Call the shots

Remember The Hangover? It was the Jagermeister shots that did the boys in. Shots — the fastest way to a happy high (picture below). After several shots, perhaps not so happy due to the unknown tiger in the bedroom.

“Shots are very popular and are overshadowing cocktails. They are simple, easy to drink and easy to make, too. Imagine a bartender is given an order of 20 cocktails. His evening is packed, and by the time he is done, it will be time to leave (given the present party deadline of 2am). For shots, ready-made mixers are kept at hand, and it takes a minute to pour 20 shots,” says Anirban Simlai, general manager, The Park.

The high comes equally quick. “I hate the idea of sipping slowly on a drink, unless I’m drinking with dinner. When I go clubbing or to house parties, I prefer shots because I have only a few hours to party before I need to get home,” says 24-year-old Avantika Kaur.

And FYI, tequila shots are so last season. The ‘it’ shot of the moment is the Jager Bomb — a shot of Jagermeister dropped into Red Bull. Combining energy drinks and alcohol is a double dose of party spirit. A close second is the good ol’ vodka shot. Just pour it into shot glasses and your house party will be a hit. “If you are out with friends you drink a Kamikaze or a B52. At a house party, just get some salt, lemon and maybe three or four shots per head. You are good to go,” says Neeru Das, a 23-year-old student of fashion design.

Clear winner

White spirits appear to be the reigning hit. “We sell more than 3,000 cases of Smirnoff vodka in a month,” says Saurav Dey of Sen Law & Co (52/1 Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road). “For both boys and girls, white is the chosen colour. White spirits move the fastest at The Park,” says Simlai.

Girls also like their vodka with some extra oomph. “Flavoured vodkas are back — green apple, raspberry, lemon, you name it,” says Irfan Ahmed, mixologist.

And that’s just Smirnoff. If you plan to shell out a few more bucks, there is Resolute with its Pink (strawberry) and Black (African herb) flavours. Then there is Absolut with its palette of flavours. “Someone like an IT professional with sudden disposable income tends to stick to vodka or white spirits,” feels Manas Krishnamoorthy, F&B specialist, formerly with a five-star. Smirnoff Black, Grey Goose, Belvedere, Ciroc and Finlandia are the other leading options in town.

And when it’s rum, Bacardi it is, from five-stars to the lowliest pub. Here too flavours find favour, often overlapping with the vodka-drinking crowd. “When Smirnoff flavours aren’t available, the customer will pick up a Bacardi , Razz, Green Apple or Turkish Lemon,” says Dey.

Go grape

“Even hardcore whisky drinkers are shifting to wine because it is healthier,” says Rupinder Singh, Calcutta Wine Club treasurer.

From art exhibitions and book launches, Sunday brunches and girls’ nights out, wine is the drink to sip. “Wine is such a posh, cool drink. About 80 per cent of my friends drink wine. I feel like such an outsider with my Mojito,” cribs entrepreneur Akriti Agarwal (name changed). The 24-year-old art manager Rashmi Roy is partial to her chardonnay and sauvignon blanc, while 25-year-old entrepreneur Malini Singh names Argento and Cloudy Bay as her top two.

Sula sells the fastest in Calcutta, with some other labels being Argento (Argentina), Hardy’s and Jacob’s Creek (Australia), African Horizon (South Africa), Maison Pierre and Michel Laroche (France).

Best of beer

Calcutta finally has options beyond Kingfisher and Foster’s. “This year, people are drinking Carlsberg, Budweiser, Corona and Kingfisher Blue, a far cry from just two or three brands last year,” says Amit Hathiramani, manager of Underground. Add to that Amstel, Heineken, Tuborg, Tiger and soon-to-be-launched Kingfisher Ultra and you are spoilt for choice. Beer is also a firm summer favourite. “Though I usually drink vodka with lime cordial and Sprite, it’s beer for me and my friends in summer,” says Tilak Dey Sirkar, 27, a BPO employee.

The cocktail tale

They may not rule the nightclub nowadays, but classic cocktails will always find a place — albeit with a twist. “The old-school Mojito is hardly prepared anymore. Most cocktails are made with variations nowadays, for example the Ginger and Caramel Mojito. It can also be tailor-made according to the customer. Cocktails are like Indian gravies, you can churn out unlimited variations from a family of 20 basic recipes!” says Irfan.

Lip-smacking liqueur

Not so hot anymore, but they still have takers. Bailey’s Irish Cream, Kahlua or Tia Maria are sharing space with sherry, brandy and port. But they still have a long way to go.

Energisers

Energy drinks like Red Bull are doing well as mixers and as standalone beverages. Vodka with Red Bull, whisky with Red Bull… it’s gimme red all the way. Cloud9, Power Horse and XXX are other alternatives.

Diet Coke, please!

This species of drinker wouldn’t normally find space on such a list, but because all of us have at least one Diet Coke friend (who is, by the way, never on a diet otherwise), we owe it to him/her for the last word.

Just JD

Is it bourbon? Is it Tennessee whisky? Just call it JD. Sipping on the amber spirit is an acquired taste for some, only natural for others. “Affluent young men are exposed to liquor from an early age, and they tend to let go of vodka soon,” explains Krishnamoorthy. “When I had my first drink with my dad it was Jack Daniel’s and Coca Cola. So when I started earning JD was the obvious choice, though I do drink single malts when meeting clients,” says 27-year-old IT professional Gourav Banerjee.

“The proof is not what people drink at clubs, because drinks are expensive there. The real tipple trends can be seen at house parties and people are drinking a lot of Jack Daniel’s,” says Irfan. “Jack Daniel’s is doing very well at Onyx, the VIP section of Underground,” adds Hathiramani of Underground.

Other favourites are Black Label, Chivas Regal and closer home, Black Dog and Teacher’s Highland Cream. “I am not so fussy about the brand but we have grown up seeing our father and friends’ fathers drink Black Label and Chivas. So that’s what I usually drink, with soda or water,” says Angad Luthra, 26, director of an outsourcing firm.

WHAT DRINK ARE YOU?

Old Monk and coke:

Conservative. Loyal. Trends bother you not one bit.

Jack Daniel’s:

Hip and happening — or are you trying too hard?

Vodka:

Bold and beautiful. Joie de vivre is your motto.

Beer:

You keep it cool and casual.

Wine:

You know what you like — or what the ‘it’ crowd likes.

Gin ’n’ tonic:

Can’t be bothered, in a classic kind of way.

Shots:

Looking for a quick hit — and probably already dead drunk.

Breezer:

It’s back — for all you teetotallers in denial.

Energy drink:

Party all night, people!

Liqueur:

Who needs a drink when you can have dessert?

WHAT KIND OF A DRINKER AM I?

Happy hour: I know all the happy hours in town and reach at least 15 minutes in advance.

Depressed: I drink to drown my sorrows — approach me at your own risk.

Social: I drink to follow the herd.

One-too-many: One for the road — but I never seem to leave for home.

Macho: Drink in my hand, I feel like a man.

Timepass: Well, at least I’m doing something other than Facebooking.

Emotional: Like Devdas, I almost always make that call to my ex-lover. But unlike Devdas, I live to regret it the next morning.

Delicate: Make it tall and pink with a cherry on top!

Angry: I end up in a brawl.