Stirred Into The Story: Here Are Some Of India’s Most Immersive Cocktail Experiences
One of the most profound global mixology trends that is doing the rounds across Indian bars too, is immersive cocktail craft – an experiential event where drinks are performed and plated so they can be watched and experienced, almost like a story.
Embedded into this trend of immersive cocktails is a far larger exercise, that of building narratives about the local cultures and heritage that has gone into crafting blends complete with hyperlocal, regional, seasonal ingredients. Immersive experiences are more than just high content energy, they are also ways to showcase the newest, most imaginative trends in mixology craft.
From Delhi’s speakeasies to some of the most iconic, themed bars in Goa, these experiences have then evolved beyond serving well-crafted drinks. Now, they are all about drama, a little bit of theatricality and some rather deeply localised experiences which tell the story of the region. These are more than just cocktails, rather Indian bartenders are turning their mixology rosters into unforgettable moments experienced by their patrons.
Here’s more on some of the latest immersive mixology trends in Indian bars and some of the top bars and restaurants which offer such incredibly curated cocktail menus:
Subterranean Moody Alchemy
An up and coming trend in India’s finest bars is the curation of a story-driven, forest-like bar space with exceptional drinks that contain just the right amount of drama. A chic place in the capital city which offers this experience is Lair where the cocktail menu is a sensory-led narrative with pronounced botanical cues. Here a cocktail curioso would find elements like cocktails hidden beneath smoked cloches, aroma infusions and in-glass fermentations which are all about sophisticated mixology presented with just the right balance of finesse and theatricality.
Art School, Flavour-Forward Labs
Tactile cocktail menus, coordinated food and drink flavours and artsy offerings inspired by textiles, crafts and heritage is what awaits patrons in some of the trendiest bars and mixology spaces across metropolises like Bangalore. A project such as The Good Craft Co. emerges from this vision of introducing patrons to the sensorial experience of actually being immersed in the process of creating Indian craft spirits and cocktails. Complete with a guided tasting session, distillery tours, a micro brewery experience and indigenous narratives, this is immersive cocktail and spirit storytelling at its finest.
Also Read: How To Pair Organic Ingredients With Spirits For A Balanced Cocktail Experience
Minimalism Meets Local Terroir
Another mixology trend which is sweeping cocktail bars right now is minimalism. Japanese-inspired spaces like Bengaluru’s Soka is immersed in this theme which tells the interesting story of these Asian flavours encountering the local Indian terroir against the backdrop of ingredients locally-sourced from this region. This is an Omakase-style cocktail experience where the bartender takes patrons through a series of questions to then invent a blend which reflects their flavour preferences. A thoroughly minimalist, intentional, flavour-forward experience, this is meant for eye-level interaction that almost seems like a well-crafted journey.
Beach Chic
When in Goa, it’s all about beachy vibes but the latest joints in this coastal town are doing much more than offering a tropical feel. Places like Hideaway are all about blending this archetypical beachy vibe with the chic, flavour-forward sophistication of cocktails blended using local produce, indigenous spices and unexpected ingredients. Surf-side seating and slow jazz offer a holiday feel just adequately enough, yet the cocktails showcase a flavourful local dynamism for the palate which is palpably modern. These surprising flavour additions inspire stories and conversations in an interactive cocktail experience.
Style With Swag
And then there are those dives which offer the best of stylish drinks made with indigenous ingredients that are infused into cocktails in the form of house-made syrups, bitters and liqueurs. These cocktails are elegant with much swag, they look aesthetically poetic with just the right kind of flavourful vibrancy. Style meets substance in these blends crafted at trendy spots such as Mumbai’s Americano where each drink looks like a design, where culinary-style mixology curates layered cocktails complete with a quiet sophistication.
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