May 29, 2001 12:24 AM
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''You haven't tasted it yet and you are still on earth!''
''Oh fantastic, its THE rum!''
''Cariba, cariba, yo ameet you are missing life!''
''Coconut water!...try coconut rum instead and you will never sip coconut water again!''
''Go get it. Its the best thing that ever happened to me''
''If I ever wanted to swing again, I head for Barbados...you know what I mean?''
Enough! I had a really a lot of those exclamatory remarks that had made a deep impact on my mind. They came from different friends and brothers from different parts of India. They sounded like I was a moron since I haven't tasted the best drink of the world. But such comments coming from so many people, I started to feel like I am too backward and this is when I was hell bent that I will have it.
If you haven't yet figured it out, I am talking of Malibu: The coconut rum.
So I stepped out of my hotel room in Hyderabad (I went there to attend INSULEC 2000 international conference on insulating materials to present my technical paper) and was moving around the city when it struck me that here is my chance to try Malibu (do not tell my parents!...just kidding!). Well you see though a grown up now, in India drinking is considered as a social stigma and elder orthodox people just brands you as a boozard and evil person. Actually my parents are not so orthodox and understand me better. Anyway...my frustration began when I saw a local wine shop and asked for Malibu. He kept staring at me and asked me with a big question mark on his face ''What boo?'' I looked around the shop and found Baileys cream liquor and Bacardi and Smirnoff and even Chevas Regal. The point is he seemed to have many foreign brands. So I asked him again ''M-A-L-I-B-U, Caribbean coconut rum'' and he nodded his head ''No Sir''. Though I liked the city of Hyderabad for its historical buildings and the museum, I was getting angry and cursed the city for its ignorance. My frustration had taken a new height when the above incident repeated at 6 different wine shops and 4 restaurants and bars. Worse was that they hadn't even heard such a name.
But I was hell bent on having at least one glass of Malibu. But I returned in vain back to my hotel (Hotel Golconda - a 3 star hotel) and went to its bar to soar my dampened spirits. Having gave up on Malibu, I told him to give me something different, something light. He just asked me ''Sir, try.... its great''. I didn't quite hear him and nodded my head in affirmation and he asked me ''Coke or pineapple juice''. He just gave me a glass with slice of lime attached and an umbrella - frills of a 3 star hotel. I took my first sip and a big one. Zing zip zap boom...something just dashed in me and I looked at bartender with a funny expression and asked him ''Wow! What on earth is it?'' ''Malibu, Sir''. I just started giggling like a mad man. Poor man he was so confused! He thought I was out already.
But truly the taste was simply wonderful and nothing like I has tasted before. It smelt good and tasted sweet smooth syrupy kind with a mixed taste and fizz of Coke. At the end of the sip however it leaves a taste of coconut and suddenly you can feel some alcohol. The sip suddenly warms up the throat and chest. Its a good feeling and before I could fully enjoy the first sip, down went another and then a third and that’s it...hateful sight of an empty glass.
Another one. Before he could pour in any add-on, I took a shot - neat. Its amazing and surprising not a throat burner like whisky. Its ultimately smooth and light and I did not feel any alcohol except at the end of sip when the sweet coconut smell is replaced by the characteristic alcoholic smell.
I tried my third glass with sweet lime. This Malibu is an amazing product from Brighton, Black Rock, Barbado's in the Caribbean. It seems to mix with anything. The third drink was equally enjoyable. A wasteful day suddenly seemed GOOD, relaxing. I just loved it but by this time things had started to move. Drinking occasionally does have its disadvantages. I get high soon.... or was it the drink. Couldn't be, it hardly smelt or tasted like alcohol but the bottle said 42%. Then I guess it must be alcoholic but that coconut flavoring must be hiding the effect. What a clever drink?
Ill effects: Friendly bartender suddenly seemed like the drink - full of disguise. The bill that he produced was hefty too. 3 glasses full for Rs. 400.
Well the thrill of having not 1 but three glass of Malibu was far greater than my exhaustion and hefty bill. I retired to my bedroom with a smile on my face.
Now I have joined the gang and am exclaiming at you,
''What haven't had Malibu yet? You are missing life fella! Go get it now!''
Ameet Choughule
