Saint Aubin White Rum – 35 ml Saint Aubin Dark Rum (Coffee) – 25 ml Coconut liqueur – 15 ml Mango juice – 25 ml Milk – 25 ml Garnish: Nutmeg – grated Star Anise soaked in two dashes of bitters . Preparation Method
Combine all, except dark rum, in a shaker and give a good shake with ice. Pour it in a cocktail glass. Top it up with dark rum. Grate the nutmeg over the top & garnish with bitters soaked anise. . Thanks to my buddy Sandy who gifted some fabulous miniatures of Mauritius Rum & this lockdown time is the perfect hour to mix these fabulous expressions.
From the days when British colonies introduced tonic water with the combination of quinine & carbonated water as a way to ward of malaria & added a wee of gin, thereby giving rise to the popular Gin & Tonic, the gin has travelled a long way. . McDowell”s Blue Riband Dry Gin has been in India since 1950s & must say still a very popular brand. In the past, most of the gin cocktails would invariably have Blue Riband as it’s base. Well with passing years, the pubs started seeing wave of new gin labels such as Hapusa, Greater Than, Stranger & Sons, Jaisalmer crafted by entrepreneurs. The trend of gin culture made a big shout & the counters started pelting some amazing cocktails right from G&T to Martini to Negroni to Gimlet to Tom Collins & many more.
Here is one simple gin cocktail made with the popular Blue Riband Gin Ingredients Gin – 45 ml Lemon juice – 15 ml Triple Sec – 15 ml Soda – to top Orange wheel, Pepper & Cloves to add a wee tangy spice of life.
Preparation Method
Combine all, except soda, and give a wee shake with some ice. Strain it in a cocktail glass with ice cubes & release some pepper & cloves as well the orange wheel & top it up with Soda.
I also take this opportunity to make a mention that I have been following my friend Morten Krag – @thecocktail.blog for a couple of year & have been mesmerised by his amazing cocktails. He has since released his Cocktail Recipe book – “Sophistication Declassified” & I am looking forward to get one of it soon. Congratulations Morten!
With fresh mango fruit, jalapeno Chili pepper as well mulberry fruits from the garden, it is a wonderful time to go native with Goa’s famous traditional spirit – Feni
Ingredients
Cashew Feni – 60 ml @cazulopremiumfeni Fresh Mango juice – 30 ml Lemon juice – 15 ml Sugar Cubes – 2 Sprite lemonade Jalapeno Chili Pepper slices – a few Lemon slices – a few Mulberry, Mango slice, Lemon wheel – to garnish
Preparation method
In a mixing glass add the sugar cube & lemon juice. Muddle the sugar cubes. Add in the cashew feni, mango juice & shake the ingredients with few ice cubes. In a cocktail glass add few ice cubes, lemon slices & jalapeno slices. Pour in the shaken drink in the glass. Top it up with sprite lemonade. Gently stir. Garnish with mulberry & lemon wheel.
With lockdown the fruits are not easily accessible. But with the Mango season around & the garden mango tree giving bumper yield, well it’s time to bring in mango in the frame & enjoy some amazing cocktails this season. Here is one such Mango delight with my favourite Paul John Single Malt turning out Whisky-Mango Iced Tea.
Ingredients Whisky – 50 ml @pauljohnwhisky Lemon Tea – 15 ml @monin_europe Fresh Mango juice – 25 ml Lemon juice – 10 ml Bitters – a dash Ripe mango slice – to garnish
Preparation Method
Combine Whisky, Lemon Tea, Mango & Lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Shake it till well chilled. Using a Hawthorne strainer pour it in a glass with a couple of ice. Release a dash of Cocktail bitters & garnish with mango slice.
Vodka Martini with fruity flavours coming from Melon & Peach liqueurs & the acidity from lime juice that so elegantly balances the sweetness imparted from liqueurs.
Let’s go the Bond way – Shaken & not Stirred!
Ingredients
Vodka – 50 ml Melon liqueur – 25 ml Peach liqueur – 10 ml Lime juice – 10 ml Mint – to garnish
Preparation Method
Shake all with ice & strain it in a Martini glass. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.
Going ahead with easy mixes, here is one that I tried out in Bellini style. Bellini is the famous cocktail made with Prosecco and peach purée or nectar & which has its origin in Venice, Italy.
Well, no worries if Prosecco or Sparkling Wine is not around, I have replaced sparkling wine with tonic water & gave a gin base. I have my near Bellini style concoction out here. I have also mentioned some substitutes. Well, no harm – trial & error is the route to success.
