Guwahati: From the misty tea gardens of Assam to the cobbled streets of Edinburgh, Rutland Square Spirits is crafting a liquid love letter to two cultures — this time, in the form of a chai-spiced rum.
The Edinburgh-based craft distillery has unveiled its first Chai-Spiced Rum, deepening its signature exploration of flavours that bridge Scottish distilling tradition and Indian chai culture. The release follows the success of its Chai-Spiced Gin and signals the brand’s intent to build a distinctive, flavour-forward spirits portfolio for global audiences.
Produced in small batches and bottled at 41% ABV, the rum begins its journey with Caribbean molasses, aged in ex-sherry casks that lend it a rich, ruby hue. The spirit is then infused with white oolong tea sourced from Assam, one of the world’s most storied tea regions, creating a layered profile that is gently spiced, aromatic, and designed as much for sipping as for storytelling.
That story, fittingly, leads back to Assam.
Rutland Square Spirits was founded by Nishant Sharma, whose grandparents hail from Dibrugarh district, a historic centre of India’s tea economy. Sharma has often spoken of his desire to reconnect with a family legacy — that of his great-grandfather Tej Ram, an Indian spirits entrepreneur who distilled gin and blended whisky in Dibrugarh in the 1940s, at a time when the town was emerging as a global tea hub.
The rum was soft-launched last month in duty-free outlets across India and Dubai, where initial stocks sold out, underscoring the growing appetite for culturally rooted, craft-led spirits. Rutland Square Spirits is now scaling up distribution through international partners and global online channels.
Founded in Edinburgh, the company positions itself at the intersection of two traditions, describing its ethos as “Scottish spirit, Indian soul”. For Sharma, the new release is a natural extension of that philosophy.
“Scottish distilling, craftsmanship and Indian soul have always been at the heart of Rutland Square Spirits,” he said. “Chai isn’t a trend for us — it’s part of who we are. Launching a rum allows us to explore that identity in a new category while staying true to our roots.”
As Rutland Square Spirits accelerates its international expansion — with a focus on the UK, travel retail and key global markets — its chai-spiced rum stands as more than just a new product. It is a reminder that some of the most compelling spirits are not just distilled, but remembered.
Also Read: Nagaland: How clashes at Maova village expose long-standing tensions