Coming Straight From the Harbour

The magnificent Bombay landmark the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, also called “The Diamond By the Sea”, is often said to have been built by Jamshedji Tata after he was refused entry to Watson’s Hotel at the end of the 19th century. Watson’s was a luxury hotel with a whites only policy. Others claim that Mr Tata simply wanted to build this exclusive hotel as a gift to the people of Bombay to treat them to a Royal experience. What is clear however is that the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel was built for everyone, not just for the upper echelons of society.

The Indo-Saracenic styled hotel opened to the public in 1902 and was the first building in Bombay to be lit by electricity. The Taj Mahal Palace featured ceiling fans from America, elevators from Germany, a Turkish bath and English butlers resulting in an experience unmatched in India at the time.

The hotel’s Harbour Bar opened in 1933 as the first licensed bar in Bombay and this is where their signature cocktail From the Harbour was created. The story goes that two American gentlemen crossed the Indian Ocean in their yacht. When arriving in Bombay in December 1933 one of the men received a radio message from his wife with the news that the American prohibition was finally repealed. They promptly docked their yacht outside the hotel and headed straight for the Harbour Bar to celebrate with a drink. They asked the bartender to make them a cocktail that would quench their 13-year thirst. The barman, known only as John, created a drink worthy of their celebration. When asked what the drink was called, the bartender replied, “Sir, it would be an honour if you would name it, as it has been made today especially for you.” One of the men raised his glass and announced: “From the Harbour.”

The liquor glass was designed by the Indian painter, photographer, sculptor and designer Dashrath Patel in 1970.

The Tastiest Malaria Treatment

Let’s start the New Year with simplicity. After a holiday season filled with Snowballs and Egg Nogs it is time for something easy to make and what is simpler than a Gin and Tonic?

In the Indian subcontinent, as well as in other tropical regions, malaria was a constant problem during the 18th century. To help his fever-ridden patients a Scottish physician called George Cleghorn became interested in quinine, a traditional cure made out of the bitter bark of the Cinchona tree, a tree native to Peru. Quinine as a malaria treatment had been used by Europeans since at least the 1630s when Jesuit missionaries brought it back to Spain from the New World. Doctor Cleghorn made a tonic from the bark but the bitter drink was too unpalatable for the officers of the Presidency armies, the military force of the East India Company. The officers took to adding water, sugar, lime and gin, to the tonic and the Gin and Tonic was born.

Originally quinine came in powder-form that was mixed with soda and sugar to make it more drinkable. The tonic became immensely popular in the British colonies, especially in India and the first known quinine-based tonics were marketed during the 1850s. Schweppes launched their first carbonated tonic in the 1870s and knowing their customers they branded it Indian Tonic Water.

As the tonic water is no longer used for treating malaria it isn’t very heavy on quinine anymore making it a lot less bitter. It is generally also much sweeter nowadays.

The glass called Relations and was designed by Konstantin Grcic in 1999.

Gin and Tonic

1 part Gin
2 parts Tonic Water
2 Lime wheels

Pour the gin over ice. Top with tonic water and add the lime wheels. Stir gently.