Soma was a ritualistic drink. It was an intoxicating drink made since the Vedic period. It finds mention in the Soma Mandala of the Rigvedic period.

There are two ways to get wine: fermentation and distillation. Fermentation was widely known in the world. Wine was procured by fermenting rice, sugarcane juice, mahuwa flowers, etc. Distillation, however, was a late comer. Some think that it was first discovered in Italy in the 12th century A.D.