HBI Staff | Hyderabad 
Bar Wars, India’s only bar competition that puts the spotlight on the unsung heroes of the bar industry – the Servers – concluded with an electrifying grand finale in Goa, crowning INJA from Delhi as the 2024 Bar Wars Champions. The journey began with over 400 teams submitting creative entries via Instagram reels, with the top 72 bartender-server duos competing across eight major cities. What truly sets Bar Wars apart this year was the involvement of over 100 consumer judges at each event, who tasted the cocktails, evaluated the teams’ pitches, and awarded tokens to the bartenders based on their experience, ultimately deciding which teams delivered the best service. After an intense month of competing across the country, INJA emerged victorious, claiming the prestigious title, a cash prize of INR 2 lakhs, and the coveted opportunity for an international bar takeover with Greater Than Gin. The competition stands out not only for its scale but also for its unique consumer-driven judging process, allowing patrons to cast their votes and decide which teams delivered the best experience.
The grand finale saw the nation’s top bar teams — Jamming Goat from Hyderabad, Papa’s from Mumbai, Whisky Samba from Gurgaon, Muro from Bangalore, Room Onefrom Goa, Mehico from Kolkata, Steakhouse Bar and Grillfrom Pune and of course, INJA from Delhi — battle it out in a thrilling showdown of creativity, service, and cocktail mastery. Each team brought their A-game, showcasing their best cocktails and innovative pitches, but INJA’s flawless execution, ingenuity, and team chemistry won over the crowd.
Commenting on the occasion, Anand Virmani, Co-Founder at NAO Spirits, said, “Bar Wars has quickly become our favourite event of the year and this year was nothing short of extraordinary. Two things we love about this competition are that firstly it shines a light on the incredibly talented servers from our favourite bars and restaurants who go unnoticed and under-celebrated for the hard work they do, and secondly, it lives up to our culture of being a transparent brand that invites consumers in to witness and be a part of the judging process – something that has never been done before in bar competitions around the world. We’re incredibly proud of all the teams that put themselves out there and put in that effort every year to improve their drinks and their pitch – their work behind the scenes is clearly visible for us all to appreciate!”
The winning restaurant, INJA, on being crowned said, “Winning Bar Wars has been an exhilarating journey for our team. The competition was fierce, and all three rounds pushed us to think creatively and work even harder. We’re so proud to have represented our home state and the restaurant and to take home the title of ‘Winners of Bar Wars 2024’. The experience has been unforgettable, and we’re especially thankful to Greater Than for creating a platform that celebrates the teamwork between bartenders and servers. We can’t wait to take this energy to the international stage and bring to the world what India’s bar scene is all about!”
Bar Wars by Greater Than Gin has travelled across India, highlighting the exceptional teamwork between bartenders and servers that defines the country’s top bars. The finalists brought their finest pitches, cocktails and service to Goa for the ultimate test. This year’s Bar Wars has truly displayed the camaraderie, innovation and enthusiasm that energise India’s dynamic bar culture.
