Cocktail stories: Curry Leaf Martini, BiBi
A bespoke Desi Daru cocktail is now available at Michelin-starred contemporary Indian restaurant BiBi in Mayfair, London.
Since opening in September 2021, BiBi, situated on North Audley Street in Mayfair, has been a culinary playground for chef Chet Sharma. The restaurant offers a menu of contemporary and approachable dishes and cocktails, inspired by Indian ingredients and traditions, with a constantly evolving selection.
This summer, Sharma has crafted a Curry Leaf Martini cocktail using British-Indian vodka, Desi Daru. The playful and refined cocktail is designed to evoke the nostalgia of an Indian summer, featuring vibrant mango notes and a subtle blend of spices, all combined with the flavours of Desi Daru vodka.
Sharma explained his creative process: “Mixology is an area I love to explore. The same attention to flavours, combinations, and even textures is just as important behind the bar as it is in the kitchen. And we all know how much a great drink can elevate the dining experience.
“I really enjoy working with Desi Daru. It’s a great way to support a fellow British Asian family business. Their products showcase Indian ingredients and fantastic flavours that evoke the rich tastes of the subcontinent.”
The Curry Leaf Martini is crafted using both the brand’s Original and Alfonso Mango vodkas, which provide a creamy base and genuine Indian flavours. The vodkas are mixed with two types of vermouth to add a bitter backbone to the drink: Luxardo Bianco and Dolin Dry. The bitterness is balanced with kulukki syrup and curry leaves, infusing the cocktail with a distinctively South Asian flavour.
The Martini is inspired by kulukki sarbath, a traditional South Indian shaken citrus drink spiced with green chilli. The refreshing beverage is especially popular during the scorching summer months. Sharma and his bar team have transformed the drink into a sleek, elegant Martini-style cocktail where fruit, spice, and herbs blend harmoniously to create a balanced drink with a savoury finish.
Mohit Singh, founder of Desi Daru Vodka, shared: “This cocktail is something rather special, it’s the sort of cocktail that bridges cultures in a single sip, the taste is familiar yet elevated, nostalgic yet unmistakably modern. Just like BiBi.”
Curry Leaf Martini
Ingredients
- 35ml Desi Daru Original Vodka
- 14ml Desi Daru Alphonso Mango Vodka
- 14ml Luxardo Bianco Bitter Vermouth
- 7ml Dolin Dry Vermouth
- 7ml Kulukki spice mix (a lemon and green chilli syrup)
- Curry leaf
- Garnish: Three drops of Lemon oil
Method: Combine all the ingredients in a mixing glass. Stir over ice until thoroughly chilled and diluted. Double strain into a chilled Martini glass. For an elevated cocktail experience, garnish with three drops of lemon oil.
Related news
CopperBay cocktails celebrate famous guests
