Varun's Semi-Random Ramblings

I am Vineet, Varun’s younger brother presently pursuing Hotel Management at M.S. Ramaiah College in Bangalore.

I love bartending, it is one of my hobbies. I sometimes bartend for Tulleeho (in India they market all the brands owned by Diageo) and also at private parties. Since my 2nd year I have been participating in inter-college competitions and usually take part in the Bartending competition. Have won 3 of them in the last 2 years.

All the bartending competitions usually have the same judging criteria – innovativeness, flair, concept, grooming of the bartender and also his style in presenting them. One has to make an innovative cocktail. Last year there was another inter-college competition at KLE College in Bangalore. I had won the same competition there the previous year and wanted to win this time also.

Considering I am a big lazy bum I usually have to be pushed and pushed and pushed (until I fall over) to come up with something innovative.

We had 2 days left for the competition and I still had no idea what to make. It usually takes more than one brain in the Service team to come up with something innovative. So I, my Food and Beverage Service lecturer, Mr. Bobby George and another friend of mine, Asif Khan were sitting and wondering what to make. Asif had this wonderful cocktail which included Bacardi (white rum), dark rum, lime juice, sprite and crushed ice.

Around the same time Tata Steel took over Corus, the 2nd or 3rd largest Indian takeover of a foreign company, increasing its steel production so much so that from 56th it became the 5th largest steel group (wowwwwwwwww). Another company Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN) lost the bid for Corus. It became clear to us that this would be news for at least a week.

So we decided to build a concept for our cocktail around this news. I like experimenting with alcohol, like using chilies, mushrooms and dates for infusion in Vodka, chocolate and cherries in Bacardi, various spices in old monk(dark rum) etc.

The name of this cocktail is Footprint. This is how the idea goes…

1. We used the chocolate flavored Bacardi which represented the “fair-skinned” Anglo-Dutch Company Corus.
2. My home made spices flavored rum representing apna Indi Company Tata Steel (considering we are dark skinned)
3. Sprite to represent the fizz this news created in the market.
4. Crushed ice which would tell the world “chill people there are going to be more Indian takeovers in the future” (and indeed within a month, I think Aditya Birla Group takeover of Novelis took place).
5. A dash of lime juice depicting the bitter feeling that this takeover left behind on CSN.
6. The garnish we used was the best part of the concept. Half Lime scooped off everything inside and turned inside out. It would have a little bit of rum inside which would be flamed and placed on top of the cocktail with soft hands so that it floats (u should use a considerable amount of crushed ice probably fill the glass with crushed ice). While presenting u push the lime in so that the rum floats on top and give the cocktail a very good color. This would represent that previously Indian companies were in a shell, were only ‘Indian’ in nature, now they are spreading and becoming more global through JVs and takeovers.

The most important rule that we follow is use the cheapest ingredient while first making a cocktail. This is because in case you realize you have made a mistake midway you do not have much loss (considering each cocktail would be priced around 300 to 400 rs in a good hotel in Bangalore). The judges were big shots in the hotel industry).

Method of preparation:

1. Make the garnish prior to making the cocktail. Saves you time.
2. SO fill a glass with crushed ice.
3. In another mixing glass or shaker pour 45 ml of Bacardi (infused with Cadbury chocolate) and a dash of lime juice and stir it.
4. Pour it in the glass with crushed ice.
5. Pour the sprite till 3/4th of the glass.
6. Heat the base of the lime (scooped out). Pour approx 15 ml of dark rum and flame it (put it on fire).
7. Put it delicately on top the crushed ice so that it balances properly.
8. Take it to the judges (in my case) and push the lime with a toothpick inside the glass.

That’s it! And now a huge round of applause!

I kept talking while making the cocktail. Considering I have a loud voice I had everybody’s attention (including the judges) and nobody realized (except Mr. Bobby George who was sitting right up front in the 1st row. I think that’s what caused it…he he he) I made a mistake of not using the sprite at all though I had mentioned it while making the cocktail. As a result the cocktail was a little strong but fortunately to everybody liking.

By the way we chose the name Footprint because of what Ratan Tata said at a press conference:

” Tata Steel, an Indian steel company, now has global scale and a footprint in Europe. “

Looks like we have finally arrived. I hope you liked the idea.

P.S. I won the competition.

So Cheers to Tata Steel, to India and to the best bartender you have met so far!