Fresh Beginnings with Triple Gold Reserve Black Dog

Recently, I changed my role from an analyst to heading the HNI- High Networth Individual AKA High Value in my company. I was hesitant at first to accept it but then I had limited options available in my hand then including not shifting out of Mumbai and have to make up my mind and take decisions, soon.

My close friends and my family had the hint that how I was done with my analyst profile and been wanting to move into a different role. Things were not going smooth from past many months and I seriously needed the break. However, the tipsy turvy and often highly distressing things at office and personal life was not allowing me to settle and I thought of taking this call. MOving out of Mumbai was not an option in my list and in spite of few good offers outside Mumbai, me and my father agreed on not calling the city quits so early.

Communication at office and with HR went kaput and was rather incommunicado and often leaving me more distressed. I was not sure if I can talk openly to anyone in office or burden my family with my pain. One thing was sure that I wanted to change my current profile badly but was unsure of the next that was being offered.

Hell hath no fury when a woman is scorned. However this time I tried to "Stay Calm and Drink Whisky"..haha ha ha. I gave a shoot out to my friends. It's been long long time since we last break bread. So I called them to eat some white pasta and sip Black Dog Whisky. Well in that moment I learnt who my true friends were, who sensed the pain in my eyes and cared to reach out to me without being judgemental. All they knew that I am not happy. All they did was to cheer me up and take the plunge.

So that was the Black and White evening that I spoke about, in my post hitherto. Why I called it Black and white-

a) I paired the evening with white pasta and Black Dog TGR

b) The evening earmarked the end of a journey- my a month old blog journey with Triple Gold Reserve and fresh beginnings of a new journey- my new role as HNI Head.

Over the cups of whisky [disguised in teacups to relive a moment of being true speakeasy] we discussed that how a lot of us need break from their mundane routines and try something new. It is then I took a glance at the bottle of "Black Dog" label and recommended a unique outdoor activity- Angling!

Angling and scotch whisky. Two of the friends are working on a right place and plan, and I shall keep you posted as and when it happens.

Team Black Dog, if you are taking stock of it, do care to organize one such vents and call us all qualifying bloggers to be part of such unique branding event- angling with finest Scotch. Aha! so many ideas for you marketers, when you meet/ interact with numerounity aka Haute Kutir.

Friends I hope you have been reading the disclaimer at the end of all my posts in "Black Dog TGR" series which says- "This post is for the people age 25 years or above".

I hope you are taking stock of this statutory warning and others that read- Please drink responsibly and do not drink and drive. Remember, it takes a lifetime and years to create something but just few seconds to destroy it completely. So be sane, be cheerful, enjoy your whiskies and food and be good!

Ciaos Amigo!

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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above

Food Pairing with Whisky- White Creamy Pasta

Ok so we Indians love to eat, love to drink and cherish our whisky. What is the great way for cherishing a drink as fine as this at a fine evening with your fine set of friends.

This weekend, I am planning to call my friends home and treat them with some yummy delights. I was wondering what it should be..It is then I realized that how my friends are been aching to see my house and also have been expressing their wishes to try out some new dishes that I have recently started cooking. Ummm a thought a little and then decided to serve white pasta with the finest blend of Black Dog TGR this time.

I spared no moment and sent out the invite while doing groceries and supplies for the pasta dish. Here what you need-

Haute Creamy Pasta

Boiled Pasta - Al Dante Penne
2 TBSP Butter
Pitted Black Olives sliced
Pasta Cheese
1/2 bowl fine chopped onion
1/2 bowl fine chopped 3 color Capsicum
2-3 TBSP White sauce
Chilli Flakes n Oregano- as per the taste
Black Pepper
Salt as per tatse
2-3 TBSP of Black Dog TGR whisky

Method-

1. Take a non stick wok, heat it a bit and add butter
2. Once the butter melts, add chopped onions and capsicum and saute a little
3. Add the white sauce in pan with a little etc water added in it. Mix and keep stirring and then add salt
4. Add the boiled pasta in pan and mix gently
5. Add little whisky in it mixture, mix and add some grated cheese, mix and cook for some seconds.
6. Add sliced Olives, Oregano and chilli flakes and take it off the heat and toss
7. Transfer the content on a serving dish, sprinkle little black pepper on it and serve it with Garlic bread.

