While the majority of the world is getting to witness the majestic show of the Northern Lights, we in Kolkata are trying to take each day at a time under the scorching sun. While there are more high temperatures to look forward to in the coming days, Kolkata’s pubs and restobars have some summer special sips — with and without a boozy top up — you can indulge in to cool yourself down.
On World Cocktail Day, My Kolkata lists a few local hotspots that are serving up a chilled dream in a glass.
Summer fruits in a glass at CoBo Calcutta
Cobo Sparkle and Kachhi Kairi Frappe
Relish the aam flavours at this high-energy sky bar and brewery in Aauris Hotel. Cobo Calcutta, which opened its gates last year on Robinson Street, has curated two new drinks to keep it cool. The Cobo Sparkle, which takes inspiration from the classic Spritz, has prosecco, digestive bitters, and lychee juice with a house-spun vanilla-blend citric acid for some zing. For the teetotalers, there is the Kachhi Kairi Frappe, which is made with a house-made burst of raw mango cordial and saline solution, and is served over crushed ice in a glass rimmed with paprika, topped with a green mango wedge.
Where: Cobo Calcutta, 4, Robinson St, Mullick Bazar, Park Street area
Mango mood at Motor Works and Brewing Company
L-R: MangoSymphony, Rum Panna and Mango Beer
Back in 2019, Sudhir Ahuja gave Kolkata the microbrewery Motor Works and Brewing Company. While you’ll find their Bootleggers Favourite and Wrench Racer flavours enticing, their new summer sips celebrate the fruit of the season — the mango — with a new brew and cocktails. They’ve introduced a new Mango Beer that has all the goodness of beer with a hint of mango flavour, along with the white-rum based Rum Panna and the gin-based Mango Symphony where the taste of mango shines, backed with a tangy and sweet taste. If mango is not your go-to flavour then you can always opt for their Watermelon and Basil Martini.
Where: Motor Works and Brewing Company, 1st Floor, Street Number 17, EN Block, Sector V, Bidhannagar
Summertime in a glass at Trincas
Bagan Bari
Trincas is like a bottle of wine that has aged timelessly. From being a second home for Usha Uthup to hosting Mick Jagger for a meal, the restaurant is where time stands still, but one that has kept up with times as well. Trincas regulars are familiar with the Bagan Bari, and if you haven’t tried it yet then you must if you want a taste of summer nostalgia in a glass. The pretty pink drink, with a wedge of gondhoraj and lebu pata as garnish, is made with lychee juice, some rose sharbat colour with a tinge of lemonade. You can relish it as a mocktail or try the gin-infused version for some zing. “Every sip is to remind you of lychee trees, rose sharbat, summers under trees, with books and drinking something cool. We call it Bagan Bari because it invokes summer,” sais third-generation restaurateur Anand Puri, about the popular tipple from Trincas.
Cocktails of the Month at Little Bit Sober
L-R: Sparkling Juniper, Whispers of Summer, The Spirited Walker
Expect a place like Little Bit Sober to fancy up their summer with special cocktails. While we have been complaining about the heat, Md Shabaz Alam, the GM and chief bar master at the cocktail bar has curated a new edition of their Cocktails of the Month series — And the menu is only available on request. How fancay!
The summer special sips includes Whispers of Summer, a vodka drink with a mild spicy kick with flavours of seasonal raw mango, passionfruit and jalapenos. The refreshing and herby 1830’s Sparkling Juniper has Tanqueray gin, citric elderflower and kaffir lime bubbles, while whisky-based The Spirited Walker is made with JW Black Label and their in-house amaretto, and it is carbonated adding that fancy feeling.
Where: Little Bit Sober, 2nd Floor, 60, Chowringhee Rd, Sreepally, Bhowanipore
