Indian gins are making a splash, not just locally but internationally too. And if you've followed the hype and picked up a bottle of Stranger & Sons gin, but are bored of the classic G&T, these 5 DIY cocktails will add that twist you've been looking for. Go on and impress with your new-found bartending skills with these cocktails with a twist!
BYOB: Be Your Own Bartender With These 5 DIY Recipes Using Stranger & Sons Gin!
For A Savoury Kick: Strange Gibson
A tribute to the heritage of India’s pickling culture, the Strange Gibson is deliciously savoury, layered and aromatic. Here's what you need:
Glass: Coupette
Method: Stir & Strain, pour all the ingredients in a mixing glass, stir and pour in a coupette glass.
Ingredients: Stranger & Sons- 50ml; Dry Vermouth - 10ml; Pickled onion brine - 15ml; Garnish- Pickled onion
For Fresh & Fruity Flavours: Gimlet No.9
Making fruit cordials is a long-standing Indian tradition that you should carry forward with Gimlet No. 9. Fresh, easy and flavorful, it's perfect for sipping under the sun.
Glass: Coupe
Method: Stir & Strain, pour all the ingredients in a mixing glass, stir and pour in a coupe glass.
Ingredients: Stranger & Sons - 60ml; Curry leaf cordial- 20ml; Citric acid solution- 5ml; Garnish- Toasted curry leaf
For A Refreshing, Herbaceous Flavour: Gin Basil Smash
The Gin Basil Smash is herbaceous and refreshing and can be enjoyed at any time of the day. An easy-to-make cocktail, one can even use tulsi instead of basil and it's just as invigorating.
Glass: Old Fashioned
Method: Shaken, muddle basil in a shaker. Add other ingredients, shake with ice and fine strain into ice-filled glass.
Ingredients: Stranger & Sons- 60ml; Basil Leaves- 5-6 no; Lime Juice- 22.5ml; Sugar Syrup 1:1- 15ml; Garnish- Basil Sprig
For That Desi Twist: Peruwalla
Peruwalla is one of the Indian-inspired cocktails that draws their essence from Indian flavours, stories and produce.
Glass: Old Fashioned
Method: Shaken, pour all the ingredients in a shaker, shake with ice and fine strain in a rimmed old-fashioned glass.
Ingredients: Stranger & Sons- 60ml; Peru Saccharum- 17.5ml; Lime Juice- 20ml; Garnish- Salt-Chilli-Sugar Powder Mix
For A Refreshing G&T : Strange G&T
The Strange Gin & Tonic is easy to make and the perfect thirst quencher. The slice of ginger, used as a garnish, brings out the balance of the botanicals in the gin, resulting in an extremely refreshing and aromatic drink.
Glass: Highball
Method: Built Up, pour Stranger & Sons in a highball glass, add Ice and tonic water. Garnish with a ginger slice.
Ingredients: Stranger & Sons- 45ml; Indian Tonic water- 120ml; Garnish- Slice of Ginger
How To Make The Pickled Onions
Ingredients:
Madras onions (peeled)- 400gms
Balsamic vinegar- 60ml
White wine vinegar- 200ml
Water- 190ml
White sugar/honey- 100gm
White peppercorns- 5gms
Wlack peppercorns-5gms
Bay leaves-2nos
Mundu chillies-3nos
Juniper berries-10gm
Stranger & Sons- 60ml
Cassia bark-1gm
Cloves-4gms
Rock salt-1gm
Mace-3gms
Instructions:
Mix the spices and liquids and simmer for 10mins to make a spiced vinegar brine. Add the onions and sweetener and simmer for 20mins (till onions are slightly cooked. Crunchy but not raw-pungent). Let it cool and then remove half of the spices. Store in a clean sanitized jar, up to the brim and store in the fridge. Keeps for months.
Shelf Life: 2 months or more”
How To Make The Curry Leaf Cordial
Ingredients:
Sugar-150gms
Water-300ml
Curry leaves-40gms
Black peppercorns-2gms
Dry red chili-1
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients except the sugar in a saucepan and let it simmer until there is strong flavor of curry leaves. Once that is achieved, switch off flame and add in sugar and stir till dissolved. Store in the fridge to steep overnight and strain the next day. Keep stored in the fridge.
Shelf Life: 7 days
How To Make The Guava Shrub/Peru Saccharum
Ingredients:
Fresh Chopped Guava-250gms
Castor sugar-20gms
Apple Cider Vinegar-30ml
Water-60ml
Instructions:
Mix the above ingredients very well until the sugar dissolves with hand. Do not smash the guava. Put everything in a Ziplock bag and put it in the fridge for 24 hrs. Strain it and bottle it.
Shelf Life: 7 days
How To Make Citric Acid Solution
To make the 2:5 ratio, take 2-part citric acid:5-part water