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Air India Pee Gate, Review of in-flight Alcohol Service

The horrific incident of an inebriated passenger urinating on a fellow passenger in an Air India flight from New York to Delhi recently has shaken the world. The drunken passenger – Shankar Mishra – has been arrested, albeit after enormous media pressure, and the airline has been pulled up by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Air India’s apology for not handling the incident properly and for being insensitive to the woman passenger, came a bit late and with the Air India Chief Executive Officer, Campbell Wilson adding that it would review the ‘policy on service of alcohol in flight’.

This was not just one incident. On December 6, 2022 on a Paris-New Delhi flight, a drunk passenger was caught smoking in the lavatory, ignoring the crew’s admonition. And another passenger allegedly relieved himself on a vacant seat and blanked of a fellow female passenger when she had gone to the lavatory. Disgusting, to say the least.

IATA says offenses often go unpunished

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that there is growing concern from airlines, governments and passengers at the increasing frequency and severity of these incidents that involve violence against crew and other passengers, harassment and failure to comply with safety and public health instructions. Committed by a minority of passengers, unruly incidents have a disproportionate impact, threatening safety, disrupting other passengers and crew and causing delays and diversions. However, due to loopholes in existing international air law, such offenses often go unpunished.

One Too Many

IATA is also working with airports, duty-free retailers and other groups to ensure the responsible sales and marketing of alcohol to avoid unruly passenger incidents resulting from intoxication. In addition, IATA is participating in public awareness campaigns that encourage responsible consumption of alcohol before traveling by air such as the Fly Safely, Drink Responsibly in Norway and the One Too Many in the UK, IATA is also working with partners to highlight the types of prohibited conduct onboard flights and is supporting the #notonmyflight campaign launched by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

27% alcohol use, 24% smoking violations

IATA said that incidents involving unruly behaviour in airlines are on the rise. Alcohol use is involved in 27% of these cases while 24% cases related to noncompliance with smoking regulations. IATA said the solution seems obvious. “If too many airline passengers are abusing alcohol and acting violently, airlines can limit alcohol sale to solve the problem. However, airlines are looking for a regulatory fix, showing their reluctance to lose the alcohol sales profit despite the harm alcohol is causing.

IATA said that passengers using alcohol as an excuse to create havoc in airplanes is rising. To find a solution, several agencies which oversee in-flight regulations are working with commercial airlines. They are reviewing the current alcohol sale and consumption practices in airport bars as well as in-flight.

In the US, federal law prohibits flight crews from allowing “obviously intoxicated passengers” to board aircraft, and it doesn’t allow flight attendants to serve alcohol to anyone who appear intoxicated. Another regulation prohibits passengers from “assaulting or intimidating” crew members and interfering with their duties. Doing so carries a fine of up to $35,000 and a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

No liquor on domestic Indian flights

On Indian domestic flights, no alcohol is served, but on international flights airlines do. This rule was implemented in 1994 after the Ministry of Civil Aviation received several complaints of flyers getting inebriated and misbehaving with the airline staff and other passengers.

Presently, Air India has a policy on serving liquor on international flights as per which a passenger can’t be served more than two drinks on a flight that is less than four hours. However, the amount of alcohol served differs from business, first and economy classes with the last mentioned just getting one drink, whereas getting more, but not unlimited.

IndiGo which also operates on international routes serves alcohol on these routes and passengers can purchase on-board. However, consumption of liquor bought from Duty Free shops is prohibited on board.

Many airlines don’t serve alcohol

These are some of the airlines which do not serve liquor on flights – Air Arabia; Egyptair; Iran Air; Iraqi Airways, Kuwait Airways; Pakistan International Airlines,; Royal Brunei Airlines; and Saudia. Not all Middle Eastern airlines prohibit sale and consumption and the best example of service is Emirates Airline which has a lounge on board with the most exotic cocktails to be had at 40,000 feet.

One black sheep such as Shankar Mishra can mess up the entire inflight experience. Stricter punishments may be deterrent. Nevertheless, it is for the cabin crew to be trained, first in serving alcohol to passengers and secondly on dealing with unruly passengers, irrespective of whether the passenger is inebriated or not.

