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NDTV
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Bourbon Whiskey Is Trending In India. Here Is Why It Deserves A Spot In Your Home Bar
The party never stops at Bourbon Street in New Orleans (NOLA). It was here at 2 am on a typical wild night in NOLA that I first heard about the Mad Men Effect almost a decade ago. Mad Men, the popular 2010s TV show, contributed to the resurgence of classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned. The rise of a global cocktail culture also led to the soaring sales figures of Bourbon whisky. The Kentucky Bourbon tale is one of America's legendary immigrant stories. It all began in the 1770s when European settlers arrived with rugged stills and learnings from their respective countries on how to put these stills to good use. Bourbon might be an American original, but it is slowly finding a fan base in India, too. From five-star bars to home bar carts, this once-niche spirit is now a go-to for mixologists and drinkers looking to shake things up. Also Read: 5 Must-Have Whiskey Glasses For Your Bar Collection Origins The conflicting legends that surround the origin of bourbon whiskey add to its mystique. Some credit Elijah Craig, a Baptist minister and distiller, as the first to age the product in charred oak casks that lend the Bourbon its distinctive brown hue and taste. Some link the origin to Jacob Spears, an early distiller and the first to label his product as Bourbon whiskey. I also heard another version when I was in New Orleans, which historians like Michael Veach have suggested. They believe that the spirit takes its name from Bourbon Street, where Kentucky whiskey was sold as a cheaper alternative to French cognac. Also Read: Confused About Whisky Vs. Whiskey? Here's Everything You Need to Know Bourbon defined Although Bourbon as we know it became an integral part of the American landscape in the second half of the 19th century, it was finally recognised in 1964 by the United States Congress as a distinctive product of the US. Bourbon may be made anywhere in the US, but it is strongly associated with the Southern US and particularly the Bluegrass state - Kentucky. In simple terms, Kentucky Bourbon refers to a barrel-aged whiskey made primarily from corn. The US Congress recognition in 1964 also stated that Bourbon sold in the US must be produced in the country from at least 51% corn and stored in a new container of charred oak. The popularity of Bourbons has also been driven by mixologists across the world. Nitin Goyal, the Bar Manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore, compares Bourbon to one of your music playlists with popular music. It's just the spirit when you're mixing for a diverse crowd. Reliable, bold and something that makes you look good behind the bar. Bourbon's unique mix of versatility, flavour complexity and versatility makes it ideal for cocktails. Just what you need for your home bar when you play mixologist: Try these Bourbon Cocktails at home Classic Old Fashioned Recipe Courtesy - Nitin Goyal, Bar Manager, The Ritz-Carlton Bangalore This classic cocktail dates back to 1881. It was believed to have been brought to the Waldorf Astoria in New York by a bartender from the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky, in the heart of Bourbon country. Nitin recommends Bourbons in the 90-100 proof range. Higher proof options like Wild Turkey 101 or Old Forester 100 stand their ground when mixed-they won't get lost in the ice or muddle. Recipe: Bourbon Whiskey - 60 ml Sugar Cube - 1 Cube Aromatic Bitters - 5 ml or 1 bar spoon Method - Build Up Glassware - Cut Old Fashioned Garnish - Orange Twist Aura Recipe courtesy - Hiramon Paul, Bar Manager, Sheraton Grand Pune Bund Garden Hotel This new age cocktail incorporates truffle-infused Bourbon whiskey. Hiramon describes this as an aromatic, fruity and foamy cocktail. He recommends using freshly squeezed lime juice for the cocktail and actual truffle to infuse the whiskey. Ingredients: Truffle-infused bourbon whiskey - 60 ml Egyptian hibiscus ginger flush shrub (House-made) - 30 ml Citrus juice - 10 ml Egg white (optional) Method: Fill a shaker with ice: Add ice to a cocktail shaker until it's about half full. Add the whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup: Pour the truffle-infused bourbon, lemon juice and homemade Hibiscus shrub into the shaker. Shake until chilled: Close the shaker and shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds to combine and chill the ingredients. Strain into a glass: Strain the mixture into a coupe glass filled with a round ice ball. Garnish with dehydrated hibiscus flower as a sustainable practice Smoked Maple Bourbon Sour Recipe courtesy - Madhumita Maltesh, Executive Mixologist, JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru Madhumita recommends using a Bourbon with a good oak and vanilla profile for both classic and modern drinks. Ingredients: 60 ml Bourbon 20 ml Fresh lemon juice 15 ml Maple syrup Egg white (optional, for froth) Smoke from burnt cinnamon stick (for aroma) Method: Dry shake all ingredients (without ice) to emulsify. Add ice and shake well, again. