Signature cocktails recipes

Signature cocktails recipe: Courtesy United Spirits Limited   

Black and White: Orange and Mint Julep

45ml Black and White, 4 slices of orange, 8-10 mint leaves, topped with Ginger ale. This drink is built in a hi-ball glass over cubed ice and stirred quickly before service.

Share your love for scotch with this sweet and refreshing drink -grainy and sweet notes of this exceptionally smooth Scotch whisky combined with the citrusy notes of orange pronounced with an aroma of mint.

 Black Dog Black Reserve: Sunset Cinnamon

45ml Black Dog Black Reserve, 10 ml Cinnamon syrup, 2 of Maraschino Cherries, 5 dashes Angostura bitters. Stir all the ingredients over ice and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Unwind yourself with our twist on the classic American cocktail, a rich sweetness from cinnamon stirred with Scotch and bitters served on the rocks.

 Red Label: The Red Label Mule

45ml Johnnie Walker Red Label, 2 squeezes fresh lime, 2 dashes of Angostura bitters and topped with Ginger ale. This drink is built in a hi-ball glass over cubed ice and stirred quickly before service to mix.

This simple serve displays Johnnie Red label at its finest, marrying the spice and smoky notes with ginger ale, a squeeze of citrus and a splash of bitters.

 Black Label: West Coast Julep

45ml Johnnie Walker Black Label, 20 ml ginger infused honey syrup, 30ml apple juice, 10 fresh mint leaves, 5 ml lime juice. Add all ingredients to shaker and shake hard. Then double strain into a rocks glass, add crushed ice and serve with a fresh mint sprig garnish.

Our twist on the classic American cocktail, fresh mint and a rich honey sweetness are shaken with apple and served on crushed ice for this nod to a whisky classic.

The above content has been extracted from USL's #LoveScotch Press Release and all rights belong to USL.

Music and Mind games at #LoveScotch Pub Crawl Week 2

Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us. ~  Martin Luther

The same could just as easily be said about Scotch! Requires a specialist to make, can soothe the mind and has to definitely got to be a gift from God.  :) 

Kudos to the creative guys at USL and their associate companies to bring together a Musical Talent and a Mind reader extraordinaire for the continued advocacy of Scotch. Nakul Shenoy and Anushka Manchanda, both Scotch lovers, multi talented and extremely energetic and fun people.

 

Week 2 of the #LoveScotch campaign saw us heading to 1 of my favorite brew pubs in #Bangalore, Arbor Brewing Company but the event kick started at 1 of the new hip joints, The Permit Room.

What was really nice to see was that the patrons of the pub really get excited on seeing the #LoveScotch cocktail menu and I noticed a lot of people ordering off that and waxing eloquent about it. 

 

What they perhaps dint realize is that the cocktails were being mixed by master mixologist Andrew Qadri who is a reserve brand ambassador for USL.
I had the unique opportunity to not only interact with him but also with James Walker another master mixologist and USL brand ambassador. Needless to say, am far more enlightened and wiser about Scotch :)

Meanwhile we had Anuskha and Nakul mixing up a storm of cocktails at the bar surrounded by admirers who wanted to taste all the magic.

I also got to spend some time discussing scotch with Anushka and Nakul and had some interesting stories to hear. From Nakuls love for VAT69 to Anushkas passion for Black Label, stemming from her dad's love for it.
Extremely sweet and jovial set of people.

Was also nice of Anushka to have decided to do an impromptu gig at ABC which had the crowd get really excited.

All in all a very memorable evening thanks to USL. Made even more special with the amazing set of friends and cocktails that go hand in hand :)

I was lucky Andrew mixed a special set of Red Label Mule for me that has me in love with this cocktail, making it my all time favorite. Step aside Whisky sour.

History will confirm i have never been buzzed at 9.30 ever before, but hey there's always a FIRST  :) LOL

Looking forward to week 3 :)

Drink responsibly 

#LoveScotch... A splendid evening involving #Scotch & scotch lovers

                                                      Love, love me do

You know I love you, I'll always be true, So please, love me do, Whoa, love me do.

Nostalgic inducing lyrics aren't they.

Well, I had a nostalgic filed Saturday evening.

The occasion was a momentous one.

World Whisky Day.

United spirits launched a stellar campaign, #LoveScotch.

Scotch is something we love to savor and this evening was certainly one to savor. It resonated with us whisky lovers perfectly.

The stage was set at ShangriLa Bangalore. The perfect location. Celebrities graced the occasion of this momentous launch at India's Pub Capital "Namma Bengaluru".

The Spotlight was completely focused on  

International Supermodel Coco Rocha.

Bangalore heartthrob Dino Morea.

The Punjabi Beauty Mandira Bedi.

The brooding hunk Randeep Hooda.

