Cocktails for afternoon

For most ‘high spirited’ people in Bangalore, a tall glass of chilled beer becomes the last word when it comes to a lazy Sunday afternoon.

However, in the past couple of years, brunches have given rise to the trend of afternoon cocktails — creations that allow one to stretch a glorious afternoon with friends into the early evening as they sip on various infusions made with fresh fruits and ingredients. And with Bangalore’s insanely tight deadlines, it’s a practice that’s fast catching up even with the liquor conservatives.

Nilesh Singh, F&B manager of Oberoi Hotels, Bangalore, says that afternoon cocktails need to be qualified in order to be served during the day. “We are currently running a coffee infusion promotion, where we’ve created some interesting textures and nearly all the cocktails are refreshing, cooling and have slightly sweet overtones — aspects that can define afternoon cocktails.”

In fact, drinks like the Caramel Latte, where chilled Kahlua, vodka and coffee with caramel syrup are shaken together and served or the Brazilian Coffee (Brazilian rum and Tia Maria) or even the Espresso Martini, for the more adventurous soul, are on the menu — cocktails that will not only perk you up for the rest of the evening but also give you a slight buzz that you might want to indulge in on a non-working day.

In fact, Nilesh also adds that cocktails like the Grape And Lime Mojito, Basil Martini, Green Melon Caipiroska and the Limelight (a daiquiri of white rum, orange liqueur and loads of lime) are perfect for the afternoons because of the freshness of the ingredients.
Fruits of course are quite the favourite when it comes to making cocktails and global brand ambassador of Midori, Manuel Terron would agree.

“There are three things you need to have in mind when you’re making cocktails for the afternoon. First, keep your drink low in alcohol content. Two, use as refreshing ingredients as possible; citrus fruits are a good way to go and finally, make sure you make tall drinks that can last for a while and you can chill out over one,” he says.

In fact, Manuel has created a few cocktails that are perfect for the afternoons and easily doable at home. “I believe the sangria is quite a popular drink in India, so what have done is taken Midori, red wine, a little bit of lemon juice and fresh fruit and made a different version of the same drink. It’s again quite light on alcohol and can be enjoyed on a sunny day as well. Again, my Summer Slash has fresh watermelon, mint, Midori and white wine and it is actually an ideal drink for the afternoon,” he adds.

As far as Bangalore is concerned, Nilesh adds that the city has a much evolved cocktails audience. “We have men and women alike ordering a myriad of cocktail drinks and some being experimental as well… cooler afternoons, from now till winter, and early spring are ideal to sit in an idyllic setting, soak in the serene greens and sip on your favourite set of cocktails; not to forget a good read, your favourite iPad game, a set of good friends or simply your thoughts for company,” he says.

And for those who like to experiment behind the bar at their homes, Indian ingredients too are good choices when it comes to making some refreshing concoctions. “Saunf or aniseed is a great Indian ingredient which can be added to a lemon or green apple flavoured mojito to add a refreshing zest, which also acts as a great aperitif. The cocktail needs to be muddled first and then strained for use,” advises Nilesh.

Chef Manu Chandra of Olive Beach however says that while most white spirits are great for afternoon cocktails, one should ensure that it’s not too sweet because you could get a headache must faster. “We do a drink with fresh pomegranate juice, a hint of lemon with a bit of chilli. It’s fresh, not too sweet as the chilli gives the subtle hints of heat, which is perfect for a chilly afternoon,” he says.

Cocktails with coconut water too can be exceedingly refreshing, like the White Jamaican Manu recommends —  a drink of white rum and tender coconut water. “As long as the ingredients are fresh with citrus elements to it, they can be had in the afternoon. White spirits are better for the day than they are for night and I’d also think one should have less alcohol content in the afternoon cocktail served in a tall glass so that you can take your time with the drink, instead of gulping it down,” Manu concludes.