Every spirit can be great as long as you know what you need from it: Pankaj Balachandran

Year 2024 has seen significant innovation in cocktails. Drinking alcohol is no longer just about 'getting drunk'; it's about savoring the entire experience in an immersive way. Pankaj Balachandran, a celebrity mixologist, Director of Short Story Spirits, and co-founder of Mr. Jerry's Cocktails, believes that India has entered its 'best' cocktail phase. With several years of experience as a mixologist, we spoke to him about the changing trends in the industry. Here is an excerpt from the interview.
How has the trend of cocktails changed over the years?
India has experienced a major shift in cocktail trends over the last decade and a half, and I am fortunate to have witnessed it firsthand as part of the industry. Cocktails have evolved from being sweet and snazzy to refreshing fruit-based concoctions, then to spirit-forward drinks, and now to complex creations where consumers focus on the craft, the quality of the spirit, and the techniques involved.
A classic example are the drinks I had created for Marriott Bonvoy’sSavor Series at Koishii, The St. Regis Mumbai, Midnight Brekkie, a cocktail inspired by peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The guests at the party were curious about the ingredients used, the techniques followed, the style, and the flavor profile of each cocktail. We are no longer playing catch-up with international markets; we are right in the thick of it and innovating on flavors that are winners among our audiences.

What is India's favourite cocktail?
That’s a tough one. I think it largely depends on the location. India loves its sweet and sour style drinks, and over the past few years, I’ve seen more people slowly adopting spirit-forward cocktails.
How is the cocktail industry moving towards sustainability?
Sustainability in the cocktail world is still catching on, and we are still learning how to fully implement sustainable practices. Gone are the days when sustainability simply meant eliminating plastic straws. Bars are becoming more mindful and are now focusing on collaborations with smaller producers and farms, using eco-friendly packaging, and incorporating composting.

What are some popular cocktails that pair best with Indian foods?
Personally, I wouldn’t advise pairing food and cocktails. While some cocktails can complement certain dishes based on their flavor profiles, it’s a basic principle that should be applied carefully. For example, creamier dishes often pair well with slightly acidic drinks, darker and bolder flavors complement spirit-forward cocktails, and spicier dishes go well with sweet and sour cocktails. The cocktail world is fairly elaborate and trying to retrofit a cocktail to a peculiar dish would be a disservice to both the craft of drinks and flavours of dishes.
What is the best spirit according to you for making a cocktail?
Every spirit can be great as long as you know what you need from it. Vodka is an excellent choice for creativity because it doesn’t have a strong flavor profile of its own. Pot still spirits like whisky, tequila, mezcal, and cognac are expressive and have distinct flavor profiles that can be harnessed to create more complex drinks. Gin and pisco, on the other hand, are ideal for botanical-heavy cocktails. Personally, I’m a big fan of creating cocktails with agave spirits. Also, I feel that cocktail is a very personal thing and people like it their own way and I try to shake that well and offer my patrons as per their individual taste and preference.

Why do you think more and more Indians are being drawn towards gin and tequila?
Gin and tequila are having a moment, not only in India but globally. The gin wave has been present in the rest of the world for the past decade; it arrived in India a bit later but quickly caught on like wildfire. This transition also saw vodka drinkers gradually migrating to gin. Tequila, while not a new spirit, is currently trending, largely due to its popular and cult status as a celebrity spirit. Mezcal and tequila have been around for some time, but the excitement around them has certainly spiked in India. Additionally, marketing agave spirits as low-calorie and hangover-free has further boosted their appeal.
Thumb and Embed Images Courtesy: istock and Instagram