In case, you liked my recipe and wanna try it out, do let me know your feedback. 

Umm...that was the word that my friends uttered while I served them this pasta and men they uttered it with the forks in their hands. They loved the combination of white pasta with Black dog dark Caramel whisky and went on being shutterbugs with the food and whisky pairing. Gosh the experience was good and I called it "Black and White" evening like the life that it is. What it is? Well to know more, stay tuned and do read my upcoming and probably this season penultimate post on fine living with Black Dog TGR Whisky.

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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above

Pairing Whiskey with Dessert- Whisky Berry Berry Trifle

We often talk about food pairing with wine and alcohol and how we use wines in certain dishes to add a flavor. Experts suggest that a lot of cooking can be done with whiskey too..Surprised? Isn't it? well yes. Remember when I talked about the finest books on whiskey, I suggested some book with over 40+ suggested recipe from the chef.

When I was asked to write about or rather say pair a dessert with whiskey, the Indian inside me shouted pronto- Gulab Jamuns to pair with the smoky flavor of Black Dog Triple Gold Reserve Scotch whiskey. My love for Rabri [ A milk based sweet] however, restrained me from pairing it with whisky as it contains milk and that may not be a great Idea that goes with whiskey.

While I ain't no expert baker, I barely baked anything except few cookies and sponge cakes with my mom and I was in no mood to google up and pick a recipe from there and reproduce it exactly. I rather tried to recall a dessert that I long made with Marie biscuits, which my flatmates gobbled faster than the tickets sold at irctc counters.

Here's a reproduction of that dish with little twist and whiskey in it. I call it- Whisky Berry-Berry Nutty Trifle

To make this dish, we would require-

1/2 cup crushed walnuts, Cashew nuts
1/2 cup crunchy oats
2-3 Marie biscuits broken in small pieces
1 cup fresh cream- whipped
2 Tbsp honey- warm
1 cup assorted berries like Strawberries, Blackberries, raspberries etc
5-6 spoons of Black Dog Triple Gold Reserve Whisky
A little sugar to sprinkle

The method-

1. Heat a flat pan or wok and add the nuts and oats in almost equal quantity
2. Roast it for few seconds and then add a spoon of butter in it and mix and cook till they are roasted and turns a shade darker but not burnt
3. Take off the pan and allow the toasted nuts to cool for some time.
4. Take a bowl, add the whipped cream, honey, and TGR whiskey and blend it properly.
5. Take a serving glass. I had taken short tulip glasses here. Start layering it with first, crushed Marie biscuits and then cream and then fruits and cream and followed by roasted nuts. 
6. Refrigerate it for some time and serve cold.
7. Optionally you can keep the cream and fruits in the freezer to chill and then when you need to serve, start making the layers in a glass to ensure that the Marie biscuits stay crunchy at the bottom.
8. Add a slit cherry on top and serve

Ummm..it is delicious!

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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above

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Celebrating World Whisky Month - May 2014

TGR is indeed a great brand to hang out with. If your friends join you, more the merrier and better. Black Dog's Triple Gold Reserve is the perfect drink to unwind and relax. It is a bottled art of luxurious living and people who appreciate perfect Scotch whisky will indeed latch on to its taste and discover their own El Dorado in the glass this whisky is poured in.

Am I promoting too much of Alcohal consumption among my readers? Well no. The idea to inform n educate with however limited understanding that I have regarding this beverage. And that restricts only to people who like to drink and prefer their drink to be nothing but the best in class.

I am sure a lot of readers were wondering that how I started writing so many posts on Whisky. So much that Khanna Aunty from Chetan Bhagat and 3 idiots controversy landed on my doorstep, asking in her famous, though slightly reformed style [No thanks to Social media advancement in our lives] the main reason behind my whisky diarrhea oops diary.

The conversation with her has tendency to run long and hence this time I tried this idea of using interesting whisky quotations and placards to communicate the same...Yes, yes, Khanna Aunty takes "Alcohal" occasionally, a "what to do" sacrifice she does while accompanying her Army Major husband for his official party. However this time, she chose to sip a glass of a fruity breeze drinks as conformity of being a woman and selecting what women drinks.

Like a cheesy Milind Soman asked in his Old Spice ad. I tied to offer her- Tea, which she happily accepted.

