What Does India's First Female Bartender Think Of The Country's Drinking Culture?

India's drinking culture dates to the Harappan civilisation; excavations from where have often resulted in findings hinting towards a distillation setup with clay pots. And of course, the love for drinking is neither new, nor has it taken a backstage in the country. Even in today's pandemic-hit India, with every warning of a complete lockdown, the priority list of essentials to hoard, includes both alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic beverages. So whether it is canned cocktails and delivery drinks or extreme flavours that are a rage post 2020, it's time to embrace the inner mixologist, and who better that  India's leading bartender to guide you through the art of cocktail-making. 

New cocktails and the zero-proof trend

As per India's first female bartender, Shatbhi Basu, the cocktail culture in the country has not just evolved with time but has also become better, thanks to the  exposure from social media apps, that she says, has brought communities closer and has also allowed easy access to information.

"Today’s generation has understood the value of good techniques and great cocktails. They are learning from the world as well as showcasing their skills and heritage. It’s an era of exchange of ideas and collaboration."

She also believes that the growing interest in non-alcoholic beverages which has forced even the niche, mainstream brands to come up with zero ABV (Alcohol by Volume – standard measure of the alcohol content in an alcoholic beverage) drinks, "is a trend that will continue to grow, not just in ready-to-drink options but also non-alcoholic beers and wine."

"Brands have opened their eyes to a larger market and are offering products to a wider clientele. I see a huge growth potential," she adds.

Speaking of new bartending and mixology trends to look out for, Shatbhi says, “I like the idea of foraging (gathering) for local flavours, using simple techniques like smoke, cold foams using cream canisters, infusions, even fat washing (a cocktail technique of adding savoury flavours to the drink such as oil or butter). But, I don’t understand the need for burdening the bar with super expensive equipment that you don’t need to create fabulous drinks. There are ways of using flavours ingeniously without the need for a million unnecessary tools and passing the cost of using them onto the customer.”

A mocktail guide

A connoisseur in the world of drinks, Basu also takes her mocktails very seriously, so much so, that she has even written a book on them called, The Can't go Wrong Book of Mocktails, which she terms as the most comprehensive guide to alcohol-free drinks across categories.  

"It allows the reader to easily understand mixing techniques and offers resourceful information on almost everything you need to make the drinks. There is an introduction to glassware, equipment and tools, products in the market and how to source them while taking them on a journey through a whole range, from the most exotic to the simplest, both cold and hot with real-time photographs of each drink. The recipes are clean and simple to follow."

Try at home summer picks from the book 

1. Cucumber & Curry Leaf Lemonade
2. Mango & Melon Medley
3. Imli Soda
4. Chocolate Chip & Orange Cookie Shake
5. Date & Walnut Lassi

Favourite mixes

1. Passion fruit and curry leaf whiskey sour with a mango and coconut foam
2. Caramel and popcorn martini

A friend during stress & anxiety 

1. Wine
2. Bourbon
3. Single malt
4. Talisker 10Yo.

Elaborating further, she says, that the book not only  addresses the issue of lack of innovation in the mocktail space but includes recipes with ingredients that are easy to source, along with alternatives for those that are difficult to find.  

"From long drinks and flavored lemonades to even shakes, yoghurt smoothies, Indian flavors to healthy drinks, drinks kids can make, frozen drinks and more, the book has everything. We’ve even included tea, coffee, hot chocolate, toddies, and mulls. It opens a whole new world for non-drinkers and shows them that they do not have to settle for less," she shares.  

Top 3 recipes from the book

1. Mumbai Jellab

Glass: Tall

Ingredients

1. 30 ml date syrup
2. 20ml tamarind paste
3. 10ml pomegranate juice
4. Cold water

Garnish

1. Assorted nuts (silvers of almond pistachio)
2. Orange peel/rose petal
3. Pomegranate seeds

Method

1. Fill the shaker with ice.
2. Add all the ingredients and shake well.
3. Fill glass with crushed ice.
4. Strain over crushed ice.
5. Top with water and stir, and then garnish

2. Green apple and cucumber lemonade

Glass: Tall/Mason Jar/Hurricane

Ingredients

1. 30 ml Mathieu Teisseire cucumber syrup
2. 30ml Matheiu Teisseire green apple syrup
3. 15 ml lime juice
4. Two curry leaves
5. One-fourth cubed cucumber
6. One-fourth cubed green apple
7. Club soda and fizzy lime

Garnish

1. Green/red apple
2. Auamber stick
3. Curry leaf

Method

1. Fill the shaker tin/jar with one glass of crushed ice and three cubes.
2. Add in all ingredients and blend till smooth.
3. Add a splash of soda to aid the blending process.
4. Pour the frozen mixture in glass and top with soda and fizzy lime, half and half; and garnish.

*If you can’t find the two syrups you may also use sugar syrup or eight to 10 teaspoons of powdered sugar/stevia and increase the cucumber and apple to half each.

3. Jafrani Kaju Badam Lassi

Glass: Tall/Wine

Ingredients:

1. 200gms yoghurt
2. 15 ml saffron syrup/pinch of saffron infused in a tablespoon of hot milk with one teaspoon of sugar
3. 10 ml Mathieu Teisseire almond syrup
4. Three each cashew nuts, almonds, pistachios, walnuts
5. One tablespoon raisins
6. One dried fig
7. 60 ml cream or one scoop vanilla ice cream

Garnish

1. Saffron
2. Nut flakes/milk masala

Method

1. Fill the shaker/jar with one glass of crushed ice.
2. Add all the ingredients and blend until smooth.
3. Pour into the glass and garnish.