Tequila Time Before it’s Time Up

According to a recent report by Reuters, due to dwindling agave crops, the world needs to prepare itself to deal with an imminent tequila shortage. We bring you seven tequila-based cocktails that will help you tank up on your favourite tipple…before the magic from Mexico runs dry!

By Raul Dias

Jalapeño Surprise
This one’s like a drinkable fiesta for all your senses, combining two Mexican favourites in one mean drink. This ultra-potent cocktail developed by Manish Thakur, the sous chef at Scribble Stories, is prepared by mixing tequila with fresh jalapeño, egg white, Tabasco and orange juice. All this is served in a tilted glass, with two jaunty slivers of jalapeño as garnish.
At Scribble Stories, 21B, Santhal ONGC Complex, Opposite Lilavati Hospital, Reclamation, Bandra West
Call 26400754
Cost Rs 550

Berried Treasure
​Deception in a shot glass! That’s what we call this innocent-looking, shot-style tequila cocktail. Look past it’s creamy countenance and you’ll see what we’re talking about. Conceptualised by Estella’s bar manager, Rakesh Pardeshi, this creamy shot is a gorgeous blend of tequila and muddled strawberries, layered with Baileys Irish Cream liqueur and topped with a swirl of fresh cream.
At Estella, Nichani Kutir, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu
Call 7999998232
Cost Rs 499

Jalapeño Honey
Here, house-made jalapeño-infused El Jimador Blanco tequila is shaken with honey syrup and lemon juice by John Leese, Olive’s beverage and bar development manager and served in a rocks glass. A jalapeño tail garnish finishes off this cocktail that has a definite bite to it. You’ve been warned!
At Olive Bar & Kitchen, 14 Union Park, Khar West
Call 43408229
Cost Rs 800

Mexican Firing Squad
Look past its shocking pink hue and take a long sip of this tequila cocktail to realise that it means business. A potent sum of its Camino tequila, grenadine, lime and bitters parts, the cocktail is developed by One Street Over’s bar manager Ashitosh Narayanan, who sends it off garnished with a slice of lime, shaken with ice and served in a dainty coupe glass.
At One Street Over, Ground Floor, 35th Street, Off Linking Road, Khar West
Call 26002224
Cost Rs 500

Kala Khatta Margarita
Reflective of the Indian dining and bartending scene’s favourite go-to word “fusion”, this Mexico-meets-India tequila cocktail is a tart treat. Made from just three ingredients—tequila, kala khatta and chaat masala by Tanaji Shirke, the senior bartender at Copper Chimney Worli, we love this jugaad of a cocktail, served all frozen up slushie-style!
At Copper Chimney Worli, Door No.12-A, Lotus Court, Dr. A.B. Road, Worli
Call 24925353
Cost Rs 525

La Di Da
As its name alludes to, this tequila cocktail is that quintessential drink with sophisticated, complex and urban flavours and it shows off the best of tequila in a wonderful way. Chef and founder of The Boston Butt, Siddharth Kashyap who came up with this drink, prefers to have it shaken and stirred in a cocktail glass. The Bianco tequila, avocado, basil and pineapple juice allow the spirit to shine through all its glory. And shine it sure does!
At The Boston Butt, 1^st floor, Rampart Row, 30 K. Dubash Marg, Kalaghoda, Fort
Call 9892447669/69470000
Cost Rs 411


Mexican Sunset
​Perfectly referencing the natural phenomenon of a sunset that it is named after in its look, this cocktail developed by Old Wild West’s assistant bartender, Vivek Talekar is a perfect blend of spice and fruit with a fiery twist. Flavoured with orange, jalapeño and grenadine, this shaken tropical tequila libation is sure to get the party started, come sunset!
At Old Wild West, 1^st floor, Trade View Building, Kamala Mills, Lower Parel
Call 65376677
Cost Rs 499

(An edited version of this article appeared in the 12th February 2018 issue of the Mid-Day newspaper, India https://m.mid-day.com/articles/seven-tequila-based-cocktails-to-tank-up-before-the-drink-dries-up/19053176)

Waiter, There’s a Dessert in my Drink!

Is it a dessert or is it a cocktail? Precariously balancing that fine line are a host of dessert-inspired cocktails. We sweeten you up with a few such post dinner drinks.

