Hangover-free cocktails are here

Up until now, one had to pay a heavy price for drinking like a fish. Apart from an inflated tab, there was also that dreaded hangover that one would wake up to the next morning. However, mixologists have now stepped in to muddle concoctions that promise a high, minus the lows (Read after-effects of drinking too much — an uneasy stomach, unbearable headache and a dry mouth). Thanks to their efforts, we have come a long way from Bloody Marys to hangover-free cocktails.

The Bloody Mary saga

For generations, the Bloody Mary was always the go-to cocktail fix for those morning-after blues. And that worked for a while as partying and drinking was limited to weekends. That’s no longer the case. People now step out at any time of the day or week to catch up with friends or unwind with colleagues over a few drinks. Pawan Raina from D:OH lists this change in behaviour as the main reason for a demand for hangover-free cocktails.

He says, “The trend of such cocktails has caught on because people are no longer restricting themselves from having a nightout on weekdays. One can’t really afford to show up to work hungover the next day! Hence, the trend of looking for a no-hangover option is on the rise. Also, one of the easiest ways of doing so is restricting the use of artificial flavours and sugary syrups by using fresh juices, which is also a healthier choice.”

Bob Fernandes, a mixologist at Keiba, agrees and adds, “Everyone loves having a drink or two but hates waking up to a hangover. It was only a matter of time before hangover-free cocktails became the order of the day. It allows a patron to drink even on a weekday without worrying about having work blues the next day as these cocktails are light and fresh and give the required kick without the perils of the usual symptoms of a hangover.”

Herbs, fresh juices galore!

Apart from a growing demand for hangover-free cocktails, there has been a growing shift on both sides of the counter. With people wanting more natural, healthy ingredients to be used in their tipple, mixologists too have stepped in to cater to this growing demand. In fact, many have added these drinks not as a one-off but as vital components to their bar menu. As in the case of London Taxi, where mixologist, Ami Shroff, has created a range of guilt-free, hangover-free cocktails using natural antioxidant ingredients like saffron, turmeric, wholesome vegetables like beetroot reduction, mulled cucumber and hydrating sugarcane juice. What you get is a tasteful infusion and a perfect formula for no hangovers.

What goes into it?

Ami elaborates, “The original idea was to look at each ingredient that we use for our cocktails and mocktails. From freshly squeezed cold pressed juices, substitutes to refined sugar, in-house syrups and shrub preparations and the quality of alcohol; all of it was given a lot of importance. After months of prep and trial and error, we managed to create cocktails that do not leave you exhausted the morning after with a bad hangover. Thus the claim to having a hangover-free cocktail. With the increase in packaged products and preservatives in what we consume, I wanted to give great emphasis upon using fresh and natural ingredients in the bar as far as possible. This does increase the prep work for the bartenders and needs more attention for quality checks. But that pays off in the taste of the cocktail and overall experience of the guest and their morning after.”

Deepak Purohit, owner, Mockingbird Cafe Bar, on the other hand uses beetroot juice with gin and sparkling wine to create his highest selling cocktail – Just Beet It. He says he uses beetroot for its cleansing benefits, and also because it’s known to be a hangover cure.  And it’s not just veggies, Sean Pereira, operations and bar concept manager – Bombay Vintage shares, “Bars have now evolved and are experimenting to curate cocktails with ingredients like tea leaves, herbs, flowers. These ingredients make cocktails more fun as well as add few health benefits at the same time.”

Prevention better than cure

Clearly, the trend of hangover-free cocktails is in line with the thought that prevention is better than cure. And that seems to even dictate the choice of tipple that people zero in on. The emphasis is again on avoiding a hangover at all costs. Shankar Varli, assistant bar manager, Woodside Inn, Andheri, says, “Nowadays, every cocktail that one has depends on what time and what weather the person is consuming it in. During brunch or lunch, we recommend more light cocktails with more citrus or neutral spritz. People are opting for such cocktails to avoid a bad hangover. In the evening or at night, rum-based cocktails are in demand, which doesn’t give tipplers a hangover. A person can consume two cocktails each with 60 ml alcohol.”

Yash Sukumar, bartender, The Looney, The Lover and The Poet, concludes, “While earlier if you did not want a hangover you would simply avoid drinking, now you have cocktails that can ensure you don’t get one. Most guests don’t drink to get drunk but as an indulgence or at leisure. Hence, we consciously kept overtly potent cocktails off the menu. In fact, we first created taste profiles and then brought in a spirit to complement the tasting notes of the cocktails.”

Clearly, everyone is looking to find the right mix, and to enjoy the pleasure of a drink minus the main — resulting in hangover-free drinks becoming the order of the day!

DIY

Alphonso Mule
Ingredients
60 ml Vodka
60 ml Mango juice
15 ml Lime juice
15 ml Sugar syrup
3-4 Basil leaves
60 ml Ginger ale

Method
Add lime juice and sugar syrup to vodka. Pour the given quantity of mango juice. Add fresh muddled basil leaves. Top it up with ginger ale and garnish with fresh basil leaves.
Recipe courtesy: Gymkhana 91