Philomena Cottage

Philomena Cottage is where our Agave story begins. Even before Grace travelled to Mexico.

This charming cottage on 14th St Leo's road, Bandra West, is where Grace was from. She grew up here, among shaded gulmohars, palm trees and the quintessential Norfolk Pine (or, Christmas tree) that takes a prominent place in any Bandra Catholic house garden. This is where her dreams took flight, where she burnt the midnight oil to excel in studies, and spent her summers (when not making the annual trip to Goa by steamership, that is!)

Philomena cottage saw many parties, anniversaries and weddings celebrated with the best spirits and good cheer. This was the house where the Gracia dream was dreamed, and brought to life much later by Grace's daughter Suzzann- who has fond memories of Philomena Cottage.

A story that starts in Mexico

In 1984, Grace and her family went on a holiday to Mexico. Her children were teenagers then, so they quickly hit the party spots and she was left to her own devices. Being a genealogy major, she decided to look into the origins of the Fernandes family name.

Remember that Goans, like the original Indian Mexicans, were also converted to Christianity by Spanish priests. These priests bestowed their surnames on the new converts, and so there are common surnames among Mexicans and Goans. Fernandes is Fernandez in Mexico.

Grace's exploration took her to Guadalajara, in the interiors of Mexico, away from the beaches and the typical touristy crowd. Here she met Senor Julio Ramirez- Fernandez. He greeted her like she was his long-lost sister and they immediately hit it off. A chance meeting in a library ended up with an invitation to dinner with the Ramirez- Fernandez clan!

Dinner done, as Grace got ready to leave, Senor Ramirez-Fernandez presented her with a bottle of his specially made Agave drink. It was his family recipe. Grace thanked him and went back to her beach combing family.

Back home in Bandra, Grace replicated this drink using Indian ingredients, and some that she got her Mexican brother to courier! And soon the Bandra Fernandes clan had a drink that connected them with the Mexican Ramirez-Fernandes clan. This drink- that everyone called ‘Grace's drink’ was a hit at all their family functions and parties.

In 2024, at the age of 83 years, Grace Fernandes passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family. And Suzann, Grace’s favourite daughter, decide to make her mother’s drink commercially available to all, in her memory. Suzann christened it Gracia, it means Grace in Spanish.

Thus Gracia Viva Agave! was born.

Directors of Kantala Spirits

About Us

Kantala Spirits has three directors; Suzann Homan, Kiran Ullal and Keith Fernandes.

Suzann is a Mumbaiite, a Bandra Goan, with strong roots in Goa. Kiran is from Bangalore- the drink and pub capital of India. Keith Fernandes is from Parra, North Goa.

Suzann is the driving force behind the company; although a lawyer by profession, she is a connoisseur of fine drinks. This passion fuelled her journey to establish this Alco-bev company.

She was supported in her endeavour by Kiran-- who comes from a background of Insurance. He is the Finance Head of Kantala Spirits.

Keith completes the triumvirate as the Marketing and Advertising Head. With ample experience in sales and marketing- specifically of beverage brands like Pepsi, Bisleri, Seagrams, Kingfisher, he is also the Founder-Ceo of Slipdisc Advertising, Goa’s foremost OOH agency.