Why am I writing on Alcohol and TGR?

Its May and its a World Whisky month. As a lifestyle blogger, I appreciate fine living and whisky is considered as one of the finest beverage around. Besides, TGR approached me :)

Why Whisky and why not other alcohol like my usual favorite wines

Isn't too much of whisky writing abd enough?

What is this ageing thing with Whisky?

By now she in laughter and giggled like a woman whose funny bones were tickled, but with little apprehension.

Isn't whisky harmful for health? Even if you consume a small quantity everyday?

But honey you are girl and this is not what a girl normally do

Khanna aunty was getting more or less settled..She sipped last with her cup of tea and before she asked any question or I could answer any, she took a placard from my table and shown me..It read-

I Smiled and shown-

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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above

I am 17, going on 18

Wild wild thoughts...people get in playful mood post drinking their favorite poison- Whisky, Wines or others. One of the thing they do post getting high or let's say when they start enjoying their Black label TGR and are in mood to party with friends [at least my cheerful speakseasy gang loves to loose their shoes/heels n do], what they are more likely to do? Dance, May be yes. Sing? Indeed!

We are a Cricket and Cinema loving nation. From Michael Jackson beats to Jagjit Singh's soulful ghazals to Rabindra sangeet to bollywood music, trance and hard rock, music is perennially an essential part of our life celebration and above all living. From Yo Yo Honey Singh to "Hawan karenge" Milkha Singh, we all sing!

Imagine if beverages and alcohols get a gift of singing for self, what their swam [swimming in the drink] song would be? 

Ummm....dunno about all the beverages.. Whisky or to be more precise, a Black Dog Triple Gold Reserve Scotch Whisky would definitely sing this classic melody from "Sound of music", I am 16, going on 17. However with it's own definition and interpretation. 

Gazebo would be replaced with "Sherry Casks". The song would be-

I am 17, going on 18
Baby, its time to "mature"
better beware
be "casky" and careful
Baby, its time to match Triple Gold Reserve

I am 17, going on 18
Gentlemen will fall in line
eager young lads
and besotted french men and cads
Will offer you ice and dine

You need to get, older and wiser
To face the world of men
and expert whisky advertiser

I am 17, going on 18
I am as smokey as woods,
as delicate as rose
bachelors and dandies
drinkers of cheap liquor and fanciful brandies
they wouldn't care of me, would those?

I need someone
Older and wiser
Sipping me like a glory
Oh I need a worthy men
I am 17, going on 18
I will be exclusive drink
of all fine men.

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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above

Black Dog TGR and Whisky Loving Cows

My previous post wherein I did some research, off course using Lord Google.com w.r.t some fun facts to lighten up the mood and lit lots of "yup really" "OMG" moments in the friendly tavern at suburb Mumbai. It was quite a hit with all my friends and we had great moment further digging up the information available and substantiating with personal opinions, experiences and knowledge. 

They say in Hindi- Baat nikli hai toh dur tak jayegi. Loosely translated as- if you start a topic, it goes a long way. Similarly the discussion on fun facts took a new shape altogether and it various theories conspiring in, the fact that Cow loves whisky left few of us in great "whaddya say" surprise or mouths open in disbelief.

Cows love whisky. Haha before you form any opinion against your "holy cow" theory and call me anti -nationalist or anti religion, let me intervene the thoughts there n suggest that they actually love the grains and waste corns used to make whisky.  The pulp that is discarded during the whisky making process is often given to the dairy farms.  This is a very special Fodder and known as "Daff" in Scotland and is incredible rich in nutrients and high in both energy and protein. Whoa! That's quite lot of things in a fodder...Fodder for thought anyone?

Hmm now I am sure, a lot of you would wish to stay near those dairy farms and get your stocks from there. Hmm interesting. I can see real estate prices changing near some whisky distilleries. Mooo!

Info source

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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above

Black Dog TGR and #FunFacts about Whisky

So we blended whisky, paired it not just with our food - veg/non-veg, we also blended some movie stories, books, apps, interesting evenings spent with friends, glassy acts and much more. 

