

There is a world beyond Tom Ford and Jo Malone. Scentido founder Shishir Mehta takes us on a quick, fragrant tour of the exclusive world of niche perfumes.

H.D. Kumaraswamy aims to revive Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) and its watch division, sparking interest in the potential of nationalised watch brands.

71 Indian brands feature in the annual What India is Drinking survey that reveals new insights about the country’s most preferred tipples.

The Elusive Umami, which will only be retailed in Mumbai and Gurgaon , is a delicious attempt at capturing the luxurious savouriness of the fabled fifth taste

Why did our sea-faring ancestors choose to largely stitch their ships together instead of using nails? A government-backed project could unlock some clues.

Raj Bhakta scripted the rye whiskey renaissance in the US. Now, with the oldest-ever Indian single malt launch in the US, he is taking a look at Indian market.

The recently launched Audemars Piguet (RE)Master02 provides a window into the golden age of watch design

Radico’s Abhishek Khaitan opened up on protecting the Indian single malt category and the company's strategic shift towards the premium and luxury segments.

Kyle Chayka has been writing columns for The New Yorker and books about the unrelenting tricks of the ‘algorithm’ in the age of the internet.

Bridlen, a luxury shoe brand from Tamil Nadu, blends British and Japanese craftsmanship to produce high-quality shoes that cater to clients worldwide.

The ‘affordable luxury’ brand’s director of business development on cracking the Indian market and the tough environment for bridge-to-luxury brands.

From affordable elegance to premium picks, here’s a list of some of the hottest drops of the year so far.

Sarita Sundar and Rachel Lee’s research project is unearthing new insights into the life and times of a chair that was synonymous with the colonial lifestyle.

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