It’s when the temperatures are soaring and the heat is in the air that your body needs chillers prepared with ice and everything nice. Thirst quenchers and hydrating drinks are the order of the day — especially in Indian summers — and are the pick for many a people to beat the scorching heat.
What’s interesting is that whisky, loved by many, gets relegated to the back of the shelves the moment the mercury soars. There’s a general misconception that whisky is best enjoyed in winters, early spring or the rainy season alone. In the hotter months, it’s traded off for beer and other cooling spirits.
Now, while it’s true that the warm finish of whisky tends to leave one feeling flushed as it washes down your throat, it’s not completely accurate that the drink can’t be consumed all year round. Yes, even with the summer heat!
Whether you mix it with some ginger ale, or on the rocks, or even with some cocktails, it can be delicious and won’t leave you feeling heavy. With an increased demand for cocktails in India, bartenders are going out of their way to come up with innovative signature cocktails prominently featuring whisky in these concoctions.
The fact that Indians love their whisky is a well-known fact. In fact, I would go to the extent of saying that we’ve always been obsessed with whisky. And truth is that for many, having a neat shot of whisky — or even sipping on neat drinks — during summers can be an unpleasant experience. It can leave you feeling hot and sweaty.
The solution is to give the chilling effect. How? Well, don’t go about putting the bottle of your favourite whisky in the fridge! Play smart and mix it sensibly.
Ditch that hot toddy, because whisky also goes incredibly well with the perfect summer ingredients like citrus and mint. And there are summer cocktails like The Scottish Breeze, that are not just refreshing, but also don’t camouflage the bold and intense character of whisky.
To make yourself a glass, mix some blended Scotch whisky with fresh pineapple juice, lime juice, kaffir lime syrup, orange bitters, and a hint of peaty Scotch from Islay.
Not many know about Paul John’s Indian single malt, but it’s the main ingredient of a drink we like to call Incredible India. The brilliance of the drink goes well combined with some spiced maraschino syrup. Add a splash of lime juice, some angostura bitters, and top it up with ginger ale. This will soon become a best friend for all of your summer — provided whisky is your choice of drink.
Then there’s the classic Honey Ginger and Jack. Yes folks, Jack Daniel’s isn’t just a ‘mix with coke’ drink. It can make for a refreshing summer cocktail, with a unique combination of honey, freshly pressed ginger juice, lime juice, fresh mint and angostura bitters. A sip is all you’ll need to fall in love with this drink!
— Himanshu is the beverage innovation head at Massive Restaurants
