Beverage Blog India

Mumbai, India
Last time the piece I wrote on how Indian bars cheat customers drew a lot of ire from unscrupulous bars who thought that as a beverage professional I shouldn’t have written it and let the beans spill.  Thankfully, the good bars were a happy lot. Now there is the other side of the story where bartenders sweat it out to delight their customers but are driven to the edge by the same guests. Here is what the Indian bartenders hate about their customers

There is no alcohol in my cocktail                                                                                                                                                                          After all that alcohol that goes into making of an LIIT or such tall drinks, it is irritating for a bartender to hear complaints of less alcohol being poured. Please remember, the sweeter the cocktail the less is the perception of alcohol. Some bartenders for the customer’s sake or insistence pour that extra alcohol however it just doesn’t help the customer to be in control of their alcohol levels.
 
I will make my own drink
 In a busy bar, customer’s often use their loyalty and recognition as a tool to pull out a bottle behind the bar and helping themselves with a drink.  Imagine someone intruding into your space at work especially when the bartender’s are responsible to pay for alcohol shortages.
 
I love to Snap
Whistling, snapping one’s fingers and other such condescending behaviors to seek attention of a bartender certainly shows one’s upbringing or lack of one. Give respect and take respect, an adage still holds true.
 
I love to order after closing time
The last drinks were announced repeatedly but there will be a few customers who still want to order post closing time and they literally pester the gullible staff. Please remember the bartenders don’t go home as soon as the last customer leaves, they have their closing checklists and tasks to clean the bar and make it ready for the next day. Please be kind and stick to the timing, the bartender does have a life outside of work!
 
Am I running away?
When asked to clear the bills after a round of drinks at a busy bar, “Will pay it at the end, here is my credit Card.” is many a times the response.  When the bartender insists, “Am I running away” is a certain response. Please remember you may not be a fraud, but there are enough ‘respectable looking people’ who come with stolen cards, cancelled cards with a plan to plunder as much in a given night. All such unpaid bills are often paid by the bartender from his salary.  Next time, clear the bills and don’t be fussy.
 
Don’t you know I love free shots/discounts
A discount/ free shots/freebies etc which were a tool to delight the customer have become a norm these days. Alcohol is expensive and there are considerable costs to run a bar, if you get a discount great,  you may wan’t  to ask once, no harm; but please do not be persuasive and bothersome. 
 
I want my drinks in 3 seconds
Drinks take time to make and a good bartender will always give you a good drink without shortcuts. Please be patient especially on a busy night, moreover if you see the bartenders trying their best.
 
I love a private bar counter
The bar counter may be a prime position to be at, but don’t be a jerk to block it during a busy night as there are other people trying to buy drinks, be a little more socially responsible.
 
I love to poke my nose!
Do not interrupt conversations between the bartender and a fellow guest. Everybody is trying to get their drinks; you will get your chance.
 

​Mumbai, India
Come 2019 and we look to yet another vintage for the Indian wine industry with a hope of favourable conditions! 80% of the wine is made in the vineyard and the remainder in the winery with an able wine maker at the helm. Each year the conditions in the vineyard differ and the winemaker uses all the experience to make the best possible wine given the vintage. Here are the Indian red wines from 2018 which left  an impression on  us last year.
 
Reveilo Shiraz reserve  - Rs 1245
From the family-owned co, this wine aged in new oak barrel showcased intense ripe fruit with sweetness from the oak. A slight touch of smoke and sweetness makes this wine alluring for the Indian palate.
 
Krsma Cabernet Sauvignon – Rs 1500
It  is certainly one if India’s best wine export. This red has the strenghth, the balance and the finesse to woo the seasoned as much as the newbie’s palate. It is currently available in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
 
Chene by Grover Zampa – Rs 1850
This tempranillo –Shiraz blend from Nashik sees the oak barrel for over a year and certainly needs decanting of atleast 30 minutes before you drink it. And yes, Chene means Oak in French. One of the best wines in India.
 
