2 August 2026

From the bartender’s corner: Kilted Dragon

I had to think a bit before making today’s cocktail. I moved away a little from the Indian theme because I have managed to give myself some acid reflux after all the Indian food. So I was looking for something a little gentler on the stomach.

I went with red dragon fruit juice and Hendrick’s gin, then added a little sugar syrup and tonic water.

The name of the cocktail is a nod to its Chinese (only the dragon part, the fruit itself is from Central America, I think) Scottish (this particular gin) roots.

24 May 2026

From the bartender’s corner – Khatta Nazar

Built on a base of Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind Vodka and topped with refreshing Aam Panna, this cocktail is a bold celebration of classic Indian summer flavors. Not the best fit for this rainy Atlanta Memorial Day weekend but, that is what caught my fancy today.

Aam Panna is a beloved North Indian drink made from raw green mangoes, known for its sweet, tangy, and lightly spiced flavor profile. Traditionally prepared using boiled or roasted raw mango pulp, it’s blended with sugar or jaggery, cooling mint, roasted cumin, and black salt to create an intensely refreshing summer cooler.

For garnish, I added tangy tamarind concentrate cubes to amplify the sweet-sour depth of the drink.

The result is a flavorful cocktail — the sharpness of raw mango, the rich tang of tamarind, and the warm burst of Indian spices in the palate.