The story of Mohulo begins not with gin, but with a question. What would it mean to create an Indian spirit that did not borrow its identity from elsewhere but was shaped entirely by the land, people, and cultural systems it came from? Conceived by Varun Jain, Mohulo is built around the Mahua flower, a botanical that has been gathered and fermented by tribal communities across central India for centuries.
Smoke Lab co-founders Varun Jain and Sanya V. Jain are set to host an invite-only showcase at their residence, bringing together art collectors and cultural voices to introduce Mohulo through its artworks and liquid. For Jain, the project reflects a longer personal inquiry into what luxury means today. “Luxury, for me, comes from provenance,” he says. “From the land it is rooted in and the people behind it.” Sanya V. Jain adds, “When you understand the origins and stories behind something, its value feels natural.”
Beyond the Liquid
Mohulo’s starting point is Mahua, traditionally never plucked, only collected after falling naturally at dawn. In regions such as Chhattisgarh, it is often referred to as the “Tree of Life,” sustaining livelihoods, rituals, and seasonal rhythms. Mohulo sources Mahua in collaboration with a tribal-led NGO, working closely with the Baiga tribe to ensure the relationship is structured around respect and continuity rather than extraction.
This long-term thinking shapes the brand’s broader philosophy. “This was never meant to be a one-time moment,” says Jain. “The intention was always to build something that creates lasting impact.” For Sanya V. Jain, the collaboration evolved slowly and deliberately, guided by responsibility rather than speed.
Art as Architecture
If Mahua forms Mohulo’s foundation, art provides its structure. At the centre of the brand is The Art of 12, a collection of twelve original artworks created by artists from tribal communities in Mahua-growing regions. Each artwork corresponds to one of the twelve botanicals used in the gin, translating ingredients into visual narratives rooted in lived experience.
The artworks are not used as surface decoration but as a framework for identity. This approach carries into the bottle design, which draws from tribal tattoo traditions through lines, dots, and symbols associated with protection and belonging.
Mohulo, the founders say, was never intended to be consumed quickly. “It was always meant to be something you return to,” says Sanya V. Jain. “Finding the balance between craft, design, and storytelling took far longer than most would expect.”
Crafted to Be Sipped
Positioned as India’s first sipping gin, Mohulo is designed to be enjoyed neat. The spirit has been developed in collaboration with UK-based distiller Jamie Baxter and produced using copper pot distillation in small batches. Mahua blossoms are harvested during a short seasonal window, layered with select botanicals, and rested to develop their aromatics. Careful temperature control and precise cuts are used to achieve a rounded, silky profile with gentle florality and natural sweetness.
Rooted in place, shaped by art, and guided by process, Mohulo offers a focused addition to India’s premium spirits landscape, one that places provenance and collaboration ahead of scale.
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