Shankar Distillers Opens High-Tech Distillery in Troy, Michigan

Shankar Distillers Opens High-Tech Distillery in Troy, Michigan

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on July 28, 2024

Shankar Distillers, the latest venture by tech entrepreneur Varchasvi Shankar, has officially opened in Troy, Michigan. This advanced distillery features a state-of-the-art 45-foot continuous distillation column, so large that the distillery's roof had to be modified to accommodate it. Located in an industrial park, the distillery's glass ceiling is a distinctive landmark visible from I-75, just north of the 14 Mile exit near Oakland Mall.

Varchasvi Shankar, the first Indian immigrant to open an American whiskey distillery, celebrated the grand opening of Shankar Distillers on Friday, July 12. Shankar has also expanded into international markets, making the Varchas Whiskey line the first American craft bourbon exported to India. The distillery team includes master distiller Kylash Sivakumar and senior advisor Dennis Archer Jr., who have together crafted several award-winning spirits. Among their accolades is the Varchas Reserve 102 Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which won gold at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its smooth, earthy flavor profile featuring notes of wood, leather, tobacco, and caramel.

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Shankar expressed his enthusiasm for sharing these whiskeys directly with the public. “This is a dream come true for me. I never imagined that I would open a distillery in the USA. I came here for a technology career, but whiskey has always been my passion, and I'm thrilled to bring this unique cultural experience to the people of this country,” he said. “I'm excited to see visitors experience in person the fusion of Eastern and Western traditions in our spirits.”

Shankar Distillers offers a range of spirits, including Varchas Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Varchas Straight Rye Whiskey, Dasara Gin, and Varchas Vodka. Visitors can purchase these products along with branded merchandise like whiskey glasses, flasks, and T-shirts. The tasting room features plush lounge seating and a premium atmosphere, with a diverse cocktail menu that includes classics like Manhattans and barrel-aged sazeracs, as well as a unique gin and tonic made with Indian tonic. House specialties also include the “Gimme Some More,” made with Varchas Vodka, cucumber, and elderflower liqueur.

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Shankar Distillers stands out not just for its story of transitioning from tech to distilling but also for the beauty of its bottles. The 750 ml glass bottles feature a two-headed eagle on the label, a symbol of Shankar’s home state of Mysore in southern India, and a 3D eagle on the cork, highlighting Shankar’s accomplishments in the United States. The distillery is proud of its Michigan roots, using locally sourced water and corn in its products.

For those interested in visiting, Shankar Distillers at 1030 Chicago Road in Troy is open from 3-10 p.m. Wednesday through Thursday, 3 p.m.-midnight on Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight on Saturday, and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. Tours are available on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons. 

For more information, visit shankardistillers.com.


Arabian Delites Opens Its 6th Outlet in Delhi with a New Cloud Kitchen in Vasant Kunj

Arabian Delites Opens Its 6th Outlet in Delhi with a New Cloud Kitchen in Vasant Kunj

By Hariharan U

Published on December 4, 2025

Arabian Delites has wrapped up 2025 with a major milestone as the brand opens its newest cloud kitchen in Vasant Kunj, marking its 6th outlet and 3rd cloud kitchen in Delhi. The launch strengthens the brand’s delivery network and brings its well-loved Middle Eastern flavours to yet another neighbourhood in the capital.

Founded in 1994 by K.D. Singh, Arabian Delites has spent over three decades building a strong reputation for flavour-forward, wholesome, and authentic Lebanese food. From shawarmas and doners to hummus bowls and falafels, the brand has remained consistent in offering meals that balance taste with a clean, health-first approach, a key reason behind its loyal customer base across Delhi-NCR.

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The year 2025 proved transformational for the brand. Arabian Delites doubled its team size, upgraded tech systems for smoother operations, and expanded its store count, laying a strong foundation for efficient national growth. The menu also expanded with new offerings, including traditional Middle Eastern desserts like Baklavas, giving customers more reasons to indulge.

The new Vasant Kunj kitchen continues this momentum. Designed to serve high delivery demand without compromising quality, the outlet will offer the full menu across major food delivery platforms. Customers can enjoy signature dishes such as doners, shawarmas, rice bowls, hummus, falafels, and desserts prepared fresh in a modern cloud-kitchen format.

Speaking about the expansion, Mandeep Singh, Director, Arabian Delites, said, “We are excited to continue expanding our reach across Delhi-NCR with this launch. With a solid foundation built in 2025, we are now well-prepared to scale responsibly across India as sustainable growth is more important to us than overnight expansion.”

