I WOULD have to be a really dull soul to not wonder about what makes a party a party. Apart from the people, food, music and ambience, one thing that can make a big difference to the party spirit is, literally, the spirit!
As Diwali draws close, people wonder what to serve and how to ensure that nobody leaves before breakfast. Here are a few pointers:
1 Serve variety: Don?t believe that one of a kind is good enough, especially with popular tipples, which include whisky, vodka and beer. Gone are the days when a token single malt extracted oohs and aahs from the crowd. Today, people will go as far as differentiating their own historic hooch?the Bourbon whiskey with an ?e??from the more stoic Scotch.
2 Serve curiosity: Gin is quite the up-and-coming beverage and a good bottle will go far in cementing your reputation as one with a refined palate. If you are going to serve gin, make sure there is tonic aplenty at hand. Schweppes is a good brand, but many swear by Fever Tree.
3 Make curious ice: It is quite trendy to bling up the ice. While not all of us can carve perfect spheres with a paring knife, a neat little trick is to drop in a spice while freezing, so that it gets encrusted in the final cube, thereby making for a neat innovative garnish.
4 Get trendy with the glasses: If your party has brats or people who behave like one post a few drinks, then it is best to stash away the good glassware and rely mostly on party cups. The more deplorable the quality of glasses at a party, the messier is what the host expects the party to get.
5 No-gifts policy: In case you are getting married around Diwali and are planning a hen (or stag) party, be sure to insist on a no-gifts policy. Instead, get your friends to buy you drinks all night. You will be paying dearly very shortly (on marriage expenses), so it?s only fair that your friends try to get you drunk and talk you out of it!
6 Protocol: There are protocols to be observed when drinking around elders and the main one is this: the alcohol shouldn?t be seen or at least you shouldn?t be seen pouring it into your glass. Rely on cocktails or cocktail waitresses for this.
7 Beer: At a recent class I attended with a very charged (and young) beer enthusiast, we tasted a few rounds of beer, each different from the previous one. And it was the Schneider Weisse?that amber-coloured wheat-based beer with creamy bitterness and a crispy fruity ripeness?that was the winner hands down.
8 Modest selection: Trappiste beers, or any similar boutique or craft brew, cannot be imported or transferred easily. This is because (a) in India, the laws are stringent with the least amount of leeway concerning alcohol; and (b) beer made in such manner may often last only a week at best. Ensure you get a modest selection. The buzzword here is India Pale Ale beer, so order it and try it before you decide to plunge into it. It is a peculiar taste and not the easiest to inherently like.
Diwali is India?s equivalent of ?party on the streets?, where locals play host and everyone is invited, so get in.
The writer is a sommelier