Smoke Cocktails With 5 Desi Ingredients For A Spiced Twist
For bartenders experimenting with desi-style flavours in cocktail craft, one of the more interesting ingredients that inspires drama and intrigue is smoked spices. In fact, spices are a staple ingredient across most regional Indian kitchens and their uses in culinary spaces are as diverse as the sheer variety of spices stocked up in mason jars on kitchen shelves.
While nutmeg, cardamom, and saffron are commonly used to accentuate sweet dishes, bay leaves, star anise and cinnamon find wide uses in savoury preparations. However, every one of these spices is so versatile that many times, they are also used across a broad category of culinary concoctions to feature in multiple sweet, spicy, savoury and umami dishes. It is only evident then that when these spices are brought together with smoke to craft aromatic vapours, they end up infusing drinks with layered fragrances and flavour notes.
Read on below to know more about some of the Indian ingredients that are used for making smoked cocktails to lend drinks a desi-style spiced and smoky flavour profile:
Cinnamon Sticks
Cinnamon is an ingredient often used in cocktail craft for infusing deeper, slightly spicier and complex notes into blends. In Indian kitchens, cinnamon is used to add spice and an earthy touch to curries and several rice preparations. This cinnamon stick, when burned lightly, releases a sweet, spicy smoke which can be trapped in a glass that can in turn be used to serve a whisky or rum-based cocktail like an Old Fashioned variation. This drink served with a smoky effect, acquires the desi-spice even more when it is adorned with a similar cinnamon stick garnish.
Cloves
Known for its slightly spicy, robust and quietly umami flavour, cloves are very aromatic spices which introduce a fragrant smoky mist into cocktails. Place a few cloves on a hot plate and cover them with a cocktail glass so all the smoke can be gathered inside. This spiced and aromatic smoke can be used to accentuate gin-based cocktails which contain a botanical flourish that incidentally complements the notes of the cloves. This spice carries a very deep flourish which also makes it an excellent addition to festive cocktails, complete with flavours of cherries, dried fruits and cream liqueurs.
Coconut Husk
Coconut husk is an ingredient that is often used as a smoking agent for preparing several traditional culinary dishes. In mixology, the applications of smoked coconut husk are just as diverse as their uses in a traditional kitchen. Flavours of coconut smoke are mild, nutty and tropical enough to introduce a beachy, coastal flair into cocktail concoctions. These pair brilliantly with spirits like rum, vodka and even tequila, which can complement their tropical flair. Craft a smoked piña colada variation to lend the drink a coastal, seaside scent.
Also Read: Smoke Whisky Cocktails At Home With 5 Easy Tips For A Pro Flavour Finish
Dry Red Chillies
Smoky, spicy and brightly coloured, dried red chillies are often used to introduce a lot of depth into curry spices and masalas that go into preparing several spicy gravies. The smoke that emanates out of dried red chillies carries a similar spice and aroma, which can add a lot of robust qualities into a chilli margarita or a spicy mezcal-inspired serve. Chilli smoke not only builds spice but also adds nuance and depth to versatile cocktails.
Bay Leaves
Another interesting ingredient favoured by bartenders for its aromatic notes and mild spice is bay leaves. Used in biryanis and curries, bay leaves release a lot of herbal smoke when they are slightly charred. Introduce this fragrant, herbal and savoury touch into cocktails by placing a charred bay leaf on top of a serving glass containing a gin or tequila-based peppery cocktail for a sophisticated and layered aromatic touch.
Key Takeaways:
– Bartenders have begun to experiment with lots of regional spices as smoking agents that introduce depth into cocktails.
– These desi ingredients are used widely in Indian kitchens for adding earthiness, aroma and flavour to both savoury and sweet concoctions.
– Smoked spices like cinnamon, bay leaves, cloves and dried chillies can craft dramatic, flavourful and aromatic effects in cocktails, infusing a theatrical element into them.
– Make these desi-style cocktails with rum, gin or tequila as base spirits as they can complement different flavours and aromatic compounds released by the spiced smoke.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