Talking about movies, I remember how Jackie Chan used to be one of my all time top favorite actor...man I loved all his movies, his stunts, his ability to death defying stunts and still cheer audience with his funny acts in those stunts. He truly immortalized the concept that even an action hero can get hurt. Another good thing about his movies were the "making" in ends of the movies where they used to highlight the making of the movie with some bloopers that went by via filming those shots. Not just that, but the star interviews wherein they will speak the fun facts about the movie was very engrossing too.

Like the movies, videos, even whisky has its own share of fun facts. I was little curious as what they would be. I was more eager as we were planning another "speakeasy evening with friends and TGR whisky" and having some elements in between the sips of crunch to keep the conversations flowing, always comes handy when you are dealing a growing group and want to stick to a common point of discussion to avoid group fragmentation. 

My inquisitiveness made me stumble upon this beautiful green colored website- www.bottle-o.com. It said things you probably did not know about whisky and they are-

1. The most expensive bottle of whisky ever sold went for $699,193. Men that is an incredible amount of money used for a bottle of whisky and I believe the proceeds were used for charity purposes.
2. To be classed as Scotch, it must be aged in "Scotland" for 3 years. 
3. There is an "angel's share" in the whisky and it refers to whisky that evaporates in the cask.  Ahem, Ahem...
4. 40 bottles of Scotch are exported every second.  Whisky is Scotland's second biggest export product, topped by another precious liquid- Oil. In fact, whisky outsells all other spirits in almost every world market when it comes to global sales. 
5. The French loves Scotch a little more than Cognac that the former outnumbers the latter in terms of annual sales. France quota of import looms around an impressive 200mn bottles per year.

Gulp! That indeed is quite some amazing facts. I am sure, you would have loved unraveling these and can imagine my friends and their expression when I am gonna stir this up. Till then, yipee..give woes to rest and keep your spirits high!

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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above

Black Dog Whisky and World Cinema

It was one of the "speakeasy evenings" when Glen from McCarthy & Co advertising pinged me for a cup of coffee and conversations. That evening I was meeting my friends and few co bloggers at Corniche, Bandra for a relaxing evening to catch up and unwind. The highlight of the day was celebrating Raisa [from my group] return back from her vacation abroad.  

I told Glen about the get together and invited him over to Corniche to join us. After a little no, I can't and I do not drink, Glen finally give in to my insistence and agreed to join us. I promised that no one will force him to sip and to give him company, I too will have a juicy cocktail. He agreed. Yippee!

The evening was getting finer and my friends appreciated that Glen could come over. Seeing Glen, always made the filmi keeda inside me come out in abundance and we spend hours chatting on films and film making over glasses of tomato juices and garlic breads. This was a trait that a lot of my friend knew about us and called us "Filmaanu Bomb", an abridged version of film + parmanu [nuclear] bomb. 

That evening was no different. Majethia was conspicuous by his absence. He was busy chaperoning his younger niece to her newly acquired love- "dessert making" school. 

It was then the topics of film and whisky came together that how in films whisky was a constant props of some big Villains of the yore and how some central characters were often seen hogging a glass in their hands, on screen and off screen. Some people associated it with power, I associated it with style too..while Glen was completely clear about the associations that how he would never like to be associated with either- power or style. Modest people you see.

It was then, Glen asked me if I can up my ante on my filmi language and can tell if Black dog was popular enough to have ever been featured on any film or medium as so.

Challenge? Hmm I love my friends and I hate challenges but once in a while, it is ok to accept few especially if they are related to films. So here's two instances that I can recall when Black Dog was featured and mentioned in our films-

• ·         In the 1988 Bollywood film Shahenshah, Amrish Puri, playing a don named JK, orders Black Dog whisky while watching a female dancer perform an "item number". A sidekick asks him why he favours the brand, to which he replies "Jab bhi mein gori haseeno ko dekhta hoon, mere dil me kale kutte bhaukne lagte hain. Tab mein Black Dog whisky peeta hoon." (When I see fair-skinned beauties, black dogs bark in my heart. And then I drink Black Dog whisky.)