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Infuse with cinnamon smoke for a modern twist. Three Kentucky Bourbons for your home bar Wild Turkey 101: Master Distiller Jimmy Russell is a Kentucky legend and the longest-tenured active master distiller in the world; he's been crafting Wild Turkey 101 for over 60 years with a high rye content that's aged in American White Oak barrels with the deepest char for more character. Jim Beam Black: A recent avatar of the popular Kentucky Bourbon. This award-winning, full-bodied Bourbon is extra-aged with an enhanced level of elegance and refinement. The 86-proof Bourbon whisky spends years longer in American White Oak barrels than the original Jim Beam, offering the spirit its full-bodied flavour with notes of warm oak and smooth caramel. Maker's Mark: This small-batch bourbon whiskey produced in Loretto, Kentucky, has acquired a cult following. Never bitter or sharp, Maker's Mark is made with soft red winter wheat, instead of the usual rye, for a one-of-a-kind, full-flavoured Bourbon that's easy to drink. Each and every bottle of Maker's is still hand-dipped in the signature red wax at the distillery. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information in this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. Advertisement About Ashwin Rajagopalan I am the proverbial slashie - a content architect, writer, speaker and cultural intelligence coach. School lunch boxes are usually the beginning of our culinary curiosity hasn't waned. It's only got stronger as I've explored culinary cultures, street food and fine dining restaurants across the world. I've discovered cultures and destinations through culinary motifs. I am equally passionate about writing on consumer tech and travel. For the latest food news, health tips and recipes, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and YouTube. Tags: Bourbon Whiskey Trendubg Wikskey In India Bourbon Cocktails At Home Show full article Comments
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Australian tanks arrive in Ukraine after nine-month wait
Around 40 Australian army tanks have arrived in Ukraine to help defend the country against Vladimir Putin's invading Russian forces, ending a frustrating nine-month wait for the shipment to arrive. The Albanese government announced it would provide Ukraine with 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks last October, but their delivery was held up by bureaucratic delays in the United States Congress, which needed to approve the transfer. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the tanks 'will make a significant contribution to Ukraine's ongoing fight against Russia's illegal and immoral invasion'. 'I was pleased to meet the Australian Army personnel who helped facilitate the delivery of these tanks from Australia to Ukraine,' Marles said. 'Australia remains steadfast in our support for Ukraine and seeing a just and lasting peace.' Loading The majority of the tanks have now been delivered to the Ukrainian armed forces, with a final tranche to arrive in coming months. The government declined to provide the exact number of tanks that have been provided so far, but sources not authorised to speak publicly said it was around 40. The tank support package is valued at $245 million, bringing the value of Australia's total contribution to Ukraine since the war began to $1.5 billion.
The Age
5 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Australian tanks arrive in Ukraine after nine-month wait
Around 40 Australian army tanks have arrived in Ukraine to help defend the country against Vladimir Putin's invading Russian forces, ending a frustrating nine-month wait for the shipment to arrive. The Albanese government announced it would provide Ukraine with 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks last October, but their delivery was held up by bureaucratic delays in the United States Congress, which needed to approve the transfer. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the tanks 'will make a significant contribution to Ukraine's ongoing fight against Russia's illegal and immoral invasion'. 'I was pleased to meet the Australian Army personnel who helped facilitate the delivery of these tanks from Australia to Ukraine,' Marles said. 'Australia remains steadfast in our support for Ukraine and seeing a just and lasting peace.' Loading The majority of the tanks have now been delivered to the Ukrainian armed forces, with a final tranche to arrive in coming months. The government declined to provide the exact number of tanks that have been provided so far, but sources not authorised to speak publicly said it was around 40. The tank support package is valued at $245 million, bringing the value of Australia's total contribution to Ukraine since the war began to $1.5 billion.
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First Post
04-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
He spoke for 8 hrs and 44 mins on Trump's ‘one big, beautiful bill'. Who is Hakeem Jeffries?