Sula Rasa Cabernet Sauvignon – Rs 1850
A French oak aged Cabernet made with grapes from select pockets of Dindori, Nashik is one of the most exclusive from the Sula portfolio. Rasa takes its name from the initials of Rajeev Samant, they say.
 
Sula Dindori Reserve Shiraz – Rs 1095
Dindori is one of the most revered plots in the Nashik viticulture scene and the the Shiraz from Sula has been a workhorse produce a good wine with Oak nuances at a avery good price point.
 
Vijay Amritraj  Shiraz Cabernet Viognier – Rs 1395
Named after the Tennis great, the VA red impresses with its depth and elegance. This award winning wine going by its name is an absolute Ace.
 
Reveilo Sangiovese – Rs 745
Reveilo with its Italian winemaking connection  launched the Sangiovese; a Tuscan grape variety back in 2010 an it has been popular amongst patrons for its easy drinking style with a refreshing acidity and fruit. 

Mumbai, India
Are cocktails taking you for a ride?     
The cocktail scene in the country is picking up however we are far away from even making a scratch on the world scene. The reasons being, not so knowledgeable customer, not so knowledgeable bar management and the third are the knowledgeable but unscrupulous businessmen. In the city there are very good VFM bars, there are very good luxury bars, there are average bars across price points and then there poor bars. The scariest of them of all are poor bars charging you a luxury price for all the frills around than the cocktail itself. What helps these bars fool you?
Dry Ice
Solid Carbon or dry ice was originally used and still is to freeze things in the f&b context. The usage then extended to the creating a fog like effect in food displays and in todays dates it is rampantly being used for theatrics in cocktail and food presentations.  The question is, does the smoke let the establishment charge you more?  Also if the CO2 is coming touch with your drink, is the dry ice food grade? Lastly even if food grade dry ice is put in your individual drink, do ensure that it has vapourized completely as pieces of it can cause burns in your mouth.
Liquid Nitrogen
This potent liquid with a potential to freeze a la minute is seemingly child’s play today as any person with a chef coat or a bartender’s attire is using it like mayo in a footlong. No wonder that a hapless victim’s gut was burnt on consuming a drink with liquid nitrogen somewhere in Gurgaon.  At -196 degree Celsius it is to be treated as carefully as boiling water, if not more. Liquid nitrogen can enhance a cocktail or food experience but it is not the core of the food or drink. Why pay more for a gimmick?
Fancy Glassware
Burgers in a mini truck, drinks out of a ceramic skull and other such presentations are great to catch ones attention but the point to ponder upon is; how are they cleaned?  If you look at the crevices, no brush but only roaches and mould can reach there. Stay away from such glassware or ask the question… how do you clean them?  Also in darker places, switch on your mobile torch and take a good look at the ‘train’ or ‘tractor’ that your food/drink was served in. You may be taken aback!
Molecular
It is science meeting the art of cooking to create something wonderful but only if it is done right. With DIY molecular kits available, many are trying to get molecular to attract customers, but are they getting their act right!!! Next time you eating  a sphere or a sphaghetti shot,ask yourself if you really enjoyed it and the taste or were you wowed by the term ‘molecular’. Most good bars have shunned this and gone back to basics with real fruit.
Smoke guns
‘A monkey wielding a sword’ is the idiom that stands true for the usage of smoke guns today. The smoke from the gun is used to add that extra nuance to the drink but these young boys decimate it as there is no proper guidance. Most places use it as a gimmick than put it to real culinary use. It is all smoke and no fire.
Sugarrrrr
These days with drives to cut down on sugar in soft drinks to packaged food, Cocktails can be offenders too.  Many cocktail places lace their cocktails using cheap spirits with a variety of syrups, packaged juices and aerated drinks and these ticking sugar bombs will sooner or later grip you by your pancreas!