• ·         The origin of the name Black Dog is referenced in the 2006 novel A Twisted Cue by Rohit Handa. The novel's main character Mulkally, likes perpetuating colonial myths and stories, one of which concerned the origin of the label Black Dog. Mulkally claims that the whisky was specially blended and bottled for the Bengal Club in Calcutta - hence "Kala Kutta" (Black Dog in Hindi) for Calcutta. However, Mulkally knows that Black Dog was actually named after a salmon fly

As I finished saying this, the team got exhilarated and calpped in Unison. I turned and looked at Glen, who leaned above his table, stretched a smile and said- Mogambo Khush hua [and winked]

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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above

Black Dog TGR- The Classy Act, the Glassy Act

Holla, blog-netizens..I hope you are liking this series of "art of fine living" with Black Dog TGR premium Scotch that is the only unique Scotch that is produced involving a triple maturation process. 

In our series, we discussed different aspects of how Indian Love their Whisky, the different blends, about TGR, how to pair food with whisky and how to actually sip and savor your whisky. Continuing the series, we are now embarking on the aspect of how to appreciate the perfect Scotch whiskey that the brand TGR is.

While every body enjoy whisky in their own way, I must admit that the best way to enjoy your whisky is with nose, tongue and off course wallet. I am adding eyes as well here. Liquid sunshine my dear watson, liquid sunshine as I kept on mentioning. The whisky is so beautiful to look at that men can spend hours looking at the 2 cubes drowned in the crystal glass of whisky. Half full or half empty is not a debate here.

Like presentation plays very important part in how you eat your food, select your wardrobe and make big business plans, presenting the right whisky in right glass is highly important too. For it can make or kill the entire experience. The CA Siddharth in our "speakeasy" group nodded as I said this. 

Whisky is best enjoyed in a crystal clear cognac snifer or tulip shaped glass [it has a s close bearing to wine glass] Any other glass with wide mouth will just dilute the aroma n taste as much as adding too much of ice can. 

The right glassware helps concentrating the aroma more on the top of the glass than the tumbler types glasses that pushes it to farther wide, leaving no great room for your "nosey" pleasures. If you have a sensitive nose, use smaller glass. After all, before the tongue, the nose tells us more about the malt. 

The good thing about Sherry casks and Black Dog TGR is that unlike many Bourbon single malts that are pale in color, TGR stored in Sherry casks are usually darker than others.  Another very important aspect here is that while some marketers use artificial caramel colors to darken their malt, TGR, Triple Gold Reserve is naturally matured in Sherry casks to get that darker color.

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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above

#Book a Whisky evening with TGR for Great Read

Whisky lovers, connoisseurs and newbies, here's taking your love for beverage and inquisitiveness surrounding it to next level. I know you have been "booking" dates like we do at "Speakeasy evenings" with friends, family and business associates alike to sip and savor that crunchy flush of Triple Matured God Reserve down your throat, to staircase straightaway to your heart.

source

It is time now to go and explore some books about it and take your passion, your fascination to an altogether a new lover. I know, you always like to have that intelligent, no-non sense conversations and I am sure these books will come handy to you.   

Here's a compilation of few books that I found and got recommended via Internet for all you "Sherry" smokey flavored TGR lovers- 

1) Wishkey and Jazz- A true blend between 10 famous jazz musicians and 10 terrific single malts. Read about the history of jazz and whisky, find out how they blend and enjoy a real "sippin" and "listening" guide. Written by Hans Offringa. It is a must to have coffee table book. 

2) The World Atlas of Whisky by Dave Broom

3) Whisky Bible by Jim Murray is the world's leading whisky guide. Each additions contains roughly 4500 detailed, professionally analyzed and easy to understand tasting notes on the world's leading and lesser known whisky brands. 

4) Maclean's Whiskypedia by Charles Mclean

5) Malt Whisky yearbook by Ingvar Ronde

6) A Taste of Whisky by Hans Offringa featuring 40 different, tasty and creative whisky & food combinations with these whiskies. It also explains the origination of different flavors in whisky and is strongly recommended for whisky lovers who love to pair their food with whisky.

Well food and whisky goes a long way and what is important is how you pair right type of food, spices with your TGR Black Dog Fine Label blend. Well well that got me thinking. Till the time I brainstorm on more appropriate food pairings, do care to check my blog for a vegetarian and another non vegetarian recipe for your Black Dog TGR Whisky.

