4 Indian-Inspired Cocktails to Add To Your Festive Celebration Menus
Indian beverages are well-known for their balance of spiciness, tanginess and sour flavour profiles. From the iconic summer beverage Aam Panna made with charred mango pulp to the ginger and cumin-infused Jaljeera, these drinks are not only multidimensional in terms of their flavour, but they also vociferously showcase the ingredients and produce from different parts of the country.
These drinks also lend themselves as flavourful, versatile bases for cocktail concoctions.
Similarly, ingredients like betel leaves, curry leaves and kokum, and techniques like fermenting are increasingly being harnessed to be incorporated into alcoholic beverages.
Here is a list of a few Indian-inspired cocktail drinks that you can experiment with during the festive season.
Kala Khatta cocktail:
Ingredients:
30 ml Dark rum
30 ml Kala Khatta syrup
Crushed Ice
70 ml Plain Soda
Chaat Masala
Mint leaves (garnish)
Method:
In a punch bowl, add the dark rum, kala khatta syrup and plain soda, and blend everything together. Then, pour the concoction over crushed ice, and dust Chaat Masala on top. Serve the drink in a tall glass with a sprig of mint as garnish.
Amla and Jaggery Fizz:
Ingredients:
45 ml whiskey
30 ml amla juice (fresh or store-bought)
20 ml homemade jaggery syrup
15 ml lemon juice
Ice cubes
Fresh amla slice or a lemon twist, for garnish
Method:
Prepare the jaggery syrup by combining jaggery and water in a small saucepan over low heat, while stirring continuously. Once the jaggery is completely dissolved, set it aside to cool. Then, in a cocktail shaker, combine the amla juice, jaggery syrup, lemon juice, whisky and ice, and shake for at least 15-20 seconds till the drink is chilled. Strain it into a rocks glass with more ice and garnish with a slice of fresh amla.
Betel Leaf and Lychee Gin Fizz
Ingredients:
45 ml gin
3-4 fresh betel leaves, torn (plus more for garnish)
30 ml lychee juice (canned or fresh)
15 ml lime juice
15 ml simple syrup
Soda water
Ice cubes
Lychee fruit or lime wheel, for garnish
Method:
Begin by muddling the betel leaves in the bottom of the cocktail shaker to release their flavour and aroma. Then, add the gin, lychee juice, lime juice, simple syrup and ice into the cocktail shaker and shake for a few seconds so that the concoction gets chilled. Pour the drink into a tall glass and top it with soda water, before rounding it off with a wheel of lime or a whole lychee as garnish.
Starfruit and Lime Margarita Cocktail
Ingredients:
45 ml tequila
30 ml fresh starfruit juice (blend and strain fresh starfruit)
15 ml triple sec (or orange liqueur)
15 ml lime juice
15 ml agave syrup
Ice
Salt or sugar for rim
Fresh star fruit slice for garnish
Method:
Run a slice of starfruit around the rim of a margarita cocktail glass, and dip it in salt or sugar. Next, combine all the liquids into a cocktail shaker and shake it vigorously for about 15 seconds, or until the shaker is cool to the touch. Once the drink is ready, pour it into the margarita cocktail glass and serve it with a slice of starfruit as garnish. You can also dust the pieces of starfruit in rock salt and chilli powder for an additional spice hit.
Drink responsibly. This communication is intended for audiences aged 25 and above.
