Its inspiration comes from a phrase regularly heard in the city that the bar calls home: “Bombay is not a city, it’s an emotion.” Founder Yash Bhanage and his team wanted to explore the meaning of that axiom through a drinks list that honoured Mumbai.
As the menu says: “For the fifth edition of Canteen Cocktails, we found ourselves spending countless hours observing, eavesdropping and contemplating what makes Bombay ‘Bombay’.
“We chased reckless young lovers, raised toasts with weary white collar workers, hailed several kaali-peelis and a rick – all to shake, stir and squeeze the reality of this city into a cocktail.”
Waiting List
Mumbai’s dining scene is incomplete without its much-loved Udipi restaurants that dot the neighbourhood of Matunga, with a simple thumb rule to assess its popularity: “The longer the line, the better”, says Bhanage.
“That inspired the Waiting List, a mood-uplifting Highball-style concoction with coconut fat-washed tequila, house-made curry leaf soda and curry leaf salt rim, to help cleanse the palate between sips. This one is all kinds of delicious, nutty and savoury.”
Coconut fat-washed Jose Cuervo Silver tequila, curry leaf, coconut soda
Method: “We infused tequila with coconut flavour using fat washing. It adds coconut's nutty essence to the tequila without making it oily. The result is a perfect blend of coconut's nuttiness with the savoury notes of tequila.”
Rising Star
Stranger & Sons gin, clarified basil cordial, orange bitters
Rear View
Jose Cuervo Silver tequila, black garlic, honey, ginger, lemon
Duty Free
Feni, Pinot Noir, pineapple, Indian sarsaparilla, ginger, coconut milk