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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above

A Little Black App for Whisky Enthusiasts

It is an App, App, Appy world! From games to schedulers to photos to jokes to pictures, anything and everything under the sun is all on the app. Not one but dime a dozen. Buy me, buy me while everyone says, It is the quality, usability and off course experience that matters. Isn't it?

source

So when everything has an exclusive app for them, why leave whisky behind? After all, in my previous post about tell-tale signs of men who love their TGR, haven't I told that these men have fine taste in everything from cars to women to clothes and so did in the gadgets they use. They are quite Tech Savvy and likes to updated with the new tech that foray in their lives- professionally, personally and socially.

To cater to such demands of these men, some whisky apps have been developed for the smartphone and tablets so that they can meet like-minded people, share their experiences, best information, best tasting notes etc without having to maintain a "liquid log book" like good old days. After all, the world is getting oh so wrapped in "smartphones and tabs" these days.

These apps are available in English Language and are well supported by devices like iPhone, iPod, iPad, Blackberry, HTC and all. They are available in Android, iOS as well.  Some of these apps are-

The Whisky Cast

Its a free app, featuring tasting notes and scores for nearly 600 whiskies and calenders of events. They are designed in such a way that you get most updated data without any constant software download.

Whiskybase.com

This app is supposedly the app with biggest whisky database in the world. It avails information about more than 30,000 whisky and whisky bottles from hundred of distilleries together with 1000s of tasting and rating notes, all on your smartphone or tablet. Phew!

It is available on both Android and iOS platform

iWishkey

This app is for both whisky connoisseur or curious drinkers who wants to know all about the whisky. This also has a review by world renowned author and master spirit reviewer F Paul Pacult. Whoa! It is however available only for iOS platform.

Bunnahabhain

Now this is one helluva interesting app and sure to make your whisky experience even more enriching, all at the comfort of your home. This app aim to share some interesting whisky fun and facts, you are bound to enjoy a richer whisky tasting experience with their tasting notes. Besides, I just loved the name..creative!

You can use this app to make note of your tasting experiences with Black dog and TGR..Voila Creative indeed.

Whishkey.com

This App is a complete handy resource for those who enjoy whisky. Locate a bar, visit a distillery, learn about a brand, find out how to make a special whisky drink and many more. It is freely available for Android and also available on iTunes.

iWhiskyWhiskey

Best Bourbon app, best-blended whisky app, best grain whisky app, All in one- Best whisky liquor app. This app is available for iOS. Strongly recommended

There are other interesting apps like Whisky Notebook, Whiskey Log and WishkyApp to name among few.

You can visit your iOS or google play store to search more and download the one that may best suit you. Also, you can always come back here and suggest what is your favorite thing or biggest expectation from a liquor based app for a brand like Black Dog TGR and I shall pass the message to right people to deliver what you just wished for and more.

Till then, Happy TGR!

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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above.

Triple Gold Reserve and Pan Cooked Paneer Tikka

Food inspires an all together, different feeling in me. Food and alcohol go hand in hand. With great blend, you need an equally reciprocating food to pair and relish it with. Being a vegetarian, my options are limited to vegetables and dairy products only.  However, I am very much contented with my options and liking up the idea that how certain good food bloggers like Rekha Kakkar from mytastycurry.com is styling and presenting the veg food in India and abroad

I am foodie and my occasional love for cooking and trying something new, took me to kitchen to make something that is a favorite and I feel, will go well with the smokey TGR malt whisky.

I call it Haute Paneer Tikka

The focus of this dish is the marinade and the best part is that all ingredients used here are well available in your kitchen. Also, its a simple recipe that you can make any time using a plain griddle, if  Tandoor grill is not available. And man! It is super rich-super tasty n healthy!

To make it you would need you will need the following-

Main Ingredient- 100 gms Fresh Cottage Cheese [ freshened up in a bowl of hot water and sliced in cubes]

Little Olive oil

For Marination-

a cup of fresh hung curd, beaten

2 TBSP each of Ginger garlic paste, Green Chilli Paste and Kaju/roasted ground nut paste

1 TBSP of "Tawa roasted and crushed Cumin seed

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice fresh

1/2 teaspoon of turmeric, red chilli and salt as per taste

1/2 tea spoon of Fennel powder, peppercorns, Carom Seed

1 tbsp milk with strands of Saffron mixed [optional]

1/2 tea spoon oil

For garnishing

fine chopped coriander powder

Procedure

1) Mix all the marinade ingredients in a bowl and blend well

2) Add the Cottage cheese cubes in the marination, mix slowly and keep it aside for min 30 minutes

3) Post 30 min marinade time, take a flat non stick pan, grease it with little oil and heat it up for less than a minute
4) If you have a satay stick, carefully arrange the pieces on paneer on it with some square diced capsicum and tomatoes cubes. In case if you have none, take the paneer cubes and add it on the tawa.


