United Spirits invests in Indian agave spirit

Diageo’s United Spirits arm has purchased a minority stake in Inspired Hospitality, producer of Indian agave spirit brand Maya Pistola.

Diageo is the majority shareholder of India’s United Spirits, which recently gained approval from its board to invest in Inspired Hospitality.

With this investment, United Spirits said it aims to ‘strengthen its play in the premium craft segment with an Indian provenance’ which has seen ‘good traction’ among local consumers.

Maya Pistola Agavepura was founded by Rakshay Dhariwal and Radhika Dhariwal in 2021, who together used their background in food and beverage to create an Indian agave spirit.

The 100% agave spirit is made with eight- to 10-year-old wild agave americana that grows in India’s Deccan Plateau, where its rich volcanic soil is described as the perfect environment for growing the blue-green agave.

The liquid is matured on the shores of Goa in virgin American white oak, ex-Bourbon or ex-red wine casks.

In the short time since its launch, the brand has become one of the top emerging premium agave brands in India, United Spirits noted.

Outside of India, which represents 90% of the brand’s sales, Maya Pistola’s products are available in the US, Singapore and Thailand.

The Maya Pistola range includes Joven, Rosa, Reposado, Añejo and Extra Añejo.

The brand’s Añejo grabbed the top Master medal during The DB & SB Spring Blind Tasting 2023 competition. It also received several Gold and Silver medals in the 2024 competition.

We recently spoke to Dhariwal on the creation process behind the agave spirit as part of our GSMC Yearbook.

Dhariwal believes the growth of agave spirits made outside of Mexico has the potential to benefit the broader category.