By Raul Dias

Crème Brûlée Martini
This drinkable, ‘martinified’ version of a traditional crème brûlée is a custard and vanilla flavoured cocktail infused with vanilla vodka, replete with a hard-caramel shard to replicate the glassy top of the French dessert.
Available at Scribble Stories, 21B, Santhal ONGC Complex, Opposite Lilavati Hospital, Reclamation, Bandra (w), Mumbai
Call 022-26400754
Cost Rs 475

The Peche Melba
​While the classic dessert, the Peach Melba, was itself invented—again by Auguste Escoffier—in honour of famed Australian opera singer Dame Nellie Melba, this homage to a homage is a cocktail made from strawberry coulis, peach extract and some vanilla ice cream, all shaken with vodka. 
Available at Pandora Gastronomy and Bar, Ground Floor, Nyati Unitree, Nagar Road, Yerwada, Pune
Call 020-30189820
Cost Rs 375

Saucier
​Inspired by a classic dessert cocktail created by French pâtissier Auguste Escoffier, this version sees the pairing of sparkling wine, angostura bitters and maraschino cherry liqueur with bourbon and vanilla ice cream. And to make it still more dessert-esque, it is garnished with an edible nasturtium flower and silver dragées.
Available at The Runway Project, 2nd Floor, North Sky Zone, High Street Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel, Mumbai
Call 022-49151000
Cost Rs 825

Gingerbread Prohibition Pop-up
​This prohibition era-meets-dessert cocktail is a rather unusual melange of bourbon infused with caramel popcorn, espresso, gingerbread and popcorn syrups and a dash of all spice bitter, that’s all topped up with a splash of stout. And in keeping with the speakeasy theme of the drink, the cocktail glass comes wrapped in a sheet of newspaper!
Available at Prankster, Shop No. 8-9-10, First Floor, Sector 29, Gurugram
Call 0124-4266653/54
Cost Rs 425

Toblerone
This after-dinner cocktail that is the deceptively potent sum of its honey, cream, Baileys Irish Cream and dark rum parts, is a drinkable paean to the nougat and honey-redolent, undulating mountain peak-shaped Swiss chocolate bar—the Toblerone.
Available at Izaya, NCPA, Gate No. 2, Nariman Point, Mumbai
Call 022-22821212
Cost Rs 490

Willy Wonka
​No list of dessert cocktails can be complete without a nod to Willy Wonka. Named after him, this post-dinner martini cocktail sees whiskey, creme de cacao and dark chocolate shaken together and poured into a chocolate sauce lined martini glass that’s garnished with a chocolate shard.
Available at The Sassy Spoon, Express Towers, Ramnath Goenka Marg, Nariman Point, Mumbai
Call +91-9920003500
Cost Rs 420

(An edited version of this piece was first published in the 29th January, 2018 issue of India Today magazine https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/leisure/story/20180129-dessert-cocktails-creme-brulee-martini-gingerbread-prohibition-pop-up-1149657-2018-01-19)

There’s a Dessert in my Tipple!

Is it a dessert or is it a cocktail? Precariously balancing that fine line are a host of dessert-inspired cocktails that restaurants and bars across the city are urging us to try this party season. We sweeten you up with a few post dinner drinks.

By Raul Dias

Hard Caramel Crème Brûlée Martini
Replete with a hard-caramel shard to replicate the glassy top of a true-blue crème brûlée, this drinkable alcoholic dessert at the recently opened Scribble Stories in Bandra is a custard and vanilla flavoured cocktail infused with vanilla vodka and a layer of the aforementioned hard caramel garnish. “The idea behind the dessert cocktail was to create a party in a glass. Most celebrations are incomplete without indulging in copious amounts of alcohol and desserts and that is what inspired us to blend the two and create one sweet, boozy potion,” explains the developer of this cocktail, Chef Nester Gracias, Scribble Stories - All Day Dining.
At Scribble Stories, 21B, Santhal ONGC Complex, Opposite Lilavati Hospital, Reclamation, Bandra (w)
Call 26400754
Cost Rs 475