5) Allow it to cook/ roast on the tawa for few minutes till it turn a little brown, turn it upside down n follow the process.
6) Serve hot with some sprinkled coriander on it or if you used satay stick

Here's your yummy, spicy Haute Paneer Tikka is ready to jingle and mingle with your smokey flavored, Triple Gold Reserve. Bon Appetite.
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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above.

Whisky and the Food

It was lovely February  evening when Majethia pinged us on whatsapp. His status read- I am on liquid diet henceforth as advised.

The status sent some shockers to a lot us who got concerned if all is well with him and why all of sudden he has been advised to have a liquid diet. If all is well with him or his liver. I pinged him asking if all is well..to which he candidly replied in Gujarati- Mazaa ma [enjoying]. Before I could ask further on his status message, saw him going offline. 

Me and some of the other concerned "speakeasy" members then decided to rush at his home to check on him. We were worried as hell and with bated breaths, reached his home and rang the bell. The door was opened by Majethia himself who was holding a clear glass of whisky in one of his hand. The sight send us all in dizzy and a mad frenzy that how come someone can be so careless about his health and in spite of being advised on liquid diet, still having his glass of whisky? After all whisky drinking was not meant for an addiction per se but just relishing the flavor at certain times.

The angry Aditi went hopping mad on Majethia and gave him a good piece of mind. He tried to interrupt her couple of times but was silenced by her machine gun stacking talks. 

Aditi concluded herself saying- when you were advised to be on liquid diet, why are you having a liquor diet?

The defending Majethia came to his own rescue and said, pointing towards his glass- This is the liquid diet I was talking about as the hotness in temperature is about to rise and food is becoming too heavy to consume..hence this liquid oops liquor diet. 

His quiet demeanor and chutzpah way of saying made us all gush into laughter. Peel of laughter and later on, we spent an hour discussing the probable food pairing on the same.It was time for Raisa to speak who has recently stumbled upon a great site- http://massolitpublishing.blogspot.in/ and found an interesting smoked Salmon with apple salsa recipe for her non veg tastes. here is the reproduction of the recipe that she strongly recommended. Dear Veg lovers like me, do not be disheartened as I will soon post a veg recipe on this space soon that will go well with the TGR blend.

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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above.

How to identify TGR lovers

Love TGR? How? You tell it on your own, with your action that speaks louder than good ol' words. Here's a few trait demonstrating the men oops demarcating the men who loves their whisky, who loves their TGR.

*Whisky

It indeed is a sure-sure tell-tell sign..Aha read on-

1) You have fine taste in everything including cars, cloths, woman and music




2) You judge people by the cocktail they drink, generally the whisky they drink- God forbid them and your judgement against them if they are spotted with a fancy looking cocktail in their hand...Tee hee hee


3) You generally have a group of followers usually younger people admiring/ looking upon you.

4) You like to wear your hard earned status on your sleeves, oops sleeves of your business suits, all mad of finest fabrics only

5) When your idea of watching a lovely sunset/ sunrise is best substantiated by watching two [yes only two ] cubes of ice floating in the golden liquid aka whisky held within a fine whisky glass

6) You celebrate good news with whisky and if there's a bad news, you drown it down with help of whisky. More sour, more better for you.

The kind of effects that whisky spells on men, making them appreciate n enjoy finer living is indisputable. However, the best man is one who does not let anything over power him and drink responsibly.
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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above.

Appreciating the Perfect Scotch Whisky- Black Dog Triple Gold Reserve

Patience paid off and in no time did my speakeasy group started liking their Triple Gold Reserve Black Dog. They find it better than any 12 Y.O. whisky that they have tasted or have been tasting. 

Their simple logic was that if I get an equally or even better taste for a whisky that need not require more than 3 years to mature it, then why do I go ahead and spend etc buck on buying the 12 Y.O stuff. It is the fine taste that counts to them and not the fact that whether you preserved it for how many 100s of years.