Ingredients Gin – 45 ml – (Or Vodka or Tequila) Ginger Syrup – 15 ml Lime juice – 10 ml Orange juice – 25 ml ( Or Watermelon or Peach juice) Sugar cube – 1 Bitters – 2 dashes (Or Brandy or Rum – 5 ml) Tonic water – 30 ml ( Or any Tangy fizzy drink) Flute glass – Or any cocktail glass🥂
Preparation Method Drop a sugar cube in a flute glass & soak it with bitters. In a mixing glass, add in the gin, ginger syrup, lime juice & orange juice. Add a couple of ice cubes & stir gently. Strain it in the flute & top it up with tonic water.
There is my Bellini Twist. Give it a try & do tag me to your Bellini twist
Keeping in line with the spirit at disposal, here is the Cocktail with Mezcal.
Mezcal is made from Agave Espadin which is the most commonly used agave in mezcal. Though Mezcal can also be produced from any species of agave from Oaxaca region. Espadin Agave generally takes about 8-12 years to mature.
So what Blue Agave is to tequilla – Espadin Agave is to Mezcal!
The handprint on this bottle of Marca Negra Mezcal Espadin represents the tireless work of the master distillers. Coming to the tasting notes & aroma profile, it has a fresh aroma of ripe fruit on the nose with spicy, citrus notes on the palate. Must say it’s iconic smoky identity stands out which comes when the agave hearts, or pinas, are grilled over hot rocks prior to distilling – which imparts a rich smokey flavor. This is what makes this cocktail go one notch up for me
Ingredients
Mezcal – 60 ml @marcanegramezcal Triple Sec – 30 ml Fresh Lime Juice – 30 ml Honey – 10 ml Salt/Sugar/Chilli powder – to rim Fresh lime – to garnish & rim
Preparation Method
Muddle the granulated sugar & mix it with a little of chilli powder & salt. Cut a notch in the lime and run all around the glass. Tip the glass in the salt, sugar, chilli mix twisting it all around the glass.
In a shaker, add mezcal, lime juice, honey & triple sec. Shake it with ice. Strain it in the margarita glass. Garnish with lime & enjoy this smoky delicious sip as its blend with sweet, salty & spicy rim.
Vodka – 30 ml @magicmomentsvodka Gin – 30 ml @bombaysapphire Ginger ale – 10 ml Lime juice – 10 ml Triple sec – 10 ml Orange juice – 20 ml Rose Wine – 20 ml Peychaud’s Bitters – 2 dashes
Preparation Method Combine all except Wine in a shaker & shake it with ice🧊Pour it in a cocktail glass & top it up with Rose Wine. Drop gently two dashes of bitters Skal!
It’s been a while now I wanted to brew this one. Well, this cocktail can be made with any type of liquor some honey or sugar, hot coffee or tea or hot water with a dash of lemon. However, popularly the Hot Toddy recipe consists of bourbon, honey, hot water and lemon.
It is believed to be a very old drink invented in Scotland in the 1700s. It is said the country’s staple liquor, Scotch, had a harsh smoky flavor that women were not fond of. The Hot Toddy may have been designed as a sweeter-tasting alternative for ladies.
Hot Toddy, is a popular cold-weather drink and preferably enjoyed at home in a relaxed environment.
With a little twist, here is my Hot toddy instead of the popular Bourbon, I go the traditional way by having a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky ‘Tamnavulin’ Double Cask finished in sherry butts. This whisky comes with notes of dried orange, ginger and wood spice and sure is perfect match for the mix.
Hot Toddy
Ingredients Whiskey – 50 ml @tamnavulinwhisky Orange Juice – 10 ml Lemon juice – 10 ml Cloves – 2 Star Anise petal – 2 Cinnamon stick – 1/2 an inch Sugar cubes – 2 Black Coffee – 100 ml
Preparation Method
Add to 100 ml of hot water the cloves, star anise petal, cinnamon stick and let it infuse for 10 minutes. Add a teaspoon of instant Nescafe coffee and sugar cubes & let it rest for 2 minutes. Strain the spiced infused black coffee in a mug and add to it the whisky, orange and lemon juice. Stir it gently . Enjoy this invigorating drink.
With my outdoor sports running activities coming to a standstill, here is a simple home twist to running passion – A Cocktail Rum Runner keeps you in high spirits
Ingredients
Dark Rum – 45 ml @matusalemrum_global Gran Reserva Bols Dry Orange Curaçao – 30 ml Reagan’s Orange bitters – 2 dashes Orange wedge
Preparation Method
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir gently to chill and mix. Strain in a short tumbler over fresh ice cubes. Garnish with orange wedge.
