A green wave seems to have hit Mumbai's pubs and bars, which are mixing spirits with all kinds of veggies. Pooja Bhula goes sipping all over the city to bring you the very best
A green wave seems to have hit Mumbai's pubs and bars that are mixing spirits with all kinds of veggies. Pooja Bhula goes sipping all over the city, to hunt down the very best concoctions
Beet, the root of seduction
Only a handful of places dare to play with beetroot, as a mere misstep can take the cocktail from being spectacular to yet another boring health juice. Verbena's Root Benefits (Rs 470) seduces you even from afar – the velvety maroon dazzler comes in a hearty wine glass garnished with fresh basil, much like this Lower Parel pub's lush interiors. But it's the right consistency and recipe they've crafted – earthiness of fresh beetroot juice, vanilla sugar and gin well lifted by lemon juice and basil – that seal the deal.
The Good Wife at BKC - that's like a lab doing ambitious experiments with a variety of vegetables – gives us beetroot in two avatars. Bullets Gone Hazy (Rs 545) is a simple combination of beet syrup with black salt to complement tequila. Maraschino cherries lend it sweetness and egg white balances flavours, creating a silky finesse. Poured into a coupe, it looks like an elegant ballerina, and is just as light despite the ingredients. Aunty Maggie (Rs 545) on the other hand is bold and vibrant – marrying beetroot with fresh pomegranate juice, passion fruit syrup, a homemade campari and vodka – served up tall to suit the personality.
Cool with cucumber
Cucumber seems to be the most common inspiration for vegetable cocktails in the city. Some were too watery, some too sweet and most just lacked that little something. The one that truly allowed cucumber to be the hero, while tasting tantalising enough to warrant another go was Cucumber Up (Rs 400) by The Stables in Andheri east. The sublime 30ml shot brings together fresh cucumber and fresh mint with spirits of gin, vodka and cucumber liqueur, doused in lime juice and lemonade and perked up with just enough spice from tobasco.
A close second that allows the humble cucumber fun and frolic with lots of flavour is Light House Cafe's Pimm's Cup (Rs 650). It pairs cucumber with oranges and strawberries to create a sweet, fizzy refresher, garnished with mint leaves. Served in a jar, it's only available at the Worli branch and will remain on the menu till the end of June.
French beans? You bet!
One of the most unlikely ingredients to have ever found its way to a bar, French beans, juiced freshly is the star of Chaos Is The New Calm (Rs 455) at The Good Wife. It tastes so delightful with its green companion kale (syrup), vodka and camomile infused in white wine that you can't help but salute the mixologist for creating the perfect garden in a glass. Aromatic and sparkling, it's meant to go well with salad.
Tomatoes bloodier than Mary's
At a time when alcohol sale on highways has been banned, Farzi Cafe offers an ode to old times with its Drink on Highway (Rs 375). Aptly keeping with the inspiration, the tomato- and cucumber-based drink is served in steel martini glassware rather than glass. Strongly punctuated with dark rum, it gets its desi flavours from a dash of coriander and jaggery. The cocktail is a tad watery, not too sweet, and is surely a lovely twist to the popular Bloody Mary.
Spiced with capsicum
Who knew the not-so-hot pepper can make for a such a cool addition to a caipirinha. Asilo's Iberian Caprioska (Rs 1,195) is a fuss-free mix of fresh citrus, honey water and very potent vodka, spiked just right with paprika and freshly roasted capsicum that manages to be simultaneously subtle and distinct.
Kale's the king
The sweet, smoky aroma of fire-roasted leaves of Kale and Hearty (Rs 500) at the rooftop lounge, Swey is so inviting, you just want to sip on the green pool of muddled cucumber it floats on. Stirred up with ample vodka and a ginger-based sweet and sour infusion, the martini alone isn't awe-inducing, but bite on the greens as you drink and you'll find it tough to stop.
What a pumpkin
Doused in brandy along with orange peels to create their own version of curacao for The Little Spaceman (Rs 445), The Good Wife has found a way to celebrate the Halloween squash all through the year. Interestingly, the orange bitters keeps the sweetness lasting longer than keeping it in check. Added to the unique liqueur are white chocolate and egg white, bound well by the spirit of vodka. Despite the rich ingredients, the cocktail lacks heaviness. It's also the only concoction we found donning the happy hue of the sun. Cheers!
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