Bangalore, India – Considered one of the top places in the world to sip classic and exotic martinis, the ultra swanky Library Bar in The Leela Palace in Bangalore is the cocktail hour of choice for high-tech industry moguls and bollywood’s hottest stars.

Leela’s resident “martini master,” Manu Mankiandan, who does the unmistakable “Indian head bob” – a jig of sorts as he vigorously shakes his intricately designed cocktails, serves hundreds of martinis including Cumin, Melonpolitan, and Leela’s signature Belvedere Martini.

By popular demand, Leela is sharing Mankiandan’s most popular martini recipes and mixology tricks so these wonderful libations can be made at home (see below). The list is put together in three categories: sugar, spice and everything nice showcasing how the cocktails can be both pleasing to the eye as well as the palate.

The Library Bar also has a new range of champagnes that feature a few relatively obscure but divine glasses of the bubbly, served with three kinds of caviar: Beluga, Ascetra and Servuga. A selection of champagne cocktails is detailed below.

The Library Bar is adjacent to Leela’s world-renowned restaurant, Jamavar, which was recently named by Forbes Magazine one of the World’s Top Power Dining Spots. You’ll likely find Bill Gates and other global industry moguls (half of Leela’s guests are American) talking tech and inking deals there. It’s also popular with preening Bollywood stars and Bangalore’s rich and powerful.

Leela’s Top Exotic Martinis (Recipes and Lists below)

SUGAR

Melonpolitan
Belvedere Citrus, Melon, Cranberry Juice

Breakfast
Belvedere, Blood Orange, Marmalade

Fruition
Belvedere or Gin, Fresh Fruits, Lime

SPICE

Kalaleny (*see recipe below)
Pepper Vodka, Spiced Honey, Kalamansi

Cumin
Belvedere, Cucumber, Mint

Ginger Cosmopolitan
Belvedere Citrus, Ginger, Cranberry Juice

ALL THINGS NICE

Roasted Fruits Martini
Pineapple, Orange, Lime

Belvedere Palace Martini (*see recipe below)

RECIPES

The Belvedere Martini

2	ounces	BELVEDERE Vodka
1	ounce	RHODENDRON SYRUP
1	ounce	CRANBERRY JUICE

1	ounce	BLOOD ORANGE PUREE
2	drops	LIME JUICE

Load a cocktail shaker with ice. Add above ingredients, shake thoroughly and pour into a chilled martini glass. Serve with a garnish of gold leaf.

Kaleney Martini

QTY	UNIT	INGREDIENT
3	ounces	Peppar vodka
1	ounce	Ginger juice
1	ounce	Honey
1/2	ounce	Kalamansi Puree
		Crushed Pepper
1		Star Anise

Mix all ingredients in a shaker along with four cubes of ice. Shake three times. Strain and pour half into a cocktail glass. Serve the balance in the shaker alongside the glass. Garnish with a star anise.

CHAMPAGNE

Top Champagnes:

Pol Roger, Reserve, Brut N.V
Bollinger, Special cuvee N V
Pommery, Brut Royal N.V
Nicolas Feuillate, Brut N.V
Moët & Chandon, Brut Impérial N.V
Dom Pérignon by Moët & Chandon, Millésime, 1998
Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial N.V
Krug, Grande Cuvée N.V
Louis Roederer, Brut Premier N.V
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Brut Cuvée N.V
Laurent Perrier, Brut, N.V

ROSE

Dom Pérignon, Moët & Chandon Cuvée Rosé, 1996
Laurent Perrier, Cuvee Rose, N.V
Moët & Chandon, Brut Impérial Rosé N.V
Champagne Cocktails
Classic with a Twist
Champagne, Campari & Sugar

CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS

Royalé
Champagne, Cognac, Grand Marnier,

Passion
Champagne & Passion Fruit

French 75
Champagne, Gin, Lime

Portfizz
Champagne, Port

NOTE TO EDITORS: ADDITIONAL RECIPES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

Contact:
Lorraine Abelow
LAPR
Lorraine@abelowpr.com
203-226-5390