Brijesh Vyas (right) and Prateeksh Mehra at work. Pic/Poonam Bathija

WHAT happens when you put a cheese-maker and a mixologist in the same room and ask them to create something the world has never tasted before? That was precisely the brief given to two Mumbai boys — Prateeksh Mehra and Brijesh Vyas — when they entered the World’s Most Experimental Bartender competition. A contest held by premium single malt manufacturer Glenfiddich, it’s sui generis in the tipple territory, where participants are encouraged to collaborate with masters from across fields to co-create an inventive drinking experience. The pairings are picked by the organisers, which is how Mehra and Vyas first met. The India leg of the competition was held in October and this is the first time an Indian team has made it to the finale which, this year was held in Dufftown, Scotland. Mehra and Vyas were up against 10 countries including Australia, Germany, UK, Switzerland and the US.