Natural extracts and flavours in stylish glassware—from martinis and daiquiris to tall and slender collins—is the flavour of the season, while artisanal gin continues to be as popular as ever. Here are five innovative cocktails for the New Year, picked by Viju Raj, mixologist and beverage consultant at Blaq, Delhi, and Club Fenicia, Kolkata.
ANOTHER DRINK
Basil-infused gin with aromatic bitters stirred with ice
Ingredients
Gin 60ml
Basil 5 sprigs
Bitters 2 dash
Ice Cubes 10
Lime juice 10ml
Glassware Martini
Garnish Fresh basil sprigs
Method
Keep fresh basil in gin overnight. Take 60ml of gin and add all the ingredients. Shake well and strain into a pre-chilled martini glass
CITRUS JAR
White rum with homemade orange marmalade, cinnamon jam and lemon juice served with cinnamon sugar rim and orange jujubes
Ingredients
White rum 45ml
Orange marmalade 30gm
Orange peel
Cinnamon tincture (vodka soaked with cinnamon)
Lime juice 10ml
Ice cubes 10
Glassware Daiquiri
Garnish Orange jujubes
Method
Shake the ingredients well in a cocktail shaker and strain into a daiquiri glass. Garnish with orange jujubs.
MY KIND O COCKTAIL
White rum with cold-pressed pineapple and basil juice shaken with lemon juice, topped with club soda and served with a dehydrated pineapple slice
Ingredients
White rum 60ml
Basil 2 sprigs
Cold-pressed pineapple juice 90ml
Lime juice 10ml
Club soda to top up
Ice cubes 10
Glassware Tall collins
Garnish Dehydrated pineapple slice
Method
Take fresh basil, muddle gently, add ice and the rest of the ingredients and shake well. Strain into a tall collins glass with some fresh ice cubes and top it with club soda
BLAQ STEM
Vodka with cold-pressed watermelon juice tampered with star anise, aromatic bitters and lemon juice.
Ingredients
Vodka 45ml
Cold-pressed watermelon juice 80ml
Star anise 1 (garnish)
Star anise tincture 15ml (vodka soaked with star anise)
Lime juice 10ml
Aromatic bitters 2 dash
Ice cubes 10
Glassware Old fashioned
Garnish Watermelon balls and star anise
Method
Take cold-pressed watermelon juice, vodka, lime juice and star anise tincture and stir well. Strain into an old fashioned glass and serve with watermelon balls and star anise