Since February this year Ten Locks has been the UK distributor of authentic Indian spirit brand, Sollasa, which has been available to the UK’s retail and hospitality sectors, particularly premium Indian restaurants and contemporary fusion dining venues.
Sollasa burst on to the UK drinks scene in July 2021 and caused much excitement with its unique proposition: the first spirit designed specifically to complement Indian cuisine to be launched in the UK.
Sollasa is a grain-based, lower alcohol spirit, blended to 20% abv. It’s made from all natural ingredients, bringing together orange zest, lime, lychee, mint, basil, coriander seeds, cardamom, and a pinch of sea salt.
It was developed by Vishal Patel and his brother-in-law Sajag Patel, in collaboration with leading chefs, mixologists and food scientists, to address the opportunity to inspire consumers with a new drinks option to accompany Indian food.
The duo’s mission was to create a drink that genuinely complemented Indian cuisine’s complex and rich flavours, so that consumers no longer had to settle for ill-suited drinks, such as lager or wine, but could enjoy an authentic and exciting alternative.
As an all-natural, vegan friendly, low-sugar spirit that is half the alcohol of gin and fewer than 100 calories when served with light tonic, Sollasa ticks many of the boxes for today’s health conscious consumers.
Sollasa is more than just an aperitif; with its natural refreshment and expertly designed flavour profile it can be enjoyed throughout the Indian dining occasion: from before the food is served, to during the meal and as an after dinner drink. Sollasa’s name was inspired by the Manasollasa, a 12th century Sanskrit text considered to be one of the first Indian recipe book.
The company’s co-founders, Vishal and Sajag Patel, were raised on Indian food and wanted to bring an authentic and exciting drink to the UK drinks market, as Vishal Patel explained: “Indian food is full of character and flavour and the Indian hospitality sector is vibrant with a lot of reinvention and creativity around their spaces and menus.
“However, its drinks offering is yet to be reinvigorated. Lager and white wines tend to be the go-to choices, but we know consumers are ready and open to something more authentic and custom-made.
“We’ve worked hard to craft a drink that authentically complements Indian cuisine and also suits modern drinking preferences, namely lower alcohol content, lower sugar and all natural ingredients, but still packed with flavour. Since the launch in July, we’ve had so much positive feedback and interest. Our partnership with Ten Locks will take our footprint in the UK to the next level.”
Visit www.sollasadrinks.com for more details