It was somewhere in the latter half of the 19th century when the British soldiers began mixing quinine with sugar, water and gin and created a ‘tonic’ that would ‘help’ them fight malaria and other perennial diseases while keeping them charged. Cut to 2021, gin has now become the life of parties, pubs and bars. Gin is an alcoholic distilled drink that derives its fruity tones from Juniper berries. Hailing from Europe, gin is one of the most popular spirits among bartenders who love using it as a base for many cocktails. We sat down with Hemant Mundkur, Brand Ambassador, Bombay Sapphire who helped us break down this upswing trend in the popularity of gin, especially among youth. While we were at it, we also took notes on some easy cocktails we can make for the festive weekend, blunders to avoid, tips to make perfect day cocktails and more. Excerpts from the interview.
1. What do you think is the reason behind the rising popularity of Gin and Tonic
Gin & Tonic harmonise to create the perfect go-to cocktail; it is easy to make yet it offers a complex taste and flavour. Additionally, you can elevate this simple drink by adding just one ingredient like a herb or spice or even fresh fruit. It serves as the perfect canvas for people to experiment with and add layers of flavours and complexity. The popularity of the drink has also risen because gin is now fast-growing, and a large number of consumers are experimenting with the spirit. In most cases the best way to assess the quality of the gin is by making a G&T. Lastly, it is one tasty drink.
2. Can you tell us about the first-ever cocktail you made?
The first gin cocktail I ever made was a tall, refreshing glass of one of the classics, Tom Collins.
3. A recent cocktail experiment that you are proud of?
I’m a big fan of using local flavours in cocktails, so I recently created a twist to the Tom Collins by making a ginger & turmeric syrup and adding it to the drink. The drink had a pungency of spice and a nice earthy finish that worked very well with the gin.
4. 5 easy cocktails you would recommend for a house party or coming festive weekend?
When you’ve got friends coming over for a house party, you want to create something unique and memorable for them to experience together. But at the same time, you also want to have easily available ingredients and uncomplicated techniques so you don’t break a sweat. Keeping all this in mind, here are some interesting gin cocktails for you to try out this season.
- South Side – Gin, Mint, Lime & Sugar
- Gin Rickey – Gin, Soda, Lime
- Negroni – Gin, Sweet Vermouth, Italian Bitter Liqueur
- French 75 – Gin, Lime, Sugar & Champagne.
- Bees Knees – Gin, Honey, Lime
A pro-tip for those making cocktails for a house party. Make them in bulk before the party starts so you aren't stuck behind the bar.
5. Few blunders we can avoid.
- To avoid accidents, make sure you have a sharp knife while cutting fruits/garnishes (be careful though)
- Never handle glasses by the rim, only by the base.
- Make sure your cocktail shaker is sealed tightly while making cocktails so that it doesn’t burst open.
6. A cocktail you would like to serve to your favourite celebrity, and who would he/she be?
I would serve the perfectly balanced, Last Word cocktail to Matthew McConaughey because that drink is All right, All right, All right (grins.)
7. What according to you serves as the best base for ‘day drinks/cocktails?’
Gin serves as the perfect base for daytime drinks, especially cocktails as most of them are citrus-forward and refreshing.
8. A pro-tip you would like to give us mixing drinks at home.
This should go without saying but please don’t make shaken cocktails with carbonated beverages. Also, ensure that you have plenty of ice at home if you are hosting a cocktail party. At least 5 kgs for 8 to 10 people. One can easily and without a hassle concoct a Foghorn cocktail with some Gin, Ginger Ale & Lime in a highball glass with ice.
9. Any word of advice for budding mixologists
As you experiment with new drinks, ensure that you taste every single ingredient as this will help you understand, create and pair flavours together as you try new drinks.