Cocktails are getting more exotic by the day. Woodford Reserve Distillery, Kentucky has launched a ruinously expensive limited edition mint julep that’s priced at $1,000. The decadent drink is made from ingredients as exotic as Mauritian sugar, Moroccan mint and of course, Woodford Reserve Bourbon. What swings the deal in favour of this luxury concoction are the gold cups in which the julep is served. The gold cups also come with an interesting case. But the real ace in the hole is ice from the Arctic Circle, especially flown in by the distillery to shake up the ultimate drink.

Back home, mixologists par excellence also have several aces up their sleeves to stay ahead of the pack. Rajeev Kumar of Q’BA, a posh watering hole in New Delhi, is using LED ice cubes or transparent food grade plastic blocks in his jazzy drinks.

These blocks resemble frozen ice cubes both in their shape and size with battery operated lights at the centre of each piece. There are tiny buttons placed at the bottom of the cubes which have to be turned on before placing them in your glass of poison. What’s more, these snazzy items can be used more than once since the battery lasts for hours.

Kumar points that opting for such bells and whistles helps in killing the competition, especially when there are well-heeled patrons thronging the bar counter. “Twenty somethings get a kick out of trying new things and yes, they are willing to go that extra mile,” says Kumar. Also, there are shade changing options in the light cubes, helping bartenders get multiple colours coordinating with individual hues of the cocktail.

Trendy cocktails are clearly the order of the day and there’s nothing like fancy add-ons to make your drink look glamorous. So, get your swizzle sticks in order and be ready to be the star of the bar with a few pointers from Rajeev!

APPLE GREEN MOJITO SPARKLE

GLASS: Tall fancy cocktail glass

INGREDIENTS

Mint leaves, lime slices and apple chunks for garnishing

60ml Bacardi

60 ml soda

10-12ml lime juice

15ml triple sec

5ml mojito mint syrup

Crushed ice

LED ice cubes

METHOD

In a cocktail shaker, muddle lime juice, chunks of apple and lime slices. Add crushed ice, triple sec and mojito mint syrup. Shake all the ingredients and top it up with Bacardi and soda. Garnish with a slice of green apple and LED ice cubes.

HIGHWAY TO HELL SPARKLE

GLASS: Any tall glass

INGREDIENTS

Lime slices and cherries for garnishing

White Sprite (15 ml vodka, 15 ml Bacardi, 15ml gin, 15ml tequila, 15ml Cointreau)

8ml Blue Curaçao

10ml lime juice

120ml lemonade

LED ice cubes

METHOD

In a cocktail shaker, muddle lime juice and white sprite. Add Blue Curaçao. Shake all the ingredients and top it up with lemonade. Garnish with lime slices, cherry and blue LED ice cubes.

CAIPIROSKA SPARKLE

GLASS: Any glass with a broad base

INGREDIENTS

Mint leaves and lime chunks

5gm brown sugar

10ml lime juice

60ml vodka

100ml soda

LED ice cubes

METHOD

In a cocktail shaker, muddle lime chunks, mint leaves and brown sugar. Add fresh lime juice and vodka. Shake all the ingredients and top it up with soda. Garnish with a sprig of mint and LED ice cubes.