Maharashtra student gets ‘Jay Dhawan Scholarship’ to pursue MSc brewing, distilling abroad

NEW DELHI: Goa-based craft gin company Nao Spirits, in collaboration with The Gin Guild, announced the inaugural "The Jay Dhawan Scholarship" to a BSc student, Simran Kini. She has been selected to pursue a master of science (MSc) degree in brewing and distilling at the Heriot-Watt University in the United Kingdom.

The scholarship was established in memory of distiller Jay Dhawan. It will sponsor one student from India each year, with a preference for candidates from the Food and Beverage (Fand B) industry. The programme will offer opportunities both globally and within India's thriving craft spirit industry. This scholarship will help Simran to advance her knowledge and skills.

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Simran Kini has done her BSc in wine, brewing, and alcohol technology from the Gargi Agriculture Research and Training Institute (GARTI) in Nashik. She holds experience of working at the Taj Group of Hotels in 2019 and has a diploma in hotel management from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Bangalore.

Kini on winning the scholarship said, "Bagging this scholarship was truly mind-blowing! It's not just any scholarship; it's a special one that honors Jay, who left a lasting impact. I feel incredibly humbled and privileged to be chosen for this opportunity. It's a reminder of the tremendous responsibility I now have to do justice to his legacy. With heartfelt gratitude and an unshakeable drive, I look forward to making the most of this chance, pushing boundaries, driving innovation, and trying to leave my mark by beginning my journey at Heriot-Watt."

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Anand Virmani, the co-founder and CEO of Nao Spirits said, “Jay was one of the first craft distillers in the country and while he came from the bar industry, he never got the opportunity to get any formal training in distilling. Through this scholarship, we hope to be able to spread his spark and equip the next generation of distillers. Simran is clearly an exceptional candidate and we are excited to see her do well and go far. Equally, we are delighted to see the level of interest in such programs - the future of the craft industry is clearly in good hands.”