At Small Victories, we clearly love a rebel, so you shouldn’t be surprised that we’re huge fans of a gin distilled in Ireland by Rebel City Distillery. What you might also have picked up on is that we really enjoy supporting products that have a strong mission, so let’s talk about our friends Bhagya and Robert who are behind this outstanding distillery and have a really great ethos behind their spirits. 

Bhagya Lekshmi was born in Kerala and traveled throughout India and Europe pursuing a career as an IT program manager before she met Robert Barrett who was a bio-chemist and distiller from Ireland. They married in 2015 in Cork, and in 2020, they embarked upon the incredible challenge of opening a distillery in the old Henry Ford & Sons factory that was once the industrial hub of the city from 1917-1984. 

From the very beginning, Robert wanted to create a spirit that honored his wife’s cultural background, and it was immensely important to Bhagya that she found a way for them to acknowledge the incredible power of the women from her birthplace. Together they developed the recipe for Maharani (Sanskrit for ‘high queen’), which is distilled from soft, red winter wheat and organic botanicals from Kerala, India. 

The Vanamoolika women’s farming co-operative is responsible for producing the distinct botanicals found in every bottle of Maharani Gin. Their cultivation of fruits, herbs, and spices provides opportunities for Keralan women and solidifies Rebel City’s mission of female empowerment both in India and Ireland. The symbol on the label—a sword pointed toward the sky—draws from Keralan folklore, inspired by the courageous women who battled for their rights and protested the unjust breast tax which was once imposed on Keralan women of lower castes. 

We love any excuse to pick up a bottle of Rebel City. Not only do the distinctive flavors showcase incredible craftsmanship, but each bottle also helps empower the resilient women of Kerala, making every sip a celebration of both artistry and social change.