Looking ahead, Arabian Delites has ambitious plans. The brand aims to reach 100 outlets by 2028 and is set to double its store count in 2026, moving steadily towards a pan-India presence


Daysie MG Road Unveils a Classic British Christmas Menu for the Festive Season

Daysie MG Road Unveils a Classic British Christmas Menu for the Festive Season

By Hariharan U

Published on December 4, 2025

Bengaluru is set for a cosy and classic Christmas this year as Daysie MG Road rolls out its British-inspired festive menu. With warm flavours, indulgent plates, and handcrafted holiday cocktails, the menu brings together comfort, nostalgia, and a little festive sparkle — just right for December gatherings in the city.

The menu opens with the Truffle Parsnip Velouté, a silky, earthy soup finished with chive oil and hazelnut crumble, a simple, elegant start to the meal.

Small plates bring comforting favourites with a gourmet twist. The Spinach & Ricotta Croquettes come crisp and creamy, paired with a light touch of honey and cranberry. The Duck Carpaccio adds a fresh, bright note with pickled pear and orange gel, while the Moroccan Lamb Cigars deliver bold, spiced warmth with a smoky harissa mayo.

For mains, the kitchen keeps the mood festive and hearty. The Spinach, Mushroom & Citrus Ricotta Cannelloni packs soft, clean, herb-forward flavours. Meat lovers can choose the Five-Spice Roast Duck, glazed with rosemary-plum and served with mushroom ragout and sautéed spinach. The Pork Chop with Mustard–Maple Glaze brings a sweet-savory balance with red cabbage and roasted Brussels sprouts.

Desserts stay true to the season. The Roasted Fig & Honey-Thyme Tart blends warm figs, mascarpone, and pistachio, while the Christmas Spiced Pavlova comes chai-kissed with bourbon-vanilla cream and winter fruits.

Alongside the food, Daysie presents a festive cocktail lineup. Classics like Eggnog and Mulled Wine bring familiar holiday warmth, while signatures such as Santa’s Little Secret, North Pole Adas, and the spiced Christmas Fashioned add playful indulgence to the celebrations.

With cosy flavours, festive drinks, and a warm Christmas mood, Daysie MG Road sets the perfect table for the season.


CYK Hospitalities Launches LANY, a Fresh and Modern Dessert QSR in Gurugram

CYK Hospitalities Launches LANY, a Fresh and Modern Dessert QSR in Gurugram

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on December 4, 2025

CYK Hospitalities, one of India’s well-known F&B consultancies, has launched its newest dessert QSR creation, LANY, at Ambience Mall in Gurugram. The brand brings a fresh, youthful, global-inspired take to India’s dessert scene and highlights CYK Hospitalities’ ability to build innovative models within this category.

LANY takes its name and personality from the cultural energy shared between Los Angeles and New York. The founders, Sanchita Sarin and Harsh Sarin, drew from their travels and mutual love for desserts to shape the brand’s identity, visuals and overall vibe. Their idea was to blend global inspiration with flavours and formats that feel instantly lovable in India.

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The menu brings together soft-serve desserts, stick waffles and its standout offering Taiyaki Cones. By positioning Taiyaki as its hero product, LANY steps into a niche space that connects familiar international formats with a modern appeal for Indian consumers.

Throughout the brand-building journey, CYK Hospitalities worked closely with the founders, offering support in conceptualization, menu planning, hiring, training, location selection and complete design direction. The aim was to create a seamless brand story that carries LANY’s multicultural inspiration effortlessly.

Sanchita Sarin shares, “LANY is built on a feeling that desserts should lift you instantly. We wanted to create something that has a global soul but is deeply lovable in India, simple, joyful, and instantly repeatable. CYK Hospitalities helped us convert this emotion into a brand that truly speaks to what we dreamt. CYK Hospitalities has been with us in forming this from the inner core to the outer covering, every minute detail, layer, and decision. We together have an entity that is globally connected yet India-specific.”

Speaking about the collaboration, Pulkit Arora, Director and Culinary Expert, CYK Hospitalities says, “The desserts category requires very clear, quick, and pleasant communication. With LANY, we aimed at making it large, sharp, and emotionally sticky. The whole conception was to form a dessert personality that consumers will very easily recall and very naturally come back to.”

Simran Jeet Singh, Director, CYK Hospitalities adds, "The choice of location is the point where the brand story starts. Ambience Mall is enabling LANY to reach out directly to the people who already like experiential global formats, thus making this concept very favourable for high conversions and repeat takes. This is the kind of placement that starts to lend brand equity right from day one, and at the same time, prepares the ground for the whole country to expand."

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