Priya Pathiyan shares her notes on Wax On Berlin’s recent bar takeovers of ZLB 23 at The Leela Palace, Bengaluru, and Aer at Four Seasons Hotel, Mumbai.

Mixology isn’t just about mixing drinks but also the mingling of many cultures. And nowhere is that more evident than when there’s a bar takeover that helps two countries exchange ideas. Damien Guichard, creative director, and operations director Joe Lewis White recently brought the brilliance of their Berlin bar Wax On to India in collaboration with Overture Entertainment — doing some dazzling takeovers of ZLB 23 at The Leela Palace, Bengaluru, and the fabulously refreshed Aer at Four Seasons Hotel, Mumbai.

Bar enthusiasts in both cities enjoyed Wax On’s special brand of innovative spirit-forward cocktails that boast intense, distilled flavours. We sampled the curated creations on offer and came away with a deeper understanding of why the much-acclaimed bar has gained credence and popularity on the global cocktail scene.

We thought that their take on the Gimlet was especially telling, replacing the customary gin with the aged 1800 Añejo Tequila and regular lime cordial with aromatic lemon verbena to create a small, smooth drink whose flavours were punchy without being overpowering. They not only were on-trend, using 100 per cent blue agave tequila, but also used it wisely to create a characterful cocktail that we will remember for a while.

The Ultimate Paloma, on the other hand, was light and refreshing, thanks to it being strong on citrussy grapefruit and orange. Other seemingly simple drinks but made unique with innovation and powerful flavours that Wax On’s India fans got to sample: Irish and Soda, Whiskey Sour, Cherry Paloma, House Negroni, Martini, etc.

The bar takeover in Bengaluru was in association with the German Embassy. Both evenings by Wax On were all about a scintillating vibe, cultural exchange, and the ever-evolving cocktail culture around the world.