Refreshing cocktails

Maaya, the lavish watering hole in Swissotel Kolkata, offers more than just a well-padded cocktail menu. Since the club overlooks the city’s airport, you sip your favourite cocktail even as you watch planes take off in the distance.

The man in charge is Mayank Tewari, manager of Splash (the sky lounge) and Maaya (the club).

The 31-year-old Tewari started with TGIF, in Bangalore in 2000 after completing a diploma course in hotel management from the International Institute of Advanced Studies in Siliguri. In his early days at TGIF he was transferred to the bar where he picked up his skills. “Here, I got to handle a variety of spirits some of which I had only read about before. My days here were a huge learning experience,” he says.

In 2003 Tewari joined the Library Bar at The Leela Palace, Bangalore, and two years later joined Tantra at The Park as manager. He worked there till he joined Swissotel in March.

Tewari specialises in mixing light and refreshing cocktails. “After a long day’s work, people like something that helps them relax,” he says. So, he uses a lot of herbs like mint, coriander and basil to add zing to his drinks.

He shares three refreshing recipes with us.

Angel on Horse back

Glass: Martini

Ingredients: 30ml vodka, 180ml apple juice, 1 cinnamon stick, 2tbs honey 4 cloves

Method: Put the cloves and cinnamon in the apple juice and bring to a boil. Strain the mixture and chill. When you’re ready to serve, mix it with vodka and honey in a glass and shake well. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Out of World

Glass: Pilsner

Ingredients: 60ml vodka, 180ml tender coconut water, ½tsp black salt, a dash of lemon juice, 30ml sugar syrup, 10 mint sprigs, 1 lemon slice, cherries

Method: Take all the ingredients and add sugar syrup to it. Add some mint leaves and mix in a blender. Fill a glass with crushed ice and strain the drink into it. Garnish with mint leaves, a slice of lemon and cherries.

Blushing bride

Glass: Martini

Ingredients: 30ml vodka, 30ml Bacardi, 15ml khus syrup, a dash of lemon juice, a dash of sugar syrup, 1 cherry, crushed ice

Method: Put all the ingredients in a blender with ice and mix. Garnish with a cherry and serve the drink frozen.


The Personal Telegraph
As told to Suktara Ghosh