AA says growing number of disturbing incidents

While the nation was aghast with such appalling incidents, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), India reacted by saying it was not an uncommon incident. In a report which appeared in the Times of India, a frequent flyer and member of AA said “As soon as we heard of the in-flight incident, we thought he is one of us! This is something we have all done, either mistaking our puja rooms, bedrooms, balconies or neighbour’s doorstep for the lavatory. Our mothers, wives and sisters have cleaned up after us.”

AA explained “Just three-four pegs at lunch will not do much harm to a habitually hard drinker. It is possible that he availed of the free alcohol in the lounge as well,” the spokesperson said. AA does not resent airlines offering free or unlimited liquor though, by its same non-judgemental code.

The AA spokesperson explaining the possible scenario behind the November 26 mishap said, “It is possible the passenger was so sozzled he got up from his seat only at the last moment to relieve himself, was wobbly due to cabin pressure, already disoriented by too much drink. He may have failed to judge the distance to the washroom and committed the offence owing to a combination of these factors. But by no means do we defend him or condone the act”.

Indri Indian Single Malt Review

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Indri Single Malt comes from the house of Piccadilly Distilleries who also jointly brought us the Kamet Whisky. But Indri is now independently brought to you from the house of piccadilly and what makes this single malt special is that recently it won the top honours catapulting its demand amongst the favourites for consumers. So let’s taste and see how it is and if you like viewing video review then click above and enjoy watching the experience instead of reading it.

The price of this whisky is Rs. 5,100 in Maharashtra and it is much cheaper in some of the other States like Haryana, Goa, UP, Delhi and Bangalore at Rs. 3,100.

What’s in the Name?

Now you might be thinking what’s in this name Indri? It is very unique and different from what we have seen? So the name of the malt is based on Indriya, which are the five golden senses of our body like the smell, taste, touch, sight and sound and also on the name of the distillery based in Indri, Haryana.

Now there is another important thing about this malt, which is the word Trini – which denotes the word three, meaning 3 woods that have been used to mature this malt. Now what’s interesting is that the Kamet whisky was also matured using the same woods. These include ex- bourbon, ex-wine, and PX sherry casks and as we know these add a unique flavour to that blend. And like Kamet this also comes from Piccadily’s Distillery based in Kurukshetra. Indri has been developed by two people, a Master Blender, Surrinder Kumar and a Master Distiller, Graeme Bowie, who was also one of our judges at the Ambrosia Awards this year. They both come from a rich experience and combined they have the capability of blowing your senses away.

Now this malt is made from six-row barley and then distilled in an onion head pot still and then maturing it in 3 casks that adds a unique flavour to the blend.

Packaging

But before we taste it let’s take a look at the packaging and at first look although this is a 750ml bottle it really looks tall and makes you feel like a 1 ltr bottle. The colours are nice soothing beige with a slight gold on the outside with the words Product of India beaming loud and clear. You do have the signature of the blenders as well alongwith all the necessary info.

On the inside it is you have the label and also the packaging material and colour that looks familiar like the Kamet whisky. What we liked is also that there is a QR code that takes you to the dedicated Indri Page. I wish more manufacturers would do this so that the consumer can get more info on the product.

Nosing

Now let’s get to the nosing and at the first instance you get a little bit of those spices, some sweet notes, surely some wood as well. The spirit does seem refined and also doesn’t really hit you hard, which is always a good thing.

Tasting

The spirit does feel really smooth and relaxed. There is a hint of that nutty, caramelly flavour with a little spice. You do get sweet savoury fruit as well which is nice and balanced. Not something that is over powering or over bearing.

Kamet Whisky Tasting

Since we also tasted Kamet Whisky recently, we did a quick taste of that as well to see the difference honestly. Now you do get a nice flavour profile and also those notes of the sweetness, spiciness.

Conclusion

Indri is nice and you can get the sense of the consistency as well from these, which means that there is a method that has been followed while making these malts. And finally what do we think about Indri? It is really good. It is balanced, nice, smooth and also consistent in delivering the taste it does, which naturally explains why it won the accolades. Is it worth Rs. 5,100 in Maharashtra. Not really, especially since you can get it for Rs. 3,100 at other places. So if you can get your hands on this outside of Maharashtra then surely it is something that you should taste because there is something there that will surely satisfy your taste buds.

