Mumbai based mixologists talk about the story behind a cocktail

Earlier this year Yash Bhanage cofounder of The Bombay Canteen TBC and his research team found themselves meandering the alleys of South Mumbai soaking in the history of iconic single screen theatres At Lamington Road they learnt about Imperial Cinema which in 1936 screened Miss Frontier Mail an action crime thriller starring Fearless NadiaGuided by local history enthusiast Simin Patel this walk was in fact a cocktailmaking lesson under a garb As outrageous as it sounds unearthing hidden gems in the city and narrating its history through a drink is a mantra that the folks at TBC swear by one theyve been doing for over two yearsTheir new cocktail menu in the form of a guidebook takes you through a curated journey of Bombays talkies with Miss Frontier Mail and Imperial inspiring the white lady cocktail A cocktail is more than a sum of its ingredients It needs to tell a story says Bhanage in a phone call interview from Sri Lanka where he is hosting a popupFrom seeking inspiration in an edifice to capturing the earthy fragrance of the first rain in a cup mixologists are trying to tell a story through each sip But it all begins with an ideaAmi Shroff pours Sherlock in a pickle inspired by the alcoholic womendespising sleuth PicAashish RajeWhy follow a road mapIdeating a drink is the backbone of menu creation If you dont have an idea you will be drawing a blank when it comes to what the end result should be says Pankaj Balachandran of Bar Collective who has curated the cocktails at BKCs latest Spanish restaurant Uno Maacutes Tapas Bar and Kitchen His latest creation The Frenchie is inspired by Cuban bartender Constantine Ribalaigua Verte who was nicknamed the King of Cocktails What sealed the deal for us was that Constantine learned to tend bars from his father The story of Constantine junior came naturally as a story he saysIts the desire to capture an experience that also prompted Jiaan Kris J Lam bar manager at House of Nomad Taj Lands End to think up Chanel No 6 last year It is an ode to the luxury French perfumery brand Through the drink designed to excite the senses like a fine scent he wanted to capture the ethos of Chanel which was to offer something aspirational yet achievable But before diving into the process Lam makes it a point to classify his creation smokey fruity fresh or tarty Once that is in place you go about creating the concoctionBut to create an experience its important to also pick the right ingredients believes Bhanage To deconstruct the thought he gives us the example of the white lady which comprises rosemaryinfused London dry gin triple sec lime egg white and orange all of which represent Bhanages perception of Fearless Nadia Its essentially a classic gin sour cocktail which is balanced rich and impossibly sophisticated just like the actor herselfSelling an ideaHaving said that sometimes when the inspiration falls into a conflicted territory it makes the mixologists task doubly difficult Ami Shroff mixologist at Kamala Mills bar London Taxi recalls the time she was asked to make a cocktail inspired by Sherlock Holmes In the past she had created drinks inspired by superheroes but this one wasnt going to be simple He was a chivalrous misogynist who casually expressed his dislike for women so he certainly wasnt a favourite for me she says But it was her job to ensure Holmes could be marketed as a convincing cocktail I wanted to create a mess of a cocktail that still tasted awesome she laughsThe Frenchie at Uno Maacutes is inspired by Cuban bartender Constantine Ribalaigua Verte who was nicknamed the King of Cocktails PicsAtul KambleFor this she used lime and brine to create a sour confused flavour He was an alcoholic who loved his wine and all other spirits so we used red wine and beetroot reduction with vodka infused with earl grey tea He also liked his tea just like the Brits she says The result A sour slightly savoury drink with prominent notes of gherkin tea and rose No wonder then that Shroff chose to label it Sherlock in a pickleAccording to her the cardinal rule while ideating for a cocktail is to understand what you are trying to say through the drink Abhishek Bindal AVP operations for Hakkasan Bandra says he normally starts with an idea and builds on it So when he set about creating red monsoon a cocktail inspired by the Mumbai monsoon he wanted to capture the scent of wet earth while offering the freshness of the experience We took into consideration local sensibilities as well as lifestyleTBCs SoBo single screen guidebook Canteen Cocktail Book tells you the inspiration behind the cocktail you ordered while also serving as a souvenir for vacations and localsThe whiff of the first rains is a very special time for Indians and we dearly await it he says It was the first time that Hakkasan was creating a cocktail rooted in the local For two months the team scoured through market research visiting spice markets and local street vendors Then its a case of piecing these together through storybased local memories or connecting elements or tales Launched in September it is a sweet and citrusy drink with the sweetness lent by raspberry and guava juice Theres watermelon to balance the sweet and ginger beer to give it a warm spicy note as well as the fizz The final touch of a spritz of geeli mitti works as the cherry on the cakeYash BhanageBut there is a thin line between innovation and gimmicks and the mixologists are careful to not cross the line As Shroff explains As a rule I dont go ahead it if feels repulsive or too obvious Or if something has been done way too often I wouldnt want to do itAlso Read Mumbai Food Resurrecting The Cocktail CultureCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates