By Pratishtha Rana
Mix it all, stir gently and pour it like a pro – voila! Your DIY cocktail is now ready to be served (and sipped). If you trust the word of the top guns in Indian bartending business, making cocktails from scratch at home can be an exciting session to indulge in. Just a few ingredients from the kitchen and the rest is the magic that you pour in the glass.
To celebrate the World Whisky Day, top mixologists from leading F&B spaces share super-easy recipes of delightful but heady whisky-infused cocktails. The three drinks pack in distinct flavours of mango, coffee and red wine. We highly recommend you to try it. We know that you’ll be making some more!
MANGO MEDLEY
Cocktail: Alfonso’s Jam
Recipe by John Leese, Group Beverage Manager – Bastian Hospitality Pvt Ltd
Ingredients:
Jim Beam Black Label Bourbon – 50 ml
Lemon juice – 15 ml
Simple syrup – 10 ml
Bar spoon of homemade raspberry jam (or pineapple chunks if you don’t have raspberry jam)
Mango – 10-12 diced cubes
Method:
Add homemade raspberry jam (or pineapple) and mango. Muddle it all together.
Add remaining ingredients, shake and double strain.
Pour the cocktail over fresh, solid ice.
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Which cuisine or dish pairs best with Alfonso’s Jam?
Some balsamic based dishes like Italian Carpaccio pairs well with it.
Why is Jim Beam Black Label your choice for the whisky cocktail?
I decided to use a blend of flavours to get people more enthusiastic about bourbon. There is a lot of misconception that bourbon is only used for alcohol-forward drinks such as Old Fashioned and Manhattan. My goal is to increase the guests’ understanding and interest in this category.
Which is your favourite whisky?
It is Auchentoshan Three Wood. For me, it’s the best value single malt in the market. Bold, smooth and flavourful, it is aged in ex-bourbon, Oloroso sherry and Pedro Ximenez casks and it hits every note.
What are the new cocktail trends of 2021?
Zero waste. To minimize cost and get the most out of each fruit, bartenders are finding more creative ways to make cocktails. Smoked cocktails are also something that I am seeing more and more of.
CAFFEINE RUSH
Cocktail: Cold Fashioned
Recipe by Nilesh Patel, Beverage Head – West for Impresario Handmade Restaurants
Ingredients:
Woodburns Contemporary Indian Whisky – 60 ml
Dope Coffee Cold Brew Polaris Blend – 45 ml, or any cold coffee cold brew
Clove and Honey Syrup – 10 ml
Glassware – Old fashioned
Method:
Add all the ingredients in a mixing glass over ice.
Stir it for about a minute.
Please ensure that you don’t over stir the drink, otherwise it may get diluted.
Garnish with orange zest and hibiscus flower.
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Which cuisine or dish pairs best with Cold Fashioned?
Any kind of spicy curries or appetisers like cheese chilly toast will pair best with it.
Why is Woodburns your choice for the whisky cocktail?
Woodburns Contemporary Indian whisky has a great peaty profile and more importantly, it is home-grown, which is a good way to support our local vendors.
Which is your favourite whisky?
Isle of Jura Single Malt Scotch Whisky because it is balanced with intense flavours.
What are the new cocktail trends of 2021?
Culinary Mixology – Cocktail and food pairings are gaining steam. More people and restaurants are realizing that cocktails and cuisines go well together.
Fermented Influences – Expect to see homemade fermented drinks such as kombucha and tepache appearing more frequently on cocktail menus.
Low ABV Cocktails – Mindful drinking has become a popular concept in India and people are seeking lower ABV cocktails. They’ve also started experimenting with long drinks and mocktails, which means lower or non-alcoholic volume.
WINE’TASTIC
Cocktail: Twisted Manhattan
Recipe by Shreyansh Patel, Assistant Beverage Manager, Perch Wine & Coffee Bar
Ingredients:
Johnnie Walker Red Rye whisky – 45 ml
Red Wine (Preferably a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Merlot) – 30 ml
Spiced Syrup – 10 ml
Star anise – 1 pc
Method:
For Spiced Syrup
Take 100 gms of sugar and 100 gms of water.
Add 4 pcs of star anise, 1 pc of cinnamon and 2 pods of green cardamom.
Let it simmer until sugar has completely melted.
Wait until the first boil.
Let the spices infuse with sugar syrup for 24 hours. Then, strain it and your homemade spiced syrup will be ready.
For the cocktail
Add all the ingredients in a big tumbler glass or a mixing glass.
Give it a quick stir until the cocktail is nice and cold.
Strain into a martini glass.
Garnish with a star anise.
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Which cuisine or dish pairs best with Twisted Manhattan?
Works fantastic with a plate of Spaghetti Aglio e olio, as the cocktail’s spiciness is balanced well with it.
Why is Johnnie Walker your choice for the whisky cocktail?
I used Johnnie Walker Red Rye because it has a beautiful finish, with light sweet and spicy notes, which works perfectly for this cocktail.
Which is your favourite whisky?
It would be Johnnie Walker Double Black because I like that smoky and peaty finish in my whisky.
What are the new cocktail trends of 2021?
The world is moving towards hybrid style cocktails, and I think it is perfect for Indian weather, especially Mumbai, as the summer here is quite hot.
You may also like:
A detailed beginner’s guide to whisky
World Whisky Day: Whisky experts tell us which is their favourite dram