We got to interact with them, learn about their favorite whiskey and how they like to drink them. Not to miss out the fun photo shoot getting to take #Selfies and sound bytes with these beautiful and absolutely wonderful people. So down to earth and friendly, it felt like this was more a gathering of friends which is the magic one experiences when you get to indulge in your favorite Scotch although that part was to come later.

 

  

Would you like to know how each of them prefer to have their drink? Here is how they like their Scotch:

Coco Rocha - Loves Black Label with Ginger Ale. I got to try this one and I can vouch for this. It tasted like Heaven.

Mandira Bedi - Loves Singleton with 2 blocks ice. That's it. The perfect way to savor it. Hearing about how she shares a drink with her Dad when in Delhi was a delight.

Randeep Hooda - Is a Black Dog guy. Loves it as cocktails in the day and with ice and Water in the evenings.

Dino Morea - Loves Black & White. Favorite Cocktail is Whisky Sour :) 

The panel discussion and interaction between them was extremely fun and really had the crowd cheering and wanting more. Hearing about their stories, anecdotes and incidents was the highlight.

Like Randeep Hooda owns a horse called Johnnie Walker.

Mandira Bedi has a ritualistic drink with her father every time she is in Delhi. 

And best of all is that when Rajiv Mehta, CEO Arvind Lifestyles ltd. was at INSEAD Singapore, he revealed professors used to allow students to drink alcohol in class if it helped them do better. 

Can you believe that?

The party then moved to Skyye Bar at UB City where the crowd went crazy on spotting the celebration. People were jostling for space to get a glimpse of their favorite stars.


The finale was at Sanchos UB city where we wound down our pub crawl with more celebrity mixing and scotch tasting. I do wish we could have spent more time at the pub crawls but all in all it was an extremely memorable evening. One that has memories to cherish for a lifetime.





To top it all we got to taste some extremely brilliant cocktails made by some very talented people behind the bar. A very well put together ensemble of ingredients left everybody wanting MORE!

        

We also got to see the stars mixing their own drinks and creating interesting cocktails. I wish we could taste them but Dino Morea assured me that they came out really well. 

                  


Looking forward to the next one.

P.S. ALWAYS #DrinkResponsibly and remember, Never Drink and Drive :)

Celebrated Fashion Brand GENES - Lecoanet Hemant present its edgy-cool Spring/Summer 2016 collection at the Ritz Carlton Bangalore.

It was a perfect Summer evening for the preview of a wonderful Collection.

Some gentle breeze, the stunning Volvo S60 on display, perfect Ritz Carlton backdrop and chilled wine set the mood for this evening to remember.

What I loved about the collection was it wasn't exotic or over the top. It was stylish, creative, and well thought through keeping the brands consumers in mind. It's a brand you will see me spot soon enough due to its sheer wear ability and at a price bracket where designer wear is truly affordable. Here are some pictures from the Preview show.

Below is a Press Release of the event as shared by Ritz Carlton:

The Ritz Carlton Bangalore in association with Volvo Cars, Jyotiee Balani together with Didier Lecoanet & Hemant Sagar plays host to an exclusive preview of the Spring/Summer 2016 Collection by GENES – Lecoanet Hemant. The brand’s latest collection will be showcased in an enthralling fashion filled evening, as guests will enjoy a fusion of fashion, a display of Volvo’s latest luxury car model, delicious appetizers and wines at the lawns of The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore.

About the collection:

GENES - Lecoanet Hemant, the accessible prêt label by Indo- French designers Hemant Sagar and Didier Lecoanet has launched its edgy-cool Spring/Summer 2016 collection online at genestribe.com.

Stemming from the label’s vision to create ‘Fashion For Life’, the Spring Summer 2016 Collection presents options for contemporary dressing, that are inspired by the New Millenials - their lifestyles and the need to express their individuality in a connected world. 
With sequined embroidered blouses, cutwork dresses, floral shorts and appliqué separates for women; the new collection brings fresh, stylish perspective to the season. The gentlemen don’t fall far behind, with floral-tinted t-shirts, funky waistcoats, and checkered suits to look forward to. In hues of white, black and navy blue, there’s pops of olive and burnt tangerine – in styles inspired by two fashionable decades – the Sixties and Seventies. Split into three segments, Work, Play and Celebrate, the line re-interprets shirt dresses, skirt suits, flared pants and tailored, semi-casual suits, adding a lively dimension to your wardrobe.

About the Brand:

GENES  – Lecoanet Hemant is a brand of stylish ready-to-wear introduced to offer chic basics and contemporary classics with an Indo-French edge. The brand is perfect for comfortable travel, leisure or business for the modern Indian.

About Lecoanet Hemant:

They have dressed international film stars, exotic princesses and French aristocrats. Award-winning designers Hemant Sagar and Didier Lecoanet combine fluid silhouettes with intricate detailing - bringing the precision of high fashion to ready to wear. Couturiers since the 1980s - they opened their first shop on Paris’s Faubourg Saint Honore. Lecoanet Hemant is today based in Delhi.

