Or perhaps the question should be: "Would you like to share a tetra pak with me?" ! In the Liquor section of the supermarkets in Bangalore, Indian Whisky is sold in tetra paks, without the straw ! I'd never seen liquor sold this way before.... apart from cheap red and white wine in Italy.
Coming from the dry state of Gujarat, the accessibility of alcohol, is a novelty. Cane sugar juice or fresh lime soda, are the usual drinks offered at functions, in lieu of anything stronger and one of life's little pleasures when traveling to another state, is being able to order a cold Kingfisher beer. Foreigners working on contract in Gujarat, apply for a license to drink alcohol - they're allowed a limited number of units per week, all of which are recorded in a little 'pass book' and stamped by the small liquor store, tucked away in a side street.
Of course the illegality of alcohol doesn't prevent people from drinking and the newspapers often report the deaths of people who have drunk a homemade concoction from the Mahuda Tree, which has proved lethal.
Regular checks are made by police to prevent bootlegging and parties where alcohol is to be served, are clothed in secrecy - the venue for the event being sent out by sms to invitees at the last minute ! Imported wine is very expensive - a glass of ordinary Italian Red Wine can cost you around £12 a glass and champagne - £25 a glass... and Indian Wine is just as expensive, which makes spirits a more obvious choice - 'Bombay Sapphire' definitely being one of the best gins on offer !
Whisky was introduced into India during the British Raj, early in the 19th century. The original distillery, in the North of India, is still in operation producing a blend based on the fermentation of molasses, readily available from sugar cane. But the whisky in the tetra pak, called "8 PM", is a new high quality, grain based whisky, which is more mellow than its molasses based equivalent and growing in popularity with the upwardly mobile !
Coming from the dry state of Gujarat, the accessibility of alcohol, is a novelty. Cane sugar juice or fresh lime soda, are the usual drinks offered at functions, in lieu of anything stronger and one of life's little pleasures when traveling to another state, is being able to order a cold Kingfisher beer. Foreigners working on contract in Gujarat, apply for a license to drink alcohol - they're allowed a limited number of units per week, all of which are recorded in a little 'pass book' and stamped by the small liquor store, tucked away in a side street.
Of course the illegality of alcohol doesn't prevent people from drinking and the newspapers often report the deaths of people who have drunk a homemade concoction from the Mahuda Tree, which has proved lethal.
Regular checks are made by police to prevent bootlegging and parties where alcohol is to be served, are clothed in secrecy - the venue for the event being sent out by sms to invitees at the last minute ! Imported wine is very expensive - a glass of ordinary Italian Red Wine can cost you around £12 a glass and champagne - £25 a glass... and Indian Wine is just as expensive, which makes spirits a more obvious choice - 'Bombay Sapphire' definitely being one of the best gins on offer !
Whisky was introduced into India during the British Raj, early in the 19th century. The original distillery, in the North of India, is still in operation producing a blend based on the fermentation of molasses, readily available from sugar cane. But the whisky in the tetra pak, called "8 PM", is a new high quality, grain based whisky, which is more mellow than its molasses based equivalent and growing in popularity with the upwardly mobile !
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