Prepare for savoury evenings in Worli Koliwada at this new bar

A girl walks into a bar Correction A noncocktail drinker walks into a bar Two hours later she might have to reevaluate her alcohol preferences That kind of turnaround takes possibly years but this writer got the portkey entry on an evening when inspired RampD staged a sixact showcase at Slink amp Bardotrsquos SampB newest offering mdash Koliwada Cocktail Club KCC The 25seater eked out in one of the velvetyvibe sections within Thadani House is a bar within a bar It is helmed by the SampBrsquos hit duo Vicky Singh and Riyaaz Amlani Singh joins us for a chat as Guru Tripathy head bartender and his team ensures each course has our full attentionVicky Singh and Guru Tripathy with the gridlike bar in the backdrop of the Koliwada Cocktail Club PICSASHISH RAJEldquoThis menu took two years to conceptualise itrsquos our labour of love We wanted to craft savoury cocktails because people mistakenly believe that cocktails can only be sweet On an average we stir 100 cocktails a day so our patrons believe we can do it wellrdquo explains Singh in between courses When Singh a veteran on Mumbairsquos FampB scene tells us he wanted the menu to create surprise we believe him ldquoOur character emerges from its unique neighbourhoodrdquo he says referring to the choice of name Koliwada Cocktail Club ldquoA large part of Slink amp Bardotrsquos charm is this Koliwada Wersquove never shied away from the location and are proud of itrdquo In our head we join the dots Moments earlier Singh reminisced of his seafaring adventures thanks to his fatherrsquos sailing background Worli Koliwada is a stonersquos throw away where bobbing boats have done their time navigating the waters of the Arabian Sea Coincidence or serendipityWe soak in the theatre from the front row Tripathy explains the dripping process for one of the courses Singh warns ldquoEach drink gets progressively stronger just like with food where portions get meatier largerrdquo The bar bites ranging from Pork Belly Quesadilla R955 with Jalapeno Sour Cream Coriander Oil to Aged Cheese Toastie R955 with Giardiniera Beetroot Jam and Crispy Fried Okra R575 with Buransh Salt Huancaina Sauce are classic crowd pleasersThe RampD would have been critical surely ldquoA large part of the experience is to make mistakes We encourage our young experimental team to mess things up I laid out my vision and left the rest to them Many iterations and boozy evenings later this happened Itrsquos been rewardingrdquo he smiles revealing that the kitchen and bar teams worked in tandem to nail the varied flavour profilesHe drops an interesting descriptor to sum up the sixact show ldquoI call this menu a jewellery box mdash with its little curious compartments Itrsquos an extension of the discovery at Slink amp Bardot it keeps unravelling around every cornerrdquoAmuse Bouche ndash Sushi A saline showopener the palate is greeted with Japanese Toasted Sushi Rice Vodka Compressed Watermelon and Cucumber Wine If sushi was reshaped as a cocktail this would come close Itrsquos served with Nori Cured Watermelon Sushi and Goatrsquos CheeseSoup ndash Gazpacho This savoury course stirs the idea of lsquosouprsquo as a refreshing cocktail Tequila House Gazpacho and Salted Celery Air combine to create a storied installation It arrives as a bubbly lab experiment and stages a funky mix of drama and substance The Tomato Tart Mozzarella Filo Pickled Cucumber and Basil and Goatrsquos Cheese with Nori add chic appeal to the ensembleSalad ndash Tam Som Bursting with botanical flavours this course made with Tanqueray London Dry Gin Fermented Gari Sonic Pickled Mango and Raw Papaya and ChillFiltered Nitro is zesty We were expecting a bigger flavour bomb from the Candied Som Tam Peanuts and Crab Furikake bitesAppetizer ndash Tamales Not meant for the weakhearted This offing crafted from Corn Husk Smoked Tequila Chipotle and Jalapeno Charred Corn and Chicken Stock is as fullbodied as it gets It is served with Corn Tostada Tajin Pickled Jalapenos and Coriander The spicy umamileaning notes offer a teaser for the next courseMain Course ndash Morel Created from Morel Glaze Morel Infused Singleton 12 YO Whisky and Rye Whisky it spells layered decadence Umami holds centrestage and is served with Miso Morel As a classic literature buff it teleported us cocktail in hand of course to the dark mysterious moors of Wuthering Heights Heathcliff here we comeDessert ndash Rocky Road The finale is a showstopping act This indulgent cocktail tempts with its play on sweetness levels The dark rum chocolate and coffeelaced notes with chocolate chip cookie ice cream and torched meringue evoke dramaKoliwada Cocktail Club KCCOpens June 3At Thadani House 329A opposite Indian Coast Guard Worli KoliwadaTime 6 pm to 130 am Sunday to ThursdayCALL 9326965643 Reservations onlyCOST 6 cocktails Rs 8500 taxes any 4 cocktails Rs 6000 taxesBar TipIf you use liquid nitrogen alcohol freezes instantly