Blonde
​A play on the brownie’s paler sibling—the blondie, this dessert-inspired cocktail at the brand new The Runway Project in Lower Parel, is an unusual mix of key ingredients that make this drink a fashionable tipple. A concoction of milk, vanilla ice cream and mascarpone cheese, all blended with limoncello and finished off with a pinch of granulated sugar is the Blonde. “This drink is inspired by a rich cheese cake. Mixing milk and alcohol is not common in India and the result achieved can be astonishing. We thought of giving this a spin by adding liquor,” explains Varun Sudhakar, Head Innovation and Operations (Beverages), The Project series.
At The Runway Project, 2nd Floor, North Sky Zone, High Street Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel
Call 49151000
Cost Rs 775

Toblerone
A homage to the nougat and honey-redolent Swiss chocolate bar, Toblerone at Nariman Point’s Izaya is an after-dinner cocktail of honey, cream, Baileys and dark rum that invokes all things dessert. “The purpose of the Toblerone was to encourage the sale of alcohol towards the end of the meal. Also, the lack of interest in alcoholic desserts pushed us to create a cocktail that can be best enjoyed after the meal. The inspiration was the chocolate after which the drink is named, represented by the chocolate garnish and honey in the drink,” says Marzban Amroliwalla, Chef, Research and Development, Izaya.
At Izaya, NCPA, Gate No. 2, Nariman Point
Call 22821212
Cost Rs 490

The Ibrahimovic
Stunning to look at and inspired by the White Russian, this one at The Quarter, Opera House is a local, hipster take on the White Russian that’s also slightly elevated. So, as its ingredients it has cold brew coffee, brandy, buttermilk, malai and orange bitters—all giving it a dessert-esque appeal! “It’s an eclectic take on the White Russian which is truly a classic cocktail. Making them and serving them for over 20 years, I was fascinated by ways to enhance the White Russian. Drinking lassi on the streets of Mumbai and Amritsar, the thickness of it caused by high quality milk and the malai on the top makes it special. I wanted to bring about this sensation to the White Russian and by using a high-quality brandy and some orange bitters for a citrus note really managed to elevate this classic drink into the Quartersphere!” says Nico Goghavala, Co-founder, The Quarter.
At The Quarter, Royal Opera House, Mathew Rd, Opera House, Girgaon
Call 8329110638
Cost Rs 550

Thyme-scented Chocolate Caramel Cookie Shots
With a name larger than its actual size, this dessert cocktail shot is a great way to end a meal at Jeon in Juhu. Who needs to eat dessert when you can down it in a shot, right? This one’s an interesting cocktail recipe made with a twist of taste and flavour using chocolate cookie crumbs, Belgian chocolate ice cream, triple sec and Baileys Irish cream and few leaves of thyme that are all blended together to perfection, giving it that rich and creamy texture. The drink is then poured into shot glasses, topped with a dehydrated slice of orange, gooey chocolate cookie and garnished with a sprig of fresh thyme. “I tried making a dessert using the same ingredients, but it lacked flavour and texture. I thought of coming up with a drink instead, where the crunchy cookie crumbs marry the richness of the silky texture of the drink and complement each other well,” says Chef Jerson Fernandes, Executive Chef, Sea Princess Hotel.
At Jeon, Sea Princess Hotel, Ground Floor, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu
Call 26469500
Cost Rs 599


Cinnamon Crème Brûlée Martini
This one’s for both—the James Bond fan and the dessert loving ‘grown up kid’ in you! A delectable drinkable dessert in a martini glass, the Cinnamon Crème Brûlée Martini at Khar’s Radio Bar may seem a complex concoction, but is ridiculously simple to put together. Take 45ml vanilla vodka, 60ml fresh cream and blend them in a cocktail shaker along with six ice cubes. Serve this in a martini glass and dust with cinnamon powder. “My idea behind coming up with this was to combine the world-famous dessert crème brûlée and curate something very refreshing and delectable at the same time. Serving it chilled, in appropriate amounts adds up to the flavour even more,” says Nixon D’Souza, Brand Manager, Radio Bar.
At Radio Bar, Ground Floor, Hotel New Castle, Linking Road, Bandra (w)
Call 9769755542/9769355503
Cost Rs 420

(An edited version of this review appeared in the 4th January 2018 issue of the Mid-Day newspaper, India https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-food-cocktails-get-a-dessert-inspired-twist-at-city-bars-and-restaurants/18891162)