An ode to people's rum

From college students to mixologists, everyone loves Old Monk. And the recent demise of the owner of the Old Monk empire, Kapil Mohan, has made people nostalgic. 

The question still remains: why is the drink so popular? Perhaps, it’s because it has been a star of every get-together or celebration. Being an Indian make, the rum is doing well all over the world and is considered one of the finest. The vanilla flavour of the spirit is what is unique about it, and hence is much-appreciated by patrons. Apart from the unique flavour and pleasing taste, the drink comes under a bracket that is quite affordable and thus can be enjoyed by many. From the youngsters to the older drinkers, everyone indul-ges in the very commonly available Old Monk and Coke. A lot of consumers also consume Old Monk neat, in order to enjoy the taste of the spirit. 

However, that’s not to say that you can’t create a variety of concoctions from it. Even though it is not very often muddled into a cocktail, the spirit makes some delicious drinks like Banana Daiquiri, Guava Colada and Hurricane. A few popular Old Monk Cocktails are Daiquiris, Hot Buttered Rum, and the very famous tiki cocktails. 

A drink that’s appropriate for a lazy afternoon is a Banana Daiquiri. For this, you just need to blend banana, vanilla extract, cream, lemon and sugar and Old Monk in a blender with ice until the mix is smooth and ready to be consumed as a delightful fruity cocktail. Another desi cocktail that I love to make is the Guava Colada. To make this, you have to mix guava juice and coconut cream. Blend the ice and Old Monk in a blender, and then mix all the ingredients. Pour it in a glass and garnish it with a pineapple slice. 

A slightly fancier but still easy-to-make cocktail is the Hurricane. To make this, you need to fill half a cocktail shaker with ice, add the fruit juices, sugar syrup, lime and Old Monk. Then you just shake it all up, strain it into a glass and serve.

However, when it comes to pairing this drink, there is no argument that the best combination is the classic Old Monk and Coke. This is definitely the widest found way of consuming the drink. The combination allows one to experience the flavours of the drink and dilute it with the much-loved cola. 

One of the best qualities of Old Monk is the fact that everyone loves this drink. Not only is it delicious, it also doesn’t pinch your pocket, like most other fine spirits. One can keep drinking to their heart’s content, guilt free. It thus is perfect for most occasions and celebrations. Seasoned alcohol drinkers to college freshmen, all appreciate Old Monk and are more than happy indulging. The drink definitely has a peculiar flavour that gets it going. Whether neat, with cola, or in a cocktail Old Monk pleases all palates.  
— The writer is the General Manager at Goldfinch Hotel, Mumbai