Gin, the ‘it’ liquor, is raising the bar with cocktails. t2 goes on a sip trail
TT Bureau
Published 05.03.18, 12:00 AM
The sweetness of litchi meets the freshness of rose syrup and gin in the Pink Lady, at Hola, on Dr Sarat Banerjee Road. Try this if you like your cocktail sweet. Rs 425-plus
The Beefeater Lemon Shocker at Spice Kraft is named after the famous Beefeater gin from London, and is a mix of blue curacao, a dash of lime, gin, sugar syrup and club soda. “This gin has pretty fruity notes and is an absolute refresher during summer months,” said chef Sambit Banick of the Hazra address. Rs 495-plus
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Straight out of an Italian meadow is the Farm Fresh, at Serafina, Quest. Egg white, Tanqueray gin along with Italian herbs such as rosemary, thyme and oregano are shaken together to create this concoction.
t2 tip: Take a swig so as to taste both the egg white foam as well as the gin mix at one go.
Rs 999-plus
Taking you straight to the beach is Bora Bora from The Fatty Bao in the Fort Knox building. With the soothing feel of coconut water, along with gin and vodka, topped with a hint of passion fruit and green apple, this good-looker is as balmy as it gets.
Rs 395-plus
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The Gin Fizz at Whats In D Name on Camac Street is another gin-with-a-twist cocktail that should be on your radar. Garnished with chocolate syrup, the cocktail is a blend of pineapple juice, green mint syrup, fresh cream and Gordon’s gin. A smooth take on gin, we say. Rs 250-plus
The Stormy Sunset at Capella, AltAir, is a mix of gin, blueberry syrup and lemon juice. Topped with some tonic water, you’d not want to miss the gorgeous view while you sip on this one. Rs 450-plus
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A signature drink at the Park Street Asian dine den Pa Pa Ya, the Spanish Style Gin and Tonic is a fresh mix of gin, rosemary, orange and cucumber slices along with green olives and a dash of bitters. If you like your gin fruity, this one’s for you. Rs 595-plus
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A tribute to the city of Calcutta, Beefeater gin meets basil and the Bengali favourite gondhoraj-based house-made cordial in the Toast to Calcutta at Monkey Bar on Camac Street. The aroma will make you want another one! Rs 450-plus
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Tea lovers rejoice as here comes the Smoked Earl Grey Tea Martini from TFO- The Factory Outlet. The Camac Street cocktail bar serves it as a mix of London Dry Gin, vodka, Earl Grey tea and some apple juice. Easy on the taste buds, this one will win you over with its citrusy notes. Rs 320-plus
Gin is mixed with orange juice, cherry syrup, and sweet and sour syrup, and then topped with ginger ale for fizz.The result: Singapore Sling at Pour House in Sector V. So light, you wouldn’t crave for soda any more. Rs 349-plusCaption
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The Rosy Gimlet at The Grid is one dramatic drink that comes in two containers. A glass containing a bed of crushed ice and dry rose petals is filled with another glass made of crushed ice, rose water and pomegranate syrup. Next up is a beaker containing gin, rose wine, dry rose petals, lime cordial and rose water. The beaker is emptied into the glass and as the ice glass melts, the gimlet gets the strong yet subtle flavour of the rose petals. A must try, we say!
Rs 650-plus
If you like your cocktail fresh and simple, then the Gin Basil Smash at Mamagoto on Park Street is ideal. Gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup are mixed with fresh basil leaves, shaken and topped with ice cubes. Sip this over a lazy lunch. Rs 249-plus
The Murbasha at Traffic Gastropub in New Town is an out-of-the-box creation with good old murabba being used as a key ingredient. Topped with Bombay Sapphire gin, along with chaat masala, mint, lime juice, sugar syrup and mint murabba chunks, and served in a pickle jar along with lime wedges, this cocktail has the right amount of desi tadka. Rs 300-plus
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The quirky Chamakti Chameli at Gabbar’s Bar & Kitchen is a cool blend of chopped cucumber, elderflower syrup, gin, and some soda. Packed in a fun bottle, try this the next time you’re chilling with the gang. Rs 335-plus
Called The Journalist, this sip at Scrapyard on Camac Street is a balance of sweet and bitter. With ingredients such as gin, sweet vermouth, dry vermouth, sugar syrup, lemon and a dash of Angostura aromatic bitter, you’d feel a blast of flavours in each sip. Rs 269
Known as Kaffirtini, this fresh gin cocktail at Ozora, the sky bar on the 20th floor of Acropolis Mall, is a blend of gin which has been previously infused with Kaffir lime leaves and ginger, and then shaken with a sweet and sour mix. Sip on this as you chill under the evening summer sky. Rs 650-plus
If you like your tipple tangy, then Aviation, the rich purple cocktail at Level Seven, which is a fine blend of cherry liqueur, gin, lime juice, blue curacao and grenadine, should be on your table.
Rs 450-plus
Text: Zeba Akhtar
Pictures: B. Halder
SUBHASIS GANGULI DECODES A GIN-IUS SPIRIT
Subhasis Ganguli
Gin is the hottest spirit across the bars of Europe. Hugely popular in Spain, it has also swept across Italy, Greece, Croatia, and many other countries. What is gin?
Gin is one of the broadest categories of spirits, all of various origins, styles, and flavour profiles that revolve around juniper as a common ingredient. Synonymous with the British culture, gin is enjoyed worldwide, most commonly in a gin and tonic, pink gin or a Martini. It’s a colourless alcoholic beverage made from distilled or redistilled neutral grain spirits flavoured with juniper berries and aromatics such as anise and caraway seeds.
There are hundreds of botanicals used to flavour gin. The following are the most commonly used. Juniper berries are the main flavouring in all gins, and the main flavour comes from the essential oils in the seeds of these berries. The second most important flavouring in most gins is coriander seeds, which add mellow fragrant spicy aromas.
Another important ingredient which gives substance to the gin is Angelica root. It has a musky, nutty, damp woody flavour. Lemon peel adds fresh, citrusy, juicy, lemony favours. Orange peel and cinnamon are used to give a spicy edge to the gin.
Gin is also believed to be a quintessential cocktail spirit. You can drink tequila as a shot, vodka can be served chilled, whisky drinkers can just add some ice, but gin is meant to be mixed, as the herbs and spices used in flavouring gin come to life in cocktails and add complexity to the drink. It is for this reason that many classic cocktails have gin as their primary ingredient — Tom Collins, White Lady, Hanky Panky, Clover Club, French 75, Gimlet, Vesper, Singapore Sling, Red Snapper, Martini, and Long Island Iced Tea to name a few.
The British brought gin to India where it was the most popular drink at the time in the clubs and parties. However its popularity waned during the last few decades of the 20th century only to be revived over the past few years.
Calcutta recently saw the launch of Jodhpur gin amid much fanfare and a great party. It is a London Dry Gin made primarily for the Spanish market. Sadly even with this launch there are currently only about six gins available in the retail market.
While gin bars are a rage in Europe, so much so that a bar in Milan I visited had 60 varieties of gin on the menu, the same cannot be said of Calcutta, with hardly a few gin-based cocktails on the menu, and consumers not in the habit of drinking gin.
However, times are changing. With today’s travellers going far and wide, the popularity of gin as a drink is surely to catch up in Calcutta and the city’s hot spots will offer many varieties to the consumer.
(The writer is the president of the Kolkata Wine Commune)
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