Home bar setup in India: what to buy first
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You don't need a trolley full of bottles. Start with four: a whisky, a white rum, a vodka and a gin. Add five mixers from any kirana or delivery app: soda, tonic, ginger ale, cola and lemon soda. The rest is already in an Indian kitchen: nimbu, mint, sugar, black salt, roasted cumin, chaat masala, jaljeera powder, honey and ginger. Every drink below uses only these. There are easy highballs, four shaken classics, three jugs for a crowd and six mocktails for guests who skip alcohol. A clean jar with a tight lid stands in for a shaker. Tap any drink for exact measures and steps.
You chose mocktails only, so the drinks with alcohol are hidden here. See the mocktail guides
The drinks
cocktailWhisky Sodawhisky · soda water- cocktailNimbu Pudina Whiskywhisky · lime · mint · soda water
cocktailWhisky Sourwhisky · lemon · sugar
cocktailserves 4Patiala Cola Punchwhisky · cola · lime · chaat masala · mint- cocktailRum Ginger Alerum (dark, white or spiced) · ginger ale
cocktailJaljeera Rum Smashwhite rum · jaljeera powder · mint · lime · lemon soda
cocktailDaiquiriwhite rum · lime · sugar
cocktailVodka Tonicvodka · tonic water- cocktailVodka Sodavodka · soda water
cocktailserves 4Nimbu Masala Vodka Punchvodka · lemon · sugar · black salt · cumin powder · soda water- cocktailGin & Tonicgin · tonic water
cocktailTom Collinsgin · lemon · sugar · soda water- cocktailJaljeera Gin Rickeygin · jaljeera powder · lime · soda water
- cocktailGimletgin · lime · sugar
mocktailVirgin Mojitomint · lime · sugar · soda water
mocktailMasala Shikanjilime · chaat masala · soda water- mocktailNimbu Pudina Sodalime · mint · soda water
- mocktailHoney Ginger Tonictonic water · honey · ginger · lime
mocktailserves 4Sunday Shikanjilemon · sugar · cumin powder · black salt · chaat masala · mint · soda water- mocktailMasala Bantalemon soda · lime · black salt · chaat masala · cumin powder
Questions
Which four bottles should I buy first?
A whisky, a white rum, a vodka and a gin cover most of what friends ask for. White rum works in the Daiquiri, the Jaljeera Rum Smash and the Rum Ginger Ale, so one rum is enough to start. Add a dark rum or a tequila later, once you know what your crowd drinks.
Do I need a shaker and other bar tools?
No. Most drinks here are built in the glass with a spoon. The Whisky Sour, Daiquiri, Tom Collins and Gimlet are shaken, and a clean jar with a tight lid does that job. A 30 and 60 ml measure keeps every drink the same.
How much mixer should I keep for 10 guests?
Most highballs here take 120 to 150 ml of mixer, so a 750 ml bottle tops up about five drinks. For 10 guests having two drinks each, keep about 3 litres across soda, tonic, ginger ale and cola, plus extra soda for the mocktails.