New in town: Khortytsa vodka
I’m not a vodka person. Truthfully, there’s half a dozen other spirits I’d reach for before vodka. And no matter how spiffy his suit, every time Bond orders a vodka martini I tut-tut. But I’m always open to tasting anything…
Video: Foolproof mulled wine recipe
My fondest Christmas memories are of the family gathered around bountiful tables, exchanging gifts, humming carols and soaking in that heady merriment. Ah the Christmas spirit. Quite literally! So to keep the festivities going, here’s my foolproof recipe for mulled…
What are you doing this Negroni Week?
If you asked me for a list of my top 5 cocktails, the Negroni would be on it. There are many reasons why I love this classic Italian cocktail but perhaps the most relevant is that it is by far the…
The Bluffer’s Guide to Gin
G for Juniper: At the base of it all, gin is a spirit distilled from grain – usually wheat, rye or barley. But what really makes a difference is the juniper berries. The base spirit is redistilled with these berries…
3 ways the new B-bar outdoes the old
There is only one thing more difficult than launching a new eatery and that is revamping an existing one, especially one which has already made itself a solid name for itself as the drink and party place in town. Well,…
Barrel-Aged Cocktails: hit or miss?
My introduction to barrel-aged cocktails came early last year. The process, I was told, involved pre-mixing a cocktail in large quantities and ageing it in an oak barrel (like the ones used for whiskies and wine). Once out, the cocktails would…
Shanghai: The City of Tomorrow
Boomtown, they call it. In Shanghai skyscrapers seem to erect themselves at a ‘blink-and-you’ll- miss-it’ speed. Yet, there’s a charm to China’s economic hub that isn’t easy to come by in a buzzing metropolis. It may be the city of the future, but it really is…
New in the market: Smirnoff Espresso
A new flavoured vodka was launched in Mumbai earlier this month – Smirnoff Espresso. I haven’t had a chance to taste it yet, but from what I’ve heard, most vodka drinkers have loved it. According to the brand, “Smirnoff Espresso…
Prohibition cocktail: Bee’s Knees
The Prohibition of alcohol in America during the 1920s gave birth to some great concoctions. A few of these have stood the test of time and make a frequent appearance on cocktail lists across the world. Here’s one Prohibition cocktail…
METAXA SUNSHINE
Delightfully refreshing and full of juicy fruit aromas, the Metaxa Sunshine unites the sunny smoothness of Metaxa with the rich colour and tangy flavour of pomegranate juice for a taste as light and carefree as a Greek summer day. A…
Metaxa: The Spirit of Greece
Published in Liquid magazine September – October 2012. Written by Karina Aggarwal From its beginnings in the tiny Greek isle of Piraeus in 1888, Metaxa – ‘The Original Greek Spirit’, has found its way to over a hundred…
F1 Cocktail Fever
The Indian Grand Prix 2012 kicked off today (27th October) at Noida. Since Belvedere Vodka is the official pouring spirit at the Indian Grand Prix after-parties, Claire Smith – Head of Spirit Creation and Mixology at Belvedere Vodka has designed six special…
Meet the Mixologist: Tom Yau
Tom Yau has worked as a bartender in the UK, Japan, Melbourne, Perth and even one shift at Arola in India. He is in Malaysia currently, working at the bar/restaurant called The Greenhouse, and is slated to move…
RASAM MARY Cocktail
Fuse 2.0 for Vivanta by Taj – Tim Etherington-Judge’s cocktail recipe 6 cocktails for 6 cities. Rasam Mary for Chennai. This South Indian twist on the world’s favourite morning-after drink, the Bloody Mary, stars tamarind and coriander infused tomato rasam along with…
MAI CAI COCKTAIL
Fuse 2.0 for Vivanta by Taj – Tim Etherington-Judge’s cocktail recipe 6 cocktails for 6 cities. Mai Cai for Pune. Located in the Western Ghats, Pune is lush, green and beautiful so to celebrate this we’ve been inspired by one of the…