Mumbai, Day Drink Through The Weekend At This Gin And Vodka Festival

If you’re looking for outlandish cocktails and claim to have an undying love for either vodka or gin (or both!) then this 10-day long one-of-its-kind festival is exactly what you need. Curated by photographer and tastemaker Aneesh Bhasin, the Summer of Vodka & Gin, being held from 2-11 June, is celebrating the spirit(s) of life by offering over 120 summer-flavoured vodka and gin cocktails across 40 different restaurants in the city, including Bastian, One Street, Toast & Tonic, The Quarter, Olive Bar & Kitchen, Social, and The Good Wife.

We all know about Aneesh’s tryst with spirits ever since he co-founded Hipcask, India’s first wine and spirits focused app. This time around he’s got something even more fascinating. “Gins have become very popular and vodka is making a comeback. With the festival, we aim to raise the bar of gin and vodka tonics in the city and also make them more approachable,” he said.

From classic gin and vodka tonics to summer-inspired creations with fruits, coconut water, and aromatic infusions, there’s something for everyone to try. But it’s not just liquor that’s going to be on the table. This festival is Aneesh’s attempt at introducing to the world a wide range of homegrown artisanal tonics through a series of “masterclasses”––an opportunity for everyone participating to dive into the complexities of what makes vodka different from gin (apart from the taste, of course). At the end of which, participants get to experiment and come up with their own gin or vodka tonic recipe of the evening!

So if this already isn’t tempting enough, then we also have a list of Aneesh’s favourite cocktails from the festival.

1. 
   Curry Coconut at One Street and Bastian

   Love the fact that Chef Kelvin has himself worked on the drinks and it shows! Curry coconut is a Vodka tonic with Absolut, curry leaves, coconut water, ginger, lime and Svami tonic water. Coconut water and curry leaves are not ingredients we see too often in drinks and since the drink is not too sweet, you can easily have two or three!

   
   
2. Tom Yum G&T at The Wine Rack

   Beefeater gin infused with Thai chillies, lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves with Svami grapefruit tonic water. It’s aromatic, it’s got some heat and is addictive if you like Thai flavours
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3. Sagetini at Toast & Tonic
   Beefeater Gin with cherry & sage syrup and Svami cucumber tonic water. A gin & tonic bursting with different fruity and savoury flavours.

   
   
4. Cucumber Gin & Tonic at Social

   Just 2 ingredients, Beefeater Gin & Svami cucumber tonic water. Simple, easy and so fresh!

   
   
5. Musk Melon Cooler at Port

   Melon and peach muddled with Absolut Vodka and topped with Svami tonic water. Fruity and yet not cloyingly sweet.

   
   
6. Dry Sprig at The Little Easy

   Beefeater Gin muddled basil and cucumber with sweet vermouth topped with Svami tonic water. Sweetness from the vermouth and the savoury notes of basil along with juniper from the gin make a great combination.

   
   
7. BeeFashionable at Olive Bar & Kitchen

   Beefeater gin with rhubarb, grapefruit bitters and Svami tonic water. Fruit focused yet not overpowering a classic gin and tonic, makes for a great Sunday afternoon tipple.

   
   
8. Oh Nikita at London Taxi

   London Taxi has gone all out and worked super hard on the menu. While a few of their drinks stand out, I love Oh Nikita for the name as well!
 The tall drink is made with Absolut, elderflower, pineapple, egg white and is topped with Svami tonic water. Aromatic, fruity and a lovely texture, another great vodka tonic during the festival.

   
   
9. Absolutic at The Fatty Bao

   Summer inspired Vodka tonic with fresh litchis with Absolut and Svami tonic along with bruised kaffir lime leaves. Pairs well with The Fatty Bao food as well!

   
   
10. Kurant Spice at The Sassy Spoon

    A rather creative combination of the tarty Absolut Kurant and spicy Absolut Peppar with creme de cassis, blackcurrants and Svami tonic water. Tarty and spicy and so good.

    
    
11. Deja Brew at Mia Cucina, The Quarter, Monkey Bar and Havana, Smoke House Deli and Salt Water Cafe

    What a surprising combination! Gin, coffee and tonic water. It just works and works really well for some reason. A great choice to get an evening started.


For more information about the festival, you can visit the website.