The second edition of the now tri-national cocktail competition spanned participation from close to 150 bartenders, with a total of 90+ participating bars across India, Singapore, and Thailand.
Mumbai, October 10, 2024: Maya Pistola Agavepura (Pistola), Asia’s first premium 100% aged agave spirit, crowned Asia’s top bartenders from India, Singapore, and Thailand in the second edition of Pistola Duels II, the international bartending competition. The winning bartenders — Dushyant Tanwar from The Loft, India; Wee Siong from Smoke and Mirrors, Singapore; and Natkrit Chatsakpairach from Jhol Bangkok, Thailand—won an all-inclusive trip to Paris to participate in a guest shift at the Pistola Bar for the prestigious Top 500 Bar Awards ceremony in November. The competition, which spanned four rounds over two months, concluded with an electrifying finale at PCO Mumbai, where the top four finalists from each country faced off in a head-to-head contest to champion the Agave cocktail movement.
Pistola Duels II, aimed at elevating bar talent across Asia, featured participants from three countries who showcased their creativity by crafting innovative agave cocktails. The competition kicked off with two social media rounds, where contestants were judged on practicality, innovation, presentation, and digital reach. From nearly 150 participants, eight semi-finalists per country advanced to a head-to-head duel at their respective bars, where they competed to attract consumers to their cocktail creations. The top four from each country then competed in the finale, featuring an impromptu market hunt for cocktail ingredients, and a quiz testing their knowledge of the agave spectrum. The final round was evaluated by a jury of industry experts, including Pankaj Balachandran (Co-Founder, Countertop India); Shatbhi Basu (Founder, STIR Bartending Academy); Vikram Achanta (Founder and CEO, Tulleeho; and Co-Founder, 30BestBarsIndia); Smitha Menon (Columnist and Host, Big Food Energy); and Aatish Nath (Food and Travel Journalist).
Pistola Duels II has played a pivotal role in nurturing and showcasing bar talent by offering bartenders an international playing field to innovate and experiment with cocktail making. The competition fosters a culture of creativity and skill-building, pushing participants to go beyond traditional cocktail recipes and embrace agave as a versatile base for modern, spirit-forward cocktails. The format intends to unite the Asian bar community, building a global network of bartenders who share techniques, ideas, and inspiration. Pistola is excited to be contributing to a dynamic and interconnected cocktail landscape in Asia.
Rakshay Dhariwal, Director & Founder of Maya Pistola Agavepura, commented, “The idea of Pistola Duels was to encourage the bartending community to come together and showcase their talents while building a space to network and learn. It also allows young bartenders in the industry to challenge their skills with new-age spirits and innovate. It was inspiring to witness the use of hyperlocal ingredients and innovative techniques, all highlighting Agavepura as the core spirit. As we celebrate ‘The Year of the Agave,’ this competition highlights the rising prominence of agave not just in India but across Asia.”
Kimberly Pereira, Chief Operating Officer of Maya Pistola Agavepura, added, “The top three cocktails of 2024—Margarita, Picante, and Paloma—all curated with agave, highlight the versatility of this spirit. When we launched our variants in Asia, each was crafted to showcase the unique profiles of premium agave spirits. The response from the bar community during this edition of Duels has reinforced our mission to increase awareness on 100% pure, additive-free agave spirits that embody our motto: ‘Think Wild, Drink Wild.’ The innovative cocktails showcased throughout the competition reflect the pivotal role mixologists play in shaping agave’s future in Asia.”
Finalists:
Appended below is the list of the Top 4 finalists, along with the respective bars represented:
India
Winner: Dushyant Tanwar – The Loft, Goa
His winning cocktail was a coffee-infused Manhattan with citrus notes from oranges and spice route bitters, complementing the flavours of Pistola Añejo.
- Kaustabh Kaslay – Ekaa, Mumbai
- Krishna – Bastian, Mumbai
- Naphisa Nongkynrih – Soka, Bengaluru
Singapore
Winner: Wee Siong – Smoke and Mirrors, Singapore
His winning cocktail was a Pistola Reposado Milk Punch that embodies the philosophy of “all is one”, a wonderful glass of Indian, Malay and Chinese flavours.
- Branel Low – 1939 (Potato Head)
- Marlon Aseoche – Anti
- Mihai Toncea – 1939 (Potato Head)
Thailand
Winner: Natkrit Chatsakpairach – Jhol, Bangkok
His winning drink was a Pistola Reposado cocktail with Asparagus, Kokum, Campari, Coconut Water, Thai Jasmine Tea syrup, lemon and a bright yuzu curry leaf foam.
- Harsh Bhati – Avista Grande, Phuket Karon
- Jennifer Evans – Birdies, Bangkok
- Martín Guerra – INDDEE MICHELIN Indian Fine Dining, Bangkok
As agave-based spirits continue to rise in popularity across Asia, Pistola has pioneered the ‘Agavepura’ category with its pure, premium, and additive-free 100% agave spirit. The demand for premium agave products has seen a steady 12% year-on-year growth across Asia. Reports indicate that India, in particular, has emerged as a key market, with agave volumes nearly doubling in 2023, making it the fastest-growing major spirits category in global travel retail – with a 37% rise in volume and 58% in value from 2022 to 2023.
About Maya Pistola Agavepura:
Maya Pistola Agavepura (Pistola) is Asia’s first 100% aged Agave spirit made from the Wild Agave Americana that thrives in India’s Deccan plateau. Each small batch has been aged and blended to bring out the smooth flavours from oak while allowing the naturally occurring variation in minerality that can be expected from Wild Agave to shine. Made completely naturally with no use of artificial colours, the core value of Pistola is authenticity. Each bottle is unique, has its own character, and its own truth.
About Inspired Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.:
Inspired Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. stands as a beacon of excellence in the beverage alcohol industry, revered for its innovative craft spirit and dedication to creating unprecedented experiences. At the heart of its endeavours lies Maya Pistola Agavepura, Asia’s first 100% aged Agave spirit brand from India embodies luxury and unparalleled quality, redefining the essence of fine drinking experiences. In April 2024, United Spirits acquired a 15% stake in Inspired Hospitality for Rs 5.65 crore through the subscription of 3,494 Compulsory Convertible Preference Shares and 10 equity shares of Maya Pistola Agavepura, constituting approximately 15.0% of the brand’s fully diluted share capital.
For more information, please visit https://pistola.in/ and https://www.instagram.com/pistola.agave/
Pistola Media Contact:
Sanjana Mukund
The Outlier
pistola@theoutlierpr.com
+919964009900