Barents Whisky Review

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Barents whisky comes from Rock and Storm Distilleries and the reason for its name is that it is dedicated to famed Dutch Arctic explorer of the 16th century, Williem Barentsz, who searched the Northeast Passage From Europe To Asia. And Yes it is Williem and not William. Now this is available in few States currently like Delhi for a price of this is Rs. 840. It is also available in Uttrakhand, Punjab, Jammu and Telangana and will soon be available in Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and CSD stores as well. There is a specific reason why this was made in this article we will decode that. And incase if you like viewing video reviews then click above and check that out as well.

So this is a small-batched distilled whisky that was made with an inspiration as a premium whisky. Now of course this is very competitively priced and it competes with the likes of Blenders, 8 PM and so on in the premium Indian whisky market. Infact the idea behind this whisky was to benchmark its packaging and give the feel to the consumer which is on the lines of popular scotches and single malts. And to achieve this the makers followed Williem Barents discovery voyage and his enthusiasm and zeal that led to the creation of this blend.

Now of course targeting products into the premium market has become the go to thing for most makers as the Indian consumer is now looking for better experiences. Infact the premium market segment has expanded rapidly and is growing faster than any other segments of the beverage industry.

Nosing

In terms of nosing you have the aroma of sweet spices with a hint of that floral hit. It is also smoky, you surely getting that peat.

Tasting

In terms of tasting you get that Nutty and Toffee flavour, that slight fruity punch also hits you in the middle and it ends with a smoky aroma. The finish is very smooth and you can understand that it is being made with good malts.

Conclusion

So how do we find the Barrents whisky? Honestly for a price of Rs. 880 we think it is able to give you a decent experience. But we love the fact that they have been ambitious and looked at possibilities to do new or different things. So if you are a regular at using products in this price bracket or category then we think there is enough here to atleast taste this product.

Single Reserva Whisky Review

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Single Reserva Whisky is made by India Glycols and this is the company’s first product in the semi-premium whisky market. They have another product in the vodka category called Amazing Vodka (which you can view by clicking on the link) as well which comes in different flavours as well. And if you enjoy watching video reviews then you can click above and watch the video review.

So this whisky is priced around Rs. 600 in Chandigarh and currently it is available in UP , Delhi , Uttrakhand and Chandigarh. It will soon be available in other states like Rajasthan, Punjab, HP and Mumbai and of couse the prices are expected to be higher at that point. This whisky positions itself in the popular/semi-premium category between Blenders Pride and Royal Stag, both of which are very popular Millionaire brands. Which means that Single Reserva has its task cut out for itself right from its launch phase.

But if you are thinking that India Glycols is a new company who might not know much about the industry, then you would be wrong. Infact chemicals are the primary cornerstone of India Glycols Ltd business and as we know that ENA, Sugar, Chemicals, all of these are by-product that lead to liquor, which means it was only natural that at some point the company would foray into this business. And the company is a massive player in the country liquor market with its popular brand ‘Bunty and Bubbly’, which sells a whopping 1.32 lakh cases a month. We have done a full length interview with the team when these products were launched, so do check that out as well.

So this whisky is manufactured at two different plants, one is at IGLs Kashipur plant which caters to all the States and the other is at their Gorakhpur plant that caters only to the UP market.

When it comes to the Single Reserva Whisky, the new concept of blending has been made with the help and research of none-other than the legendary Peter J Warren and you can see his signature as well on the bottle as well. And if you don’t know this name, then Warren is credited with creating some of the malts that go into creating some of the world’s highest selling whisky’s like Johnnie Walker and J&B. But the actual blend of the whisky is made my Surrinder Kumar, who is already a known name in the industry in India.

Packaging

If we talk about the packaging then a lot of thought has gone into this and I think the brand is trying to provide a premium experience to the consumer at a semi-premium price bracket. The bottle is well designed and looks great. Deep drawn long caps, typical Single Malt bottle design and excellent colour scheme of labels. Brilliant branding on Labels and Exotic Canister packing.

