How to customize Ready To Drink (RTD) Cocktails

The scorching Indian summer is at its worst and it’s time for thirst quenchers. Purists would argue that the best possible way to do so is like God intended it - with simple aqua. No disputing that, except if life were so simple then we’d still probably be eating raw vegetables! A change beyond the humdrum is what we often seek and in the beverages context, cocktails embody the spirit of innovation.

However,  preparing a cocktail from the scratch is not everybody's chalice of wine and this is where RTDs or Ready to Drink cocktails score.

Recently I gave a closer look to some of the RTDs  available in the Indian market. Not being a particular fan of RTDs-  believing that there is no substitute to freshly made drinks- I also acknowledge  RTDs for the convenience they carry, especially when you are pressed for time or do not have the inclination to assemble the requisite paraphernalia.

A nagging problem with RTDs though, is that they are formulated on the  “one size fits all” approach. This brought me to ponder about customizing them to individual requirements. Some trials in my newly created "Colonel Joe Labs"  and the results have me excited enough to share these here.

But before that, let's have a quick look at some simple steps to customise a cocktail :

Adhering to the above guidelines, I tweaked the following RTDs (Prices indicated are ex Delhi).

Cocktail Genre # 1: Sangria

General facts: The drink owes its name to the word 'Sangre' which is Spanish for 'blood'. It is a red wine based cocktail added with a little bit of alcohol and other mixers, thereafter steeped with fruit chunks and chilled for several hours.

Cocktail Genre # 2: Carbonated (Bacardi Breezers)

General facts: Carbonated cocktails are fun and facile particularly with the younger crowd. They are a good alcoholic option to Coke, Fanta and the ilk. Mostly with lower alcoholic content (close to regular beers) , they are a good proposition for people new to alcoholic beverages. Plus there is always the option to fortify the drink with more alcohol if required.

Cocktail Genre #3: International Classics

General Facts: International classics like Cosmopolitan, Mojito, Margarita etc. have been around as RTDs since decades and are preferred the world over for their connaissance amongst cocktail lovers. However, the taste differs from brand to brand and a person who has experienced the real mojo will instantly separate the chalk from cheese.

The following cocktails are from the brand William Pitterson which is owned by the iconic French liqueur producer Marie Brizard. When I first presented William Pitterson (WP) cocktails at a Cocktail and Food pairing to an agog audience, I was surprised at the level of freshness they carried. 

All the WP variants were so delightful that had they been served blind, I could have mistaken them coming from ingredients fresh from garden. 

However that does not imply that you cannot improvise on them to suit your taste, or more importantly, serve them optimally.

Getting High on Spiritz 2014

In early 2013, when Shalini Kumar, Editor Spiritz magazine discussed with me her  vision of organising a mega trade and consumer event  for the Alcoholic Beverages (Alcobev) domain, memories of a mammoth event organized by the IT giant IBM at hotel Rennaissance, Mumbai came afresh to my mind. The IBM event had a similar concept- of having something for everyone, and I could literally visualize  the scale of Shalini’s perspective.  But like any major endeavour, cusecs of proverbial water had to flow under the bridge before Spiritz 2014 could became a reality on 9^th  and 10^th May 2014 at Hotel Leela Ambience, Gurgaon, setting a benchmark for  the years to come.

The fixture, spread literally across acres of floor area, saw some stimulating discussions by industry think tank, euphoric beverages showcasings and multi course food pairing meals that culminated into a Filmfare style awards nite and a gala dinner. My contribution to this extravaganza was in the form of two pairing lunches- one each with  Beer and Cocktails, that were attended by a select group of enthusiasts. More on that later, but first a bird’s eye view of those electrifying two days:

Organization of Spiritz 2014

Spiritz Think Pad: A stimulating  forum where discussions and motivating talks by Industry think-tank provided a deep insight into the latest developments and current issues facing the alcobev industry.

Pop up bars: Day long tastings and innovative cocktails showcasing a diverse range of alcoholic beverages.

Tasting Tables: Focussed beverage tastings by competent mixologists highlighting the niche of respective products.

