Scotch love with Coco Rocha

On the occasion of World Whisky Day, USL-Diageo, India’s leading Scotch-Whisky company, introduced to Bangalore its biggest global campaign ‘#LoveScotch’ at the Shangri-La Hotel, Bangalore. 

In attendance were the lovely Canadian Supermodel Coco Rocha and actors Randeep Hooda, Mandira Bedi and Dino Morea. 

Here's a photo tour of the evening that was filled with candid conversations around scotch whisky to start with and ended with a pub crawl that included two of UB City's coolest hangouts - Skyye and Sancho's...

Coco Rocha was really down to earth. The conversation with her was a charming experience...

Coco likes her Johnnie Walker Red Label with ginger ale...

I took her advice and tried her suggestion. The whisky does mingle well with ginger ale...

The Red Label Mule cocktail displays Johnnie Walker Red Label at its finest, marrying the spice and smoky notes with ginger ale, a squeeze of citrus and a splash of bitters...

Soon the other celebrities joined the party. Actors Mandira Bedi, Randeep Hooda and Dino Morea brought a special tinge of humor to the proceedings...

Randeep and Dino got behind the bar and tried their hand at making cocktails with World Class Brand Ambassadors Jamie Walker and Nicholas Ord!

In true Pub Crawl style, we visited two of the coolest hangouts in UB City – Sanchos and Skyye where they curated some more delicious concoctions with renowned United Sprits bartenders Ajay Nayar and Hemant Mundkur...

At Skyye, Mandira joined them behind the bar...

At Sancho's, Coco was seen in the thick of action...

Overall it was a fun evening. Leaving you with a mandatory photo with the pretty model...

Molecular Mixology Masterclass by Johnson Kinsey

Johnson Kinsey, the highly acclaimed mixologist from Australia is currently touring Bangalore. I happened to meet him at the High Ultra Lounge for a session of Molecular Mixology. 

Here's a photo tour..

High Ultra Lounge is located on the 31st floor of the World Trade Center, Bangalore. The view from the high altitude is amazing. When I reached there, the evening sky was oozing with drama...

I sat there sipping a raspberry cooler, watching the deepening dusk...

Even the birds seemed to like it...

Johnson Kinsey was demonstrating Molecular Mixology. Molecular mixology is a process of creating cocktails by playing with the density and viscosity of fluids. Eye of Bangalore is what Johnson named his first cocktail of the day.  He uses a calcium lactate bath for spherification...

The Cointreau poured into the bath reacts with the calcium, making a sphere of liquid with a gel membrane...

The sphere is rinsed in water to remove the saltiness of calcium lactate...

A syringe is filled with Currant Vodka and Citrus Vodka with Pearl dust...

The same is carefully injected into the sphere...

Clear Currant Eyes of Bangalore is ready to be gulped...

Johnson got the inspiration for the next cocktail from the many Banyan trees he saw in Bangalore. The leaves of the Banyan tree shooter is made from Peach Schnapps...

A molecular mixology technique known as direct spherification is used to create alcoholic "worm" like roots to dangle. The roots are made from Gold Mango Vodka...

And here's the beautiful Banyan Tree shooter...

Champagne glasses lined up for the next cocktail, Snow Globe...




Delicate snow is created using berry flavored caviar made from direct spherification... 







The caviar is rinsed in water...








Caviar drizzling down the champagne like snow...

Here's the Snow Globe ready to be sipped...

Bangalore Traffic -  A shooter that visually represents the organized chaos of Bangalore traffic. Layering carefully, an invisible wall is created in the shot...

The traffic (Mango Vodka) will drip down and come to a halt at the invisible wall...

Here's the Bangalore Traffic shooter...

Buck Wheat noodles and grilled shrimp salad created by chef Rabi...

Liquid Nitrogen held at -180 degrees is used for the next cocktail...

Shark Bite combines two drinks in one by using liquid nitrogen at each stage. The ingredients used in the two concoctions are Vodka, Cointreau, Bacardi, Kokum juice, Cranberry juice and the Indian spice, Elaichi...

The blood thirsty shark ready to bite...

Liquid Nitrogen is harmless if you are careful. If it falls on your palm it doesn't stick and just goes off in the air as harmless Nitrogen gas...

Putting vodka and mint under high pressure, alcohol from the liquid is extracted which will be inhaled as an after dinner mint mist...

Inhaling a shot of the High Mint Inhaler...

With that we come to the end of a wonderful molecular mixology session. And here's our photo together...

Leaving you with the city lights as visible from the 31st floor...

A short lunch at Café INXS

An unplanned visit to Café INXS for a short lunch turned out to be fun and informative. Here's a photo tour...

If you are intrigued by the anti-aging anti-obesity sign board in the picture, then let me shed some light. The INXS clinique is run by Dr Sangeetha Patel and her husband Dr Keerthi Patel. The Doctor couple have been working magic for years with a clientele that include many movie celebrities and super models. They carry out some amazing medical procedures and therapies that correct the "physical imperfections". Almost like real life Photoshop!

The cheerful Dr Sangeetha told me about her penchant for travel. The couple started Café INXS to introduce the food they liked from their various travel experiences around the world... 

The interior is neat and comfortable...

Watermelon cooler...

 I usually order Dim sums because they look so beautiful. These minced chicken and aromatic vegetable dumplings were light and delicious...

Fish & Chips were good...

Fish & chips from another angle...

They also serve some good Indian wine. I sipped the SDU Deva Chardonnay...

A good deal for ladies. Unlimited wines!

Pollo Spaghetti Alfredo - classic cream sauce with Italian noodles and strips of cooked chicken...

Fresh Orange... 

Pollo Pesto Di Basilica & Penne - chicken and basil pesto sauce. This was my favorite of the day. The herbs really did a great job...

Overall, I am impressed by the variety of food that's on offer. The chefs are able to handle the international cuisine, quite well. The wait staff is friendly. 

Leaving you with the lovely smile of the pretty doctor...