Arijit Bose has been there, and done it all. He’s built up a reputation of being an expert mixologist, a beverage consultant and even an event manager. Bose is now an area manager at Bacardi Martini India. “I work closely with the food industry and organise brand promotions,” he says.

Bose started out by picking up a bachelor’s degree at Mumbai’s Institute of Hotel Management — where he later became a visiting teacher.

His first job was at the The Park, Delhi where he learnt the finer points about drinks and bars. “I fell in love with Agni, the bar.”

Nevertheless, he didn’t stay very long and moved to Mumbai. Once there, he organised wine tours in Maharashtra’s wine belt for Sula Wines and also worked for a beverage marketing portal Tulleeho where he handled promotions and other marketing activities. While he was working with Tulleeho, he decided to brush up his bartending skills by taking a short course with veteran mixologist Shatbhi Basu who runs the Stir Academy of Bartending in Mumbai.

Last year, he joined United Spirits where he worked for eight months as a national mixology consultant. It was a challenging job because he had to train bar professionals across the country.

“Cocktails are all about the taste and ingredients,” he says. What’s most important, according to Bose, is to sense what the customer wants. He also believes in personalising a drink.

What makes a great cocktail? Says Bose: “Know what’s available in the market, make use of those ingredients. And make sure your cocktail looks just as good as it tastes.”

Cranberry and Melon Mojito

Glass: Long Glass

Ingredients:

• 60ml Bacardi
• 20ml cranberry juice
• 5 watermelon balls (scooped melon)
• 4 lemon wedges
• 8 mint leaves
• 5ml lime juice
• 5ml sugar syrup
• A splash of soda

method: In a tall glass, add lime and mint. Add the Bacardi and with the help of a muddler or a long spoon stir gently. Muddle the ingredients — which means lightly bruise the mint leaves and the lemon wedges making sure not to squeeze it too hard or it will become bitter. Add the watermelon balls (scoops can be made easily with the help of a scooper) and gently repeat the muddling action. Add crushed ice. Use the spoon to disperse the ingredients equally in the crushed ice. Add the cranberry juice and a splash of soda. Use the lime juice and the sugar syrup to balance the drink.

Orange Whisky Sour

Glass: whisky/ Old-fashioned

Ingredients:

• 60ml Scotch
• 5ml lime juice
• 5ml sugar syrup
• 15ml Triple Sec (orange flavoured)

method: Add all the ingredients in a shaker. Shake well and pour into a whiskey glass filled with ice. With a knife take out the peel of an orange and twist it around a spoon and gently place it on the ice in the glass.

Strawberry and Mint Breakfast Martini

Glass: martini

Ingredients:

• 60ml vodka
• 2 spoons of strawberry and mint jam
• 10ml lime juice
• 1 fresh strawberry or cherry

method: Shake all the ingredients in a shaker with lots of ice. Pour into a Martini glass. Garnish with a strawberry or cherry and serve.

As told to Hoihnu Hauzel;
Photographs by Rupinder Sharma