Scotch In The City: Indian Bars Are Rediscovering The Dram With Craft Cocktails
In contemporary Indian mixology, Scotch is witnessing quite a transformation. What was once recognised as a drink served by itself or on the rocks to learned connoisseurs of the whisky, is now becoming a drink which acts as the base for crafting different cocktails infused with regional, local flavours. The dram as we used to know it is no longer a drink accessible to none except the lone connoisseur, but is being fashioned into different cocktail formats that are excellent alternatives for pairing with gourmet foods featuring local ingredients.
It is no wonder then that Scotch is being reinvented in Indian bars as a drink that brings much complexity and intentional flavour depth into cocktails. At a time when mindful cocktail craft, complete with evolved flavours seems to be making the rounds in Indian bars, Scotch, crafted using traditional, age-old methods seems to do just the trick in lending quality nuance to these blends.
Here’s a note on how Scotch is being rediscovered in Indian bars as a base spirit used for making food-friendly cocktail blends, purposefully crafted for flavour-forward sipping:
Creative Base Spirit
One of the most prominent shifts in Scotch serving cultures has occurred in the way bartenders and mixologists are treating the spirit. Although it continues to retain a place of prominence as a drink which carries deep flavour notes, it is being brought out of the zone of being served by itself, to instead become a creative base spirit carrying multiple flavour notes – smoky, spicy, fruity, malty and more. Different Scotches produced across multiple Scottish distilleries offer such flavour diversity that Indian bars experimenting with the liquor are focused on incorporating them into cocktails for a richer, layered tasting experience.
Pairing With Local Flavours
And one of the reasons the smoky depth of Scotch seems to do well across trendy Indian bars is its easy integration with local flavours. Scotch is an excellent element for coupling with ingredients like nutty tamarind syrups used to mix tangy highballs. A malted Scotch also goes well with gud, or jaggery syrup which is complete with a similar robust, earthy complexity. Fruity ingredients such as aam panha also manage to imbue themselves beautifully into Scotch whisky, producing drinks containing a mix of smoky, peaty, tropical nuance. As Scotch mixes well with local ingredients, so too it becomes a top contender in contemporary Indian cocktail craft.
Also Read: Indian-Inspired Summer Drinks: How To Craft Cocktails And Mocktails For Brunch
Smoky, Spicy Drama
An interesting element that Scotch brings into craft cocktails is just the right ounce of drama. It is adequately smoky to work well with spices such as cinnamon and star anise which are often charred a little with a smoke gun in many trendy Indian bars to release aromatic vapours. The nuance this builds into Scotch cocktails fuelled by other citrusy notes and light local, fruity finishes, smoked cloches and engraved glassware creates quite an intriguing, mystical quality around these content-worthy blends.
Scotch And Indian Cuisine
What remains one of the reigning reasons for the growing popularity of the dram in craft cocktails is the way it beautifully accompanies Indian culinary delicacies. The smoky, peaty notes in Scotch go well with charred, tandoori tikkas. Its fruity, spicy depth is an excellent pairing with flavourful, aromatic curries and Scotches carrying a slightly sweeter edge are thoroughly intelligent pairings with dense Indian desserts. It is no wonder then that Indian bartenders are attempting to craft Scotch-based cocktails for a more food-friendly, mindful sipping cocktail experience.
Aesthetic, Flavour-Forward Mixology
Today, Indian bartenders are all about crafting drinks that look good just as much as they taste well. Flavor-forward mixology inspires drinks which tell a story, these are cocktails accentuated with flavoured ices, colourful garnishes and elements like edible flowers that lend them an aesthetically stunning quality. Scotch emerges as a spirit which can embody different flavours and artful cocktail-making styles in a chic, sophisticated fashion. This has meant an ever-growing presence of the quality whisky in Indian mixology cultures.
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