About The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore

The first Ritz Carlton hotel in India, the Ritz –Carlton, Bangalore is situated in the central business district providing expansive city views featuring 277 luxurious guest rooms and suites, 6 contemporary food and beverage venues, city’s only luxury roof top bar, unmatched and dedicated wellness floor, exceptional meeting rooms for large and medium sized events coupled with the legendary Ritz-Carlton personalized service. To learn more, please visit www.ritzcarlton/bangalore

Perfect gifts for Him and Her to put them in High Spirits

NOTE: The below post is suitable for people above the age of 21 years only.

Take a moment to go back in time, when you were buying a gift for someone you love, you surely would have anticipated their reaction and wondered if they will cherish and value the amount of time and effort you put in to buying them that gift.

After all gifting someone gives you as much joy as it does to the receiver as you sharing into their happiness.

But lets face it, we all have struggled many a times with what to buy people on their special occasion. What do they like, what would they appreciate, what colors would they prefer, do they already have the same one? Will it fit, will they use it, will it be saved for forward gifting it to someone else..... and the confusion can go on and on and on

WELL, ALL THIS HAS NOW CHANGED NOW!

United Spirits has launched their #ScotchAsAGift collection that comprises of some of India's finest Scotch brands i.e. #Vat69 , #BlackDog and #Black&White. (No pics of the bottles as you better be aware of how they look ;) )
The perfect ensemble of Scotch that is suitable for any occasion.
Think about it, its a perfect gift, no matter how many bottles of Scotch someone may already have, it will never be enough.
Whether you drinks socially or to celebrate an occasion or just to unwind, Scotch is the perfect accompaniment for everybody. It is classy, sophisticated, timeless and suits every palette and can be enjoyed either alone or with friends and family,

The launch event was held at the #TajWestEnd last evening and had 3 of the hottest Bollywood Celebrities #ChitrangdaSingh, #LisaHaydon & #ShibaniDandekar grace the occasion and share their joys of Gifting Scotch to their loved ones.

The panel discussion moderated by Anu Menon

The verdict after the panel discussion was unanimous - Scotch is the perfect Gifting choice for any occasion.

We were also able to interact with the 3 guests of honour and it was truly a privilege for me to be able to spend a few moments with each of them.

With the Gorgeous Chitrangda Singh

With the stunning Lisa Haydon

Selfie with Shibani Dandekar

So the next time you looking at gifting something to a loved one, Get #ScotchAsaGift

P.S.

Drink Responsibly.

DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE.

Missed the Bus.. but still walking

There are times in your life when you standing on the edge and you ask your self -

1- Should I jump across this ledge
2 - Climb down,
3 - Keep walking beside it
4 - Just go back and find another route

No matter which way you decide to go, whether you are right or wrong is not determined by your choice but by your efforts to make it the right choice.

At times, on the route you chose, you wonder if you made the wrong decision, that you forcing the outcome, just to prove that you were right.
Like if you decide to jump across the ledge and when your hanging in the air for those precious few seconds, all kinds of thoughts go through your mind. Did I jump right? Do I have enough velocity? Will I make it?


In the end I ask you, Does it matter? Maybe you dint make a clean jump, perhaps you bruised a knee in the process? Would you consider that a failure? Or can you say, I know where I went wrong, I learnt I needed to to compensate for the wind force and the bruised knee only leaves a nice scar for me to share tales of my adventures in future years?

After all, isn't success how you define it? Could success be that you gathered the courage to jump and not take the safe route back?

To me, as to many what really matters is how to play with the cards dealt to you.

You may have missed a bus but are you still walking to wards the destination where you can perhaps catch another bus?

Think about it...

Topic Ek, tweets Anek

On 26th May 2015 the Modi Led BJP (NDA) Government completed 1 year and has planned several celebration activities (ads in news papers, 200+ rallies across the country etc).

Given India's increasing digital presence and BJP's strong use of the online media to reach out to Indians especially while campaigning, a twitter activity was never going to be far behind. While almost all of Modi's followers got the coveted DM's they also ran a official hashtag #SaalEkShuruaatAnek

And 1 of my fav aspects of twitter is how people can take an idea and spawn off multiple uses of that idea.

Truly its a - Sooch ek, Ideas anek!

I have shared a set of my fav tweets by India's twitteratti below. Please suggest more in the comments and will add them too :)

Choose wisely!

Shhhhhh....

This is relevant for sooo many people

From the world of E-commerce 

Profound

Summarizes Religion perfectly

You see a correlation in the 2?

Half of Bangalore will know all about this!

Insaan ka kartavya hota hain, koshihs karna!

Ghar Wapasi

Kisne kiska chori kiya?

Isne to ulta kardiya

Read to book to know more!

Ouch..

Every Engineer will vouch for this

Relationships 

The better looking neighbors right?

Traffic woes

There are tons and tons more. Please drop links in comment section below and I would love to add them