Magandeep Singh
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The right balance: Indian eateries have shown that food is all about flavours and all wine is fair field to deploy alongside
The West made us believe that there is an entity called ‘Asian food’. So ridiculous is the idea for this notion to exist even as a collective noun, and yet it reigns on.
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The tonic trials: A blind tasting of Indian tonic waters throws up some surprises
The panel of 13 tasters comprised both professionals from the wine and bar trade as also gin enthusiasts.
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Between Sips: The crazy gin
Gin is a competitive, tough and currently heated-up space in the spirits market
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Between Sips: Raising a toast
Unlike its sibling Carmenere, Malbec grape has managed to retain its identity, even though it was still stuck playing second fiddle to big brother Cabernet.
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Between Sips: A glass tasting
Other brands, if I may add, have also developed similar glass ranges to address different types of wines (or wines from different grapes) and have their own ritual method to demonstrate it.
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Between Sips: The conundrum of big brands
The biggest challenge sommeliers face is to come up with a wine list that is unique and yet recognisable, a list that has unknown brands aplenty and, at the same time, is familiar enough for a guest to be tempted to order.
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Between Sips: The Gin Game
Narendra Bhawan was then the perfect choice of venue for the world’s number one gin, Bombay Sapphire, when they decided to launch their new uber-premium gin variant, Star of Bombay.
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That French wine is among the best in the world can’t be re-emphasised enough, says Magandeep Singh
The one thing that has always benefitted the wines of France is consistent marketing—200 years of it to be precise.
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The right balance: Pointers to a successful restaurant
But frankly, five-star hotels could take a page out of Balcon’s logbook and stand to gain immensely from it. He takes painstaking measures while putting together his restaurants and then in their daily running.
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The Old Monk Story: Why India’s most famous rum is more than just a spirit
Old Monk is a drink that invigorates and also revives youth. Truly then, it is elixir.
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Happy New Year 2018: Of glasses, past, present and future
We drank some great wines from Chile, we had exceptional bottles from France and Spain too. The spirits market saw many new whiskies, but it was mostly gin that was ubiquitous.
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All about bordeaux, beers and bonhomie
The French embassy decided to treat us to a host of their wines from various wine regions, from Champagne to Burgundy and even some very exquisite exceptionally-aged Armagnacs and ‘Agricole’ rums.
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Chilean wines could soon make its way to India
The last fortnight has been an exceptionally busy (hic!) one. I first tasted beer from the Simba brand, which is pretty similar to Bira, that is, it will appeal to the millennial crowd, but the more persnickety beer heads may not be taken in by its taste.
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Food and beverage epiphanies: Why loyalty, belief and humility are essential ingredients in recipe for success
Recently, while cruising through HK, I made my pilgrimage visit to Otte e Mezzo, one of the finest Michelin-starred Italian eateries—perhaps the only three-starred one outside of Europe (well, Italy).
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Pisco passions: Here’s the journey of this traditional drink
If there ever was a moot topic to touch while seated at a table with Peruvians and Chilenos, few things could rival the passion that both the countries reserve for Pisco.
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The price-value ratio
If I had a rupee for every time someone sighed and exclaimed that wine is extremely expensive in India, I would be a rich man. If I collect GST on that rupee, I’d be considered even more legitimate.
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Reflecting on wine awards
In India, we have a few wine awards beginning to take root, but the consumer is not too bothered with medals just yet
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Wine lovers, take note! Here is a new flavour for you
White wines are great, as also are reds, but a rosé can be the perfect in-between choice
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The wine world needs to connect with and complement the lifestyles of upcoming oenophiles
This new lot starts much younger, has a much crisper idea of what it wishes to cover and how to approach it.
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Wines going from decent to average in India; know why
Wines going from decent to average in India; know why
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The right spirit: Here is necessary drinking etiquettes that one would do well to imbibe before attending or hosting a soirée
I have approached this subject many times before, but rarely have I expounded on it with the broad base of drinks in general as the target.
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Rediscovering India: Bikaner slowly coming into its own
When one thinks of ‘Royal Rajasthan’, one musters up images of Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaipur. But Bikaner is slowly coming into its own too now.
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Raising the bar
This is not an article about how to drink under the table. For that, please pay upfront and enrol for my practical sessions, which convene every weekend outside pre-appointed bars.
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‘India’s F&B segment is plagued by a gross misunderstanding of luxury’
Long flights are great for epiphanies, as you have all the time and none of the quotidian distractions.
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Wines: The sweet scale
When it comes to wines, we need to define what is ‘dry’ and ‘sweet’. German winemakers can show the way
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Losing spirit: Liquor industry on threshold of serious self inflicated wound
Last time around, I had written about the highway liquor ban and even before the ink had dried on it, another state (proudly) claimed to be on the path to implementing complete prohibition while another tried to outdo it by claiming to clamp down on all partying by 10 pm everyday.
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Liquor ban: Fatal blow dealt to the hospitality industry
YES, WE ALL know this is a hot time to write about the liquor ban. India, I feel, has finally mastered time travel, for, in the last year, we have clearly regressed to the Eighties—as in, 80 BC.