He spoke, and spoke and spoke — for eight hours and 44 minutes. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered a record-breaking speech in the lower house of the US Congress, protesting President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill. However, his efforts couldn't stop the passage of the legislation read more US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks to reporters as he walks off the House floor after speaking for 8 hours and 44 minutes as the House debated the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act at the US Capitol on July 03, 2025 in Washington, DC. Jeffries broke the record for the longest floor speech for the House of Representatives, breaking former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's (R-CA) record of 8 hours, 33 minutes. AFP On Thursday (July 3) at 4:53 am EDT, US Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries stood up in the US House of Representatives to deliver his remarks during the debate on President Donald Trump's sweeping policy, the Big Beautiful Bill. It was at 1:37 pm EDT— a whopping eight hours and 44 minutes later — that Jeffries ended his remarks, bagging him the honour of the longest floor speech. However, his record-breaking speech couldn't delay the inevitable — US President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill was passed by the US House, in a 218-214 vote, and now heads to the president's desk where it is expected to be signed in a law today (July 4) to coincide with July 4th Independence Day. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While Jeffries' efforts didn't succeed the way he wanted, he did use his time to enumerate the many ways that Trump's tax and spending bill would hurt the American people. He criticised criticised the legislation as a 'shameful, disgusting, and reckless' giveaway to the wealthy at the expense of America's most vulnerable. Who is Hakeem Jeffries? The current House Minority Leader and leader of the House Democratic Caucus, 54-year-old Hakeem Jeffries represents the Eighth Congressional District of New York and is serving his seventh term in the United States Congress. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Jeffries graduated with a BA in Political Science from Binghamton University, then a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University, and finally a Juris Doctor from the New York University School of Law. He worked as a corporate lawyer for several years before he took the political plunge. However, his initial runs for New York State Assembly were unsuccessful. It was finally in 2006 that Jeffries was elected to represent the state's 57th Assembly District where he gained popularity for pushing a bill to do away with the New York Police Department's stop-and-frisk database. US Representative Hakeem Jeffries hands over the gavel to US Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA) after Johnson was re-elected as Speaker of the House. Jeffries is serving his seventh term in the United States Congress. File image/Reuters Six years later, he ran for congressional office to represent New York's 8th District, declaring that 'Washington is broken'. He won that election with more than 70 per cent of the vote and was sworn into Congress the following year. As a US congressman, Jeffries has sponsored bills and focused primarily on criminal justice reform, affordable medication access, and drug policy. He introduced the Eric Garner Excessive Use of Force Prevention in 2015, then later again in 2021 as part of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. He's also a supporter of gun control measures and of women's reproductive rights, condemning along with many other congressional Democrats the overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 2020, he was tapped as one of the impeachment managers in the House's first impeachment of then-President Donald Trump. Jeffries has been quite vocal and hawkish on Trump. What did Jeffries says against Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill? On Thursday, as Trump's Big Beautiful Bill reached the US House floor for a vote, Jeffries stood up and used his magic minute' − a privilege of leadership that allows him to speak on the floor for an unlimited amount of time − to throw a wrench in the Republicans' timeline. 'I rise today in strong opposition to Donald Trump's disgusting abomination…that guts Medicaid, rips food from the mouths of children, seniors and veterans, and rewards billionaires with massive tax breaks,' Jeffries said early in his address. He then added, 'Donald Trump's deadline may be Independence Day. That ain't my deadline. You know why? … We don't work for Donald Trump. We work for the American people. That's why we're right here now, on the floor of the House of Representatives, standing up for the American people.' The Democrat slammed the bill, telling the members of the House, 'Republicans are trying to jam this one, big, ugly bill down the throats of the American people. 'Leadership requires courage, conviction, compassion — and yet what we have seen from this administration and co-conspirators on the Republican side of the aisle is cruelty, chaos and corruption,' he said, adding that the bill was 'an extraordinary assault on the health care of the American people.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) delivers a marathon speech in opposition to US President Donald Trump's massive tax-cut and spending bill in the House of Representatives. Reuters Repeating Martin Luther King's quote, he said, 'Budgets are moral documents. And in our view, Mr Speaker, budgets should be designed to lift people up. This reckless Republican budget that we are debating right now on the floor of the House of Representatives tears people down. This reckless Republican budget is an amoral document, and everybody should vote no against it because of how it attacks children and seniors and everyday Americans and people with disabilities.' Here's the moment Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) set the record for longest floor speech in the U.S. House of Representatives. — CSPAN (@cspan) July 3, 2025 The 54-year-old also invoked the late John Lewis, a civil rights activist in the 1960s and longtime Democratic congressman from Georgia. 'Get into good trouble, necessary trouble,' Jeffries said. 