Tasting Notes

In terms of the tasting you surely get that peaty and smoky Malt notes. Like a lot of the Indian Malts that we have tasted recently you get that nutty and honey, sweet notes as well.

Conclusion

So what do we think about the Single Reserva Whisky? Well for a price tag of Rs. 600 in Chandigarh, it does provide you with enough to come back to that bottle again. There is some amount of mystery to it for you to enjoy. So does it serve the objective of India Glycols of providing a premium experience in a semi-premium price bracket? We think it does.

Sterling Reserve B10 Whisky Review

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Sterling Reserve B10 whisky is made by ABD, which is Allied Blenders and Distilleries, the largest manufacturer of IMFL spirit by volume. The whisky is priced at Rs. 1,350 in Maharashtra and it is available almost Pan India. The reason why this whisky is called ‘B10’ is because it is supposed to give the experience of 10 different flavours to the consumer. If you are more of a video person then you can check out the video review on top as well.

Before we start talking about Sterling Reserve let’s take a look at ABD. So ABD is a very renowned name in the industry and has been in the market for decades now. One of their best- known millionaire brands is Officers Choice, which also is a category leader in that segment. For ones who don’t know what a millionaire brand is, millionaire brand means that it sells more than a million cases in a year, which isn’t an easy feat to achieve.

Now what is interesting is that this is also a millionaire brand which means it automatically puts pressure on it to taste good. This whisky is placed in the same segment as Blenders Pride and Antiquity Blue. So basically, this is positioned in a category where you have some of the best premium and highest selling Indian whisky’s honestly. This whisky comes in two variants, B7 which is positioned in the popular category and of course this, which is the B10. If we talk about the blend of this whisky, then there isn’t much clarity about the age of the malts that have been used in this. But this uses imported Scotch malts, which means malts that have aged at least 3-year’s have been used. This is combined with the Indian grain spirits with the Scotch Malts used from different barrel origin including bespoke bourbon oak casks. Naturally there is neutral spirits that are used as well in this since it has Indian grain spirits as well. Now this whisky is also chill-filtered, which means it won’t change colour when you add ice or water to it.

Packaging

If we talk about the packaging of the brand, then it is very clear that ABD wanted to create an impact since it is a tough market and they have spent a considerable time on this packaging as well. In comparison with blenders and antiquity it is the only brand that comes in a canister, which shows how serious they are about this category. In terms of packaging, it gives you a feel of the premiumness like others as well. They’ve gone with the deep Purple as the base colour and I think it could be coz they want to stand out on the shelf and they’ve managed to achieve that as well to some extent. In terms of the bottle as well it is nice and reminiscent of Indian whisky bottles.

Nosing

In terms of the nosing you get some honeyed sweetness, nuttiness of the barley and a fruity and heathery nose.

Tasting

The ABV is 42.8% and it gives you that punch as you taste it. The flavours of oak are clear and also a sweet flavour also comes from the whisky. Although it feels like honey but it is more of vanilla. There is a fruit as well which I think it berries. The finish is meduim-longish and honestly it is difficult to identify 10 flavours honestly but the whisky does seem smooth.

Conclusion

So what do we think about the Sterling Reserve B10 whisky? For a price of Rs. 1,350 in Maharashtra it is already a very popular brand. It gives you that mix of nice flavours, smooth refines for the price and you really can understand why the people who have this brand swear by it and won’t touch anything else. It is not something that you can have on the rocks naturally like most of the whisky’s in this segment. But with water or a mixer of your choice is suited. Maybe you can try it next when you are going to have any whisky’s in this segment and let us know how it is in the comments.

Amazing Vodka Review

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The Vodka market in India hasn’t been experiencing high level of growth for few years now. But while the regular Vodka category has witnessed a flat line, the flavours category has been witnessing good growth in the industry and nearly accounts for 60% of the overall vodka sales. Precisely the reason why you see manufacturers offering flavours of their vodka. So it is only natural that when India Glycols must’ve chosen to launch their vodka, it would be in two flavours, Green Apple and Orange.

If you remember then recently, we reviewed the Single Reserva Whisky which was also from India Glycols. The price of this product is Rs. 750 in UP is also available in Uttarakhand, Chandigarh and Rajasthan. There are also plans to take it National this year. With its price this Vodka is in the same category as some of the highest selling brands like Magic Moments and similar to Single Reserva, this vodka is also made at the company’s Kashipur and Gorakhpur plants.

