QUARANTINE COCKTAILS
It is indeed an exhilarating experience to beat the scorching heat with a shower of the first rain in Mumbai city during this global pandemic of 2020. Who knew we would have to be experiencing such a long spell of being in quarantine, facing natural calamities like the Nisarga cyclone to earthquake tremors, witnessing the worst-ever pest invasion of massive locust swarms attacking India, and at the same time seeing America suffer from the revolution against racism – a matter which couldn’t be tolerated or ignored any further. Having said that, human beings have survived the worst nightmares and have fought through them all.
On a lighter note, things kind of eased out after the cyclone passed through our city, leaving in its wake the very first showers of monsoon this season, and the mesmerizing petrichor……at the end of it all, I found a reason to luxuriate at the bar on a cozy corner of my home sweet home! I feel like every artist should have a favorite corner in their house – their personal alcove of bliss. If not in art, I’m sure I will end up making good cocktails during my time being quarantined, as I read somewhere, “Here’s to staying positive and testing negative.”
BAR TOOLS
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE AND COCKTAILS!
I have been trying and tasting different flavours since the lockdown began on 21st March 2020, and it delights me to announce that I have found my love for edible flowers to exotic cherries and berries, and from different liquors to floral essences, all resulting in me whipping up some pretty sassy cocktail concoctions.
When berries scream of the summer charm, it is extremely refreshing to add some floral essence, which goes perfectly well with the mist of monsoon. I absolutely love the captivating colours and the alluring fragrance of some of these super easy-to-make cocktails in the quarantine.
QUARANTINE COCKTAILS
| TANGO GINIE | |
| Ingredients:
2 large shots (120ml) Hendricks gin 1 teaspoon orange jam 1 lemon freshly squeezed Ice cubes Fresh orange peel for garnish |
Directions:
|
| SPRITZ FLORENTINE | |
| Ingredients:
Main alcohol – Prosecco 1 large shot (60ml) prosecco 35ml aperol Dash of soda water Ice cubes Orange slice for garnish |
Directions:
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| REDHEADED ANGEL | |
| Ingredients:
1 small shot (30ml) fresh cranberry juice 3 drops of berry extract 1 small shot (30ml) grapefruit juice Dash of soda Ice cubes 1 large shot (60ml) Rokugin Fresh cranberries to use on top |
Directions:
|
| GINROSE | |
| Ingredients:
1 large shot (60ml) Collagin Rose gin 1 fully squeezed lemon ½ fresh lemon juice Petals of the Indian pink rose (skip them if you don’t have) Ice cubes |
Directions:
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| BERRY BLOSSOM | |
| Ingredients:
1 large shot (60ml) Japanese Sake 1 tablespoon fresh orange pulp 1 teaspoon Chambord liqueur 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 fresh rosemary leaf twig |
Directions:
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| SPICY BLOODY MARY | |
| Ingredients:
1 large shot of Tomato juice 1 fully squeezed lemon 1 teaspoon wasabi paste 5 drops of green tabasco sauce 5 drops of habanero hot sauce 2 large shots of Beluga vodka 1 celery stick for topping Ice cubes |
Directions:
I make it with Glucon-D powder as its sweetness perfectly balances the spices of the drink.
|
| WOLVERINE | |
| Ingredients:
1 teaspoon absinthe 1 teaspoon orange-lime pulp 3 drops Angostura Bitters 1 large shot (60ml) Aberfeldy 18 Ice cubes A dash of soda |
Directions:
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BAR TOOLS
To see the recipe videos for all these amazing drinks, visit my Instagram page @studdedoncluster and click on Cocktail highlights.
Being the best mixologist works well in this pandemic – it is something the monsoon is demanding of us, giving us a break from all the distress the world is facing right now. Resting my quarantine cocktail on my bar top, I am hoping that we all are learning from what the nature is trying to teach us. All of the earth’s protectors to the activists who have been trying for years to create a sound awareness among people to save the planet, to keep mother earth green and flourishing, it’s time to start acknowledging their work. I would like to shout out three cheers to all those peacemakers who’ve played an active part in saving the nature. And, a grand salute also goes to all the people serving us on the frontlines today. Be it the workers at the hospitals, important service desks, all the police and guards doing their job fiercely, protecting all of us in this crisis – a heartfelt thank you to all of you! I will continue to be a responsible citizen to the best of my abilities, and give it my all to keep it going.