'We're going to press on until victory is won.' Jeffries continued on — aided with small bites of food and drinks. However, he didn't leave the chamber or his podium knowing that his speech would be over if he did. While he spent a considerable time attacking the Republicans and the bill through his speech, he also spent time talking on hip-hop, King George III and his own life story. He concluded his speech with a note of optimism; 'I know that there are people concerned with what's happening in America,' Jeffries said. 'But understand what our journey teaches us is that after Project 2025 comes Project 2026. And you will have an opportunity to end this national nightmare.' And amid raucous applause from his Democratic colleagues, he ended his marathon address. 'I yield back.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is seen on a television screen as he delivers a floor speech while the House of Representatives debates the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. AFP What next? Once Jeffries wrapped up his address, House Speaker Mike Johnson began speaking, hailing the bill and slamming the Democrat. 'This big, beautiful bill fulfills all the promises in the America First agenda,' he said. 'It is the people's bill, it is made for and shaped by the most diverse coalition of American voters in American history.' Criticising Jeffries for his speech, Johnson added that 'it makes no difference whether our colleagues only across the chamber speak for 25 minutes or 25 hours, they can't change the truth.' 'I tell you what Ronald Reagan used to remind us, you can always trust the American people, and we do trust the American people, and they can discern the difference,' Johnson said. 'What they saw on display here today is that Democrats deliver performances and Republicans deliver results.' After this, the bill was put to vote and narrowly passed with a 218-214, marking a huge triumph for Trump. Speaking to reporters, US President Donald Trump said the bill's passage would supercharge the US economy 'into a rocket ship.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
A man waits in the shadows for the Iranian regime change
Live Events Who is Reza Pahlavi? Does Reza Pahalvi stand a chance? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel As tensions soar in the Israel-Iran conflict, calls for regime change in Iran have grown louder – from hawks in the United States Congress to Israeli officials and some Iranian activists contend that the Islamic Republic is vulnerable, making this an opportune moment to exploit internal turmoil and widespread dissatisfaction to push for the collapse of the clerical regime led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News on Sunday that Israel's operation 'could certainly' result in regime change, as the government in Iran is 'very weak.' He claimed that '80% of the people would throw these theological thugs out.' Although the country's President Isaac Herzog has recently said that regime change was 'not an official objective of ours,' and the goal was 'to remove the Iranian nuclear program.'Either way, the buzz around regime change is picking up steam, and there's one name that is coming to the front: Reza Pahlavi Reza Pahlavi, officially named Crown Prince of Iran, is the son and successor of Iran's last monarch, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. He left Iran in 1978, at the age of 17, just before the Iranian Revolution overthrew his father and abolished the monarchy, paving the way for the establishment of the Islamic Republic that rules the country the Pahlavi dynasty was credited by many for its modernising influence in Iran, it was also criticised for its attacks on religion and alleged human rights Pahlavi, the founder and leader of the National Council of Iran, an exiled opposition group, participates in the Iranian democracy movement and is a prominent critic of Iran's Islamic Republic has sought to exploit the void created by the Israeli strikes to claim to speak for the regime's opponents from his base in the he said, he was offering himself as a 'transitional leader' of a secular, democratic alternative to the a scathing attack on Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and his regime, Pahlavi recently said, "My fellow Countrymen, the 'Islamic Republic' has reached its end and is in the process of collapsing. Khamenei, like a frightened rat, has gone into hiding underground, and has lost control of the situation. What has begun is irreversible.""For years, I have tried to prevent our homeland from being consumed by the fire of war. The end of the Islamic Republic is the end of its 46-year war against the Iranian nation. The regime's apparatus of repression is finally falling apart."Urging the people to unite and revolt against the Khamenei-led regime, Pahlavi said, "All it takes now is a nationwide uprising to put an end to this nightmare once and for all. Now is the time to rise; the time to reclaim Iran.'The Islamic regime has for years been battling public disgruntlement as anger intensified among an aspirant, youthful population disillusioned with decades of oppressive rule, isolation and economic now, with Israeli bombs raining down on the Islamic Republic and the regime locked in a battle for its survival, Pahlavi, the highest-profile regime opponent in exile, is betting that his moment may finally arrive.'This is the first time in all these years that we see the playing field being more even for an opportunity for change,' Pahlavi told the Financial he has been a peripheral figure, accused by critics of lacking credibility and unable to form an organised opposition to challenge the theocratic leaders who seized power in told FT that Pahlavi does have some support in Iran, as he has tapped frustrations with the regime and nostalgia for the pre-revolutionary era. But the extent of that support is 'debatable', and the Iranian diaspora has long been blighted by internal divisions and accusations that it is out of additional risk for Pahlavi, who met Netanyahu while visiting Israel in 2023, is that he will be viewed as a collaborator with Iran's aggressor, eroding what support he has in the republic, analysts 64-year-old insisted that Iranians were 'smart enough' to know this is not 'Israel's war with Iran'.Mehrzad Boroujerdi, a US-based Iranian-American academic, told FT, even in a scenario where Israel and the US — if it intervened — defeated Iran and sought to put Pahlavi in power, the story would not end there.'Considering the degree of political polarisation in the country . . . many are going to view him as a puppet of the Israelis and the Americans.'