Pairing Lunches and Dinner: Two lunches- one each with Godfather beer and Pitterson cocktails from France, and a dinner with Glenfiddich Single Malt Whisky.

Culinary Workshops: Hands on workshops by celebrity Chefs Kunal Kapur, Saby and others.

Awards and Gala Dinner: A glittering awards function where the who’s-who of the society descended . These comprised of Ambassadors of nations, achievers from different professional domains and Industry veterans.

The Pairing Lunches

These were select gatherings of beverages enthusiasts drawn from different walks of life and were an outcome of several rounds of tastings and sittings with chefs to arrive at an optimally paired menu. The whole premise of the lunches was to tread beyond the realm of Wine and Food pairing and explore compatibility of food with different alcoholic beverages. 

Getting clicked with Beverages Enthusiasts

 

Lunch # 1

Date : 09 May 2014

Theme:  Pairing with Godfather Beer (Devan Breweries)

Pairing Premise

Starter Course

 Godfather Electra (ABV 5.3%) 

A light lager with delightfully refreshing palate and aromas of citrus fruits and malt. 

The refreshing acidity of the beer complemented the creamy texture of food by cleaning the palate like a blank slate before the next bite. The crunchy  greens too,  supplemented the freshness quotient.

Main Course

Godfather Strong (ABV 7.5%) 

A full bodied intensely malty lager with spicy and floral highlights. 

The steely structure and complex flavours of the beer stood up famously to the robust texture of the food owing to protein predominance and rusticity of cooking methods.

Dessert Course

GODiva 

A special cocktail formulated by our team using Godfather Elektra, Crème de Cacao, Lemon Juice, Angostura Bitters and garnished with roasted coffee beans.

 The citrus hints and good levels of acidity of the beer  melded well with the  lemon sorbet. Similarly, the crème de cacao and pleasing bitter balance of Angostura bitters complemented the chocolate mousse and nutty chilly chocolate tart.

Lunch # 2Date : 10 May 2014

Theme: Pairing with Pitterson Cocktails
(Cocktails from the house of Marie Brizard, France, brought in India by Belvedere Vodka)

Pairing Premise

Starter Course

William Pitterson Vodka Orange (ABV 15%)

A well proportioned mix of Vodka and Orange juice which is extremely refreshing. This preparation is also famously known as the classic « Screwdriver ».

  The freshnness of food imparted by elements like salads, delicate tartar preparations and creamy coulis married well to the  uber fresh and peppy nature of the cocktail.

Soup Course 

William Pitterson Cosmopolitan (ABV 15%). 

A cocktail made world famous by the TV series “Sex and the City” its constituents are Vodka, Orange liqueur, Cranberry juice and lemon juice. This RTD version was perfectly balanced with evident use of quality ingredients.

 The light palate of the consommé contrasting with the creaminess of cheese and olive ravioli created a continuum of textures that made the complex flavours of Cosmopolitan stand out distinctly.

Main Course 

William Pitterson Mojito (ABV 15%).  

Another classic, Mojito encapsulates the distinct flavour of white rum with the zestiness of crushed  lemon and mint . This RTD version conveyed all these traits quite well.

  The crusty surface of food yielding into its entrapped juiciness and varying textures of the accompaniments was a perfect match for the strong and refreshing character of Mojito.

Dessert Course 

William Pitterson Asian Spirit (ABV 15%).

An innovative cocktail with a dominant litchi flavour and a Vodka base emphatically conveying its Asian orientation- and hence the name.

 Every sample of the dessert platter had something to go along with the cocktail. While the creamy Cheese Cake and Phirni had good company in the acidity of the cocktail, the Kesar Pista Kulfi was the recipient of an extra dimension in the form of its  intense litchi flavour.

Summing it up

Being the first ever event of its kind, Spiritz 2014 has been a welcome development for the Indian alcobev industry. Apart from facilitating  B2B and B2C interaction, the mega show also acknowledged industry performers and afforded a direct consumer connect to producers  for a real time market feel. The start with a bang is bound to follow up with wider avenues of beverage bliss!