The party season should be about having fun without waiting. Backyard parties are no longer a stressful task for the host; everything becomes easier when the top cocktail premix brands are brought to the bar counter. Bidisha Barik has some amazing premix cocktail brands that only require a few components to get you on the dance floor. Vaishali Mehta, Co-Founder of SWA Artisanal Syrups, spills the beans on the challenges that came with being a seven-month pregnant woman starting a cocktail company and how there is still a deep-rooted prejudice against women owning a start-up in the cocktail sector.
Food and flavour have been the principal topics of conversation for Vaishali Mehta both at and away from the dinner table. A Gujarati born and raised in Calcutta, her employment led her to New York, where she was astounded by the freshness of the ingredients utilised in their drinks. Despite India’s abundance of natural produce, she was astonished to find artificial, imported, and preservative-filled concentrates peddled in the name of taste and unique flavours. She was adamant about giving Indian fruits and products the respect they deserved. SWA was created when she combined this with her desire to work for women’s skill development.
Co-Founder of SWA Artisanal Syrups – Vaishali Mehta
How did the idea of working in the cocktail sector strike you?
I’ve always wanted to start a business in the food & beverage industry, but my determination strengthened after I was let off from a promising job after being pregnant. I noticed that women are replaced in the workplace once they become pregnant or are on maternity leave. Becoming a mother and the desire to create something unique, to convey via my acts that women are far more powerful and capable than society portrays got me here. When I was seven months pregnant, I began my SWA journey. I’m grateful for the traumatic experience I had to go through while still enjoying the most beautiful moments of parenting; the tragedy let me realise my mission more clearly.
There are taboos deeply rooted against women. Do you agree?
Women are still laid back about marking financial independence on their own. It is important to understand that to break the deeply rooted taboos, we those taboos through our actions. Our grannies fought to undo parda and ghonghat, our moms fought to take charge of their education and ours. We take it to next level and claim the board rooms.
There is a way of life that many educated women, including myself, fall back on from time to time. Believe it or not, I didn’t have a credit card until around 6 months ago. When I spoke with someone, they claimed that 85 per cent of their clientele (basically credit card holders) are men.
SWA women-crew
Referring to the social stigma of labelling women as “socially-conditioning” she says, “Sub-consciously we have wired ourselves to be a certain way.”
What makes SWA Artisanal Syrups stand out?
Most of us have used artificial, imported, and preservative-filled concentrates in the name of taste and exotic flavours. Living in a country filled with a rich variety of natural products, it is surprising that we’ve had to rely heavily on artificial flavours so far. SWA Artisanal Syrups are 100% natural, free of any added preservatives, colours, or artificial flavours. They make delicious cocktails, mocktails, iced teas and craft coffees. We are a woman-owned and run company. Each SWA bottle is hand-crafted in small batches by women trained under a skill upliftment program.
SWA Signature Ready-To-Mix Blends:
- Hibiscus Tea
- Jamun Kalakhatta
- Lemon Ginger Naariyal Paani
- Summer Berries
- Passionfruit Tea
- Tamarind Shikanji
Find SWA at:
HORECA places pan-India –
- BlueTokai
- Third Wave Coffee Roasters
- Toit
- Druid Garden
- Carnatic Café
Online Retail –
- drinkswa.com
- Amazon
- Big Basket
Quick Takes!
Her cocktail recommendations are a resounding yes!
1. What’s your go-to cocktail for a party?
With some SWA hibiscus tea, make a gin and tonic.
2. What was the one recipe that made your spirits high?
45 ml gin, 10 ml lemon juice, 20 ml SWA Hibiscus Tea or SWA Mango Passion, tonic water, or soda on the rocks, and plenty of ice. Anywhere and anytime you want to feel like you’re in the tropics.
3. Flavour premixes that you can’t go wrong with?
For Indians who live in a tropical nation that is hot most of the year, fruity, sweet, and zesty flavours are our favourites, and adding a hint of spice is the icing on the cake. We may not appreciate particularly powerful classic cocktails as a culture. SWA Guava Chilli and SWA Jamun Kalakhatta are two of my favourite beverages. We also enjoy experimenting, and SWA pre-mixes enable us to do so. Make a drink, either a cocktail or a mocktail. Everyone is happy.
The best premix brands that will spice up your glass are here!
1.Svami Drinks:
As an alternative to spirits, this company just released ready-to-drink non-alcoholic drinks. Their non-alcoholic Rum & Cola, non-alcoholic Gin & Tonic, and non-alcoholic Pink Gin & Tonic are the first three items in this category.
The Svami Light Tonic, Svami Grapefruit Tonic, Svami Cucumber Tonic, and Svami Original Tonic, among others, are among Svami Drinks’ mixers that combine nicely with gins, whiskeys, coffee, or any other inventive combination.
2.&Stirred:
This is all it takes for a fantastic Sunday brunch to suit your distinctive Bloody Mary flavour. Tomato purée, lemon, pepper, celery, and various spices make up this ready-to-drink mix. In &Stirred, you’ll find a broad variety of cocktail premixes that won’t let you down.
3.Jimmy’s Cocktails:
The Cosmopolitan from Jimmy’s Cocktails is made with Danish cranberries, Persian limes, orange, and a touch of triple sec. The low-calorie premixes are made with high-quality natural ingredients and no artificial sweeteners by some of India’s greatest mixologists. They come in vibrant, eye-catching bottles, and each bottle makes two beverages.
We’re all ready to ace the new season now, without having to rush through mixing ingredients or being confused about drinks. Simply combine your favourite flavours from these top premix cocktail brands.
