Raise a glass, and toast to your much-loved smoky amber liquor because it is International Whisk(e)y Day! March 27 is dedicated to all things whisky all around the world. The first mention of this day was way back in 2008, and at the Whiskey Day Festival in the northern Netherlands in 2009, the day was announced in honour of British writer and editor Michael James Jackson. Jackson’s birthday was chosen as the date and whisky lovers have celebrated the day since.

This March 27, My Kolkata brings you some of the best whisky cocktails from around the city for you to celebrate your love for the drink.

Hard Rock Cafe

The Southern Rock at Hard Rock Cafe

When you have a Hard Rock Cafe in the city you don’t need to look too far to celebrate boozy occasions. Head over to Park Street and try their Southern Rock made with Jack Daniel’s, peach syrup, raspberry syrup with a hint of vodka and sour mix, topped up with lemon-lime soda for Rs 995. Bourbon lovers, your favourite Jim Beam is also available in the Lynchberg Lemonade made with the bourbon, shaken with a house made sweet and sour mix at just Rs 499.

Address: Park Mansion, 57-A, Mother Teresa Sarani, Taltala

AMPM

L-R: AMPM Old Fashioned and Park Street Negroni

Another Park Street hotspot, AMPM has two classic cocktails — with a twist — to enjoy. The Park Street Negroni has bold strong Ngarum coffee, which is an in-house nano lot coffee sourced from northeast India, in a concoction made with classic Dewar’s 15-year-old, sweet vermouth, campari and topped with coffee foam.

Another classic, the AMPM Old Fashioned, has the quintessential orange-whisky combination but is flavoured with nolen gur. The cocktail is made with Aberfeldy 12, stirred with orange and nolen gur and finished with a splash of Angostura bitters. Both drinks are priced at Rs 995.

Address: 5th Floor, Park Center Building, 24, Mother Teresa Sarani, Park Street area

Taki Taki

L-R: Japanese whisky cocktails Uisuki and Tsur Ai

If you haven’t been to Taki Taki yet, make International Whiskey day your occasion to visit this restaurant near Minto Park. Try their Japanese whisky based cocktails for a new experience in totally ‘grammable settings. The Tsur Ai has a spicy kick and a southeast Asian flavour. This one is made with Japanese whisky infused with a Japanese seven-ingredient spice mix known as shichimi, house-made ginseng bitter and brown sugar. If you like more fruity notes, try the Uisuki, also made with Japanese whisky, blueberry shrub, lime juice and topped with fresh thyme and rose. Both are priced at Rs 740.

Address: FMC Fortuna, 234/3A, Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Rd, Sreepally, Bhowanipore

Bombastic Supper Club

Mt. Fuji Berry at Bombastic Supper Club

One of the newest kids on the block, the Bombastic Supper Club has brought Yoshoku cuisine — a unique mix of European and Asian palates — to Kolkata. If you thought fruity and whisky don’t mix then try their Mt. Fuji Berry to be proven wrong. Priced at Rs 599, the pretty pink whisky cocktail has Jameson whiskey, blackberry puree, sweet n sour mix, and is topped with a pomegranate and strawberry foam.

Address: 6th Floor, 24, Mother Teresa Sarani, Mullick Bazar, Park Street area

Monkey Bar

Copper Monkey at Monkey Bar

Chill out at Monkey Bar on Camac Street, with a Copper Monkey. Served in a copper vessel this cocktail is made with 100 Pipers Deluxe, orange juice, passion fruit, topped with mint and bitters. Try it for Rs 495 and celebrate whisky the classic, old-fashioned way.

Address: 9th Floor, 6 Camac Street, Fort Knox

Yauatcha

Black River Martini at Yauatcha

For a fancy drink and some instagrammable pics head over to Yauatcha at Quest Mall and dive into the Black River Martini for Rs 588 made with whisky, apricot liqueur, drambuie, blackberry, apple juice and egg whites. Another option at Yauatcha is the Golden Aster. The bourbon cocktail, priced at Rs 688, has a bourbon base flavoured with saffron, sweet vermouth, Aperol and some chilli syrup for a zing. at Rs 688.

Address: 5th Floor, Quest Mall Park Circus, 33, Syed Amir Ali Ave, Beck Bagan, Ballygunge

Miss Ginko

Mr Miagi at Miss Ginko

Fix a date with Mr Miagi at Miss Ginko in Rash Behari Avenue this Whiskey Day. The Asian eatery, which also serves handcrafted cocktails has its own take on the flavours of the classic Old Fashioned. Available for Rs 500, the cocktail named Mr Miagi has bourbon whisky, a homemade orange marmalade and some brown sugar and is finished with orange bitters.

Address: 3rd Floor, CITI MART, 169, Rash Behari Ave, Ekdalia, Ballygunge