Now Amazing Premium Vodka has been developed with the help of Raju Vaziraney who has been in the industry for many years and has helped in developing a lot of brands. This is a Grain-based Vodka which is infused with imported enhancers that have been brought from Germany. As you might knoe that enhancers are added flavours that provide the spirit with a premium feel. This is common in the industry and the flavoured vodka market. But since these are imported from Germany, it also is the distinguishing factor for this vodka as compared to the other vodkas made in India. The vodka is also 5-times filtered to make it smooth.

Packaging

Vodka packaging is always more bolder since it needs to be attractive to appeal to the youth and women. Amazing Vodka comes packed in a frosted bottle with four colour printing and the bottle features an illustration of Mermaid suggestive of fantasy. What’s also clear is the flavour with the green colour for the label and the caps. We like the printing on the bottle, it feels premium and nice and also that the word amazing is embossed on the bottle.

Nosing

In terms of nosing you get the subtle green apple flavour, which isn’t very overbearing. With a 37.5% ABV the vodka isn’t exactly very strong. But the filtration process ensures that you can nose that the spirit is refined and smooth. The aroma is also very distinctive and crispy.

Tasting

With the first sip itself you can get the flavour. The spirit is smooth and it feels premium, especially since they’ve used imported enhancers. The finish is medium-longish and there isn’t any afterburn as it trickles down. There is a slight hint of peppery note in the taste to give some spice to it. But again, it isn’t overbearing.
We also added a mixer to it to allow the vodka to open up a little and see what it does. Once added it makes the spirit even more milder, so may be as a tip: don’t add too much of the mixer when you choose to drink it.

Conclusion

So what is it that we think about the Amazing Premium Vodka. For a price of Rs. 750 for a bottle it is clear that it is targeted to users that are looking for good value for money. And of course you do have popular brands in that category already. When mixed with something that you like as you usually consume vodkas then you might feel really at home when it comes to this vodka. But our suggestion would be to not mix it with something very sweet since green apple flavour already has a hint of sweetness. But all in all, it has everything that you want from a vodka at this price point and it surely is worth a try.

Epitome Reserve Whisky Review

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In this video we review the limited edition Epitome Reserve Rare Grain Whisky that was launched recently by United Spirits, a Diageo Company. With only 2000 bottles made yet this is India’s first 100% Rice Grain whisky which celebrates India’s iconic people that have shaped the various landscapes and industries that they’ve been in.

The ABV percentage is 46% of this whisky and check out our Exclusive First Review of what we thought.

This video is for entertainment purpose only and the magazine, channel and the host do not promote alcohol consumption.

SHOR- Modern Indian Restaurant and Quarter Bar

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Exactly opposite Santacruz police station is the two month old SHOR. It has a stylish ambience with rustic touches to make it warm and friendly and has a seating capacity of close to 45 people. The bar was well stocked with a wide range of cocktails and mocktails. Chota Bheem is their signature drink. Whisky, Kalakhatta, Chaat masala used in preparation of this drink.

For music there as the in-house system with a live DJ station and Karaoke after 10 P.m. This place has Bollywood nights every Thursday and also a Karaoke night once during the week. They do have valet parking service.

Cheese and garlic naan bomb starter is a must try. Tiny naan discs served as starter with cheese and garlic stuffing had the right flavours.

With dishes inspired from the western coast, the menu not only includes the names of the dishes, but also the place they are inspired from. Signatures include Khakhra from Gujarat, Tadka Hummus from South India, Amritsari Fish from Mangalore and Prawns Koliwada from Mumbai, find your tastebuds, taking a ride along the coast too. The grill section, includes the basics like, Cheese Seekh, Achari Aloo, Fish Tikka and Masala Prawns. The nouveau main course section has dishes like, Truffle Oil and Okra Khichadi, Chicken Gassi, and Goan Fish Curry and Rice. SHOR promises you endless stories and binging sessions over the course of its journey. With a menu that is carefully hand-picked and curated which is juxtaposed with music, this place is sure to win your heart.