I am trying to make some cocktails with distinctly Indian theme. We will see how many I can come up with. Today’s was Khatta Meetha. This literally means “Sweet and Sour”.

Tamarind juice with Old Monk rum from India and sugar syrup. Garnished with a cinnamon stick.

By the way, did you know India has the highest per capita consumption of rum in the whole world?

This is a twist on the original Margarita recipe. First, I have used Tamarind juice. Growing up in a village in India, tamarind was one of those much sought-after things in the tree. It was always about who could throw a stone or stick to fell a bunch of them, and then the incredible squint in the eyes once the sharp, sweet, tangy, and sour taste exploded in the mouth.

In any case, I used a bit of lime juice with it, then, instead of the traditional tequila, went with mezcal to add earthy tones. Finally, topped up with Grand Marnier and Tajin salt for garnishing.