Cheers to the Christmas spirit

Mona

Ever had a whiskey with whipped cream or with green tea? Well, if mixologist Vijay Prakash is handling your drink, be ready for surprises. “Mixology is an art for me,” says this Drinks Curator of Impresario (North & East) in Social-7 in Chandigarh on Sunday. With two decades of experience across the globe, this is one journey heenjoys. “I love how different regions like their liquor. While here in the North cocktails with flavours do well, as one goes down South bitter the better is the rule.”

Vijay loves to concoct different combinations for different palates. “I like to keep cocktails simple – few ingredients, full of flavour.” His recent successes have been for the new ‘health’ conscious generation with a dash of honey or lemongrass. This mixologist shares his popular tipples.

Hot Chocolate

• Take a latte cup and fill in a 60ml shot of espresso 
• Add 120ml of hot (just before boil) milk with a dash of chocolate syrup 
• Cover it with whipped cream 
• Top with 45 ml of Baileys Irish Cream 

Luck of the Irish

• Pour 120 ml of Apple juice into a kettle with a pinch of cinnamon
• Heat up the apple juice, add  fresh ginger and lemon grass 
• Bring to boil. When off the heat, add 45 ml of Jamerson whiskey
• Put an green apple slice in a glass with a sachet of green tea 
• Pour the hot apple juice mix 

Toddy 

• Bundle up cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg & clove in a muslin cloth with a thread
• Take 120ml water and brew the bundle to boil 
• Rub a teaspoon of honey on the glass wall
• Add 5ml of fresh ginger juice and 20-30ml of warm cranberry juice 
• Pour 45 ml of brandy to the mix
• Add the brewed hot water to the drink and leave out the spice bundle 
• Add a bayleaf with cloves ingrained in it to the mix for an exciting aroma