We soon started having more regular speakeasy sessions where we started talking gyaan on whisky but having more "witty" conversations woven on and around it. I can notice the difference in the way some of my team members started holding their whisky glass. 

The best part was the club's unanimous wish for having whisky cubes than ice cubes, took some of us in splits. We soon started pairing our food with the whisky to suit the taste and the blended palate that we were developing off late.

To know more about some interesting food pairings that we did to suit our speakeasy evenings with Black Dog TGR, stay tuned with this blog...meanwhile coming up next is "Men are from Whisky Universe and not Mars"..how to identify a man who loves his whisky. Stay Tuned..

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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above.

Whisky, TGR and Women

"Normal girls are made of sugar and spice but honey, my dear girl, you are made of whisky and ice"

Ah! now that is one interesting pick up line that am sure will make you smile at least if not go weak on knees. Nevertheless, whisky is not as popular in women as it is in men folk lore. Even then, if you are a women and if you want to try your hand in whisky, here's this post dedicated to the "spirit" of you.

Here's a woman writing about whisky for women in way that may not conform the stereotypes but have its own blend...read on....

Girl you are sugar and spice

all things dazzling,

all things nice

Gone are the day

let's break all stereotypes,

It is time to turn fire and ice

Melt a little

malt a little more

Take your glass

and tight your sash

stumble no more

sing no kooh ash ash

The sweet n syrupy taste

are all era bygonne

lady you r a new hercules

lady you are gen X born

ditch that mocktail

mock yourself not

pick a new cocktail

and make it look hot

Time to make things happen
but not sit or morn
you may like smokiness of a Scotch
over the sweetness of a Bourbon

Sip by sip,

gulp by gulp

bit by bit

built but not sulk

Cause TGR is one of the

Finest blend

ditch your rose water,

Amazons, take TGR in your hand.

Who said a woman cannot have her whisky and drink it too? Why should gentlemen have all the fun. A woman whose is heart is as gold as gold spun, takes everything in her stride. Leave alone the fruit punches. Let Smokey flavor entice. Gulp! 

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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above.

This do not aim promoting the consumption of liquor

Once Upon a Black Dog Evening

It was a chilly winter afternoon in Gurgaon, when I received a call from the Black Dog team asking if I would like to join them for a whisky tasting evening with Black dogs, along with my friends. I pinged the ever sporty, ever fun loving Kriti from faces, places blog and she confirmed the same.

The lovely and hospitable team pf Black dog also offered to send us a cab to pick us to the location and drop us back to our respective homes. 

It was indeed an evening well spent, in good company with some Black Dog TGR, interesting starters and a very very articulating bar tender. Here's the glimpses-

The beautiful Venue adorned with Black Dog Collaterals

Star of the Show- guest of the Honor- The Black Dog Whisky

The clinking glasses set on the table for whisky tasting

Lets have a closer look at the guest of honor...here we go

The Effervescent Pawan Soni from IndiaFoodFreaks.com proudly holding and modelling for the whisky delite.

The Beautiful ambience.. the sofa were we all bloggers were hosted to welcome and soon we moved on first floor at specially placed dining table to gush and guzzle.

At the whole the evening was one for the books and we learnt a  great deal about whisky, their productions , myths and taste on the same day. Do it more often Team Black Dog. Bravo!

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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above.

A Little Whisky Song

In the previous posts we discussed few aspects of whisky and TGR- The Triple Gold Reserve from the Black Dog Label. We have been talking the production details, history behind the name, variety and many more. Here's relaxing your senses over a cup of this Scotch Blend, with yours truly "speak easy" club and here's what we come up with- Our own Whisky Song! Tra la la..

You see, how the group has started rising up to the taste of this liquor, with their experience improving day after day oops speakeasy evening after speakeasy evenings. TGR...this is the spell you caste on the wine lovers. Damn, we are developing a taste. So stop cribbing and keep calm.

Made from malt

And richest grans

I am a liquid sunshine

Bottled Amber Divine

Some call me addiction

Some call me flair

Some call me potion

Well you can call me whisky

I am a refined Gold

Take a crystal glass and hold

You will love my sparkle

And my history that is being told

Take a look, stir it a little

I am sour, I am heavenly

I am your Black Dog Whisky

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Disclaimer- This post is for the people age 25 years or above.