Midnights with Taylor Swift

Swift at a performance. Pic Courtesy/Instagram

August sipped away/like a bottle of wine,' sang Taylor Swift in the eponymous track, August, from the album, Folklore (2020). When this writer first heard the song, it reminded them of a Robert Burns poem. But that is the high point of literature and pop-culture that the 2024 Grammy Award-winner for Album Of The Year brings. For content creator Deep Pathare, the artist was more than just a musical icon. She became the inspiration for his latest pop-up behind the bar at KMC' in Fort for a special Taylor Swift night on February 10.

"She is an icon," Pathare remarks over the phone, describing Swift as the biggest thing in pop culture since Madonna in the 1980s. "Her lyrics are so relatable and colour every mood," he notes. Aside from his fandom, this was one of the reasons why Pathare turned to Swift as the inspiration for a special curated cocktail session.

Whiskey on ice/Sunset on vine

The head mixologist at KMC', Jishnu AJ, shares, "The Night Shift is a platform where we offer creators, and even customers, who are interested in the art of cocktails an opportunity to step behind the bar. Pathare approached us, and we were very interested in the idea of bringing in the themes of Taylor Swift's lyrics into a curation of drinks," he adds.

Swift forms one dimension of the cocktails, Pathare adds. "When we were sitting down for our first discussion, her songs were one of the major themes but also the city of New York. The album 1989, for instance, is inspired by Swift's recollections of the time spent in the city. I am also a big fan of the classic Prohibition Era drinks and cocktails. So, we worked with Jishnu on themes that were built around the city of New York, the vibe of the classic drinks with the essence of Taylor Swift's songs," notes Pathare.

Deep Pathare (left) with Jishnu AJ

The result is a curation of four special cocktails named after her songs. "Each of these drinks is a Taylor Swift inspired-take of a classic cocktail. For instance, the Whiskey on ice/sunset on vine is inspired by the eponymous lines from the song Gorgeous by the pop star. It is a New York sour - whiskey with a dash of red wine, with our own twist of pear cinnamon and Supasawa," Jishnu explains. Remarking about another drink, Last Christmas, the mixologist says, "It brings the combination of sponge cake, dry fruits and nuts with a dash of vodka. It will feel like Christmas in a glass," he chuckles. Pathare's favourite is a take on the classic Aviation, a gin-based drink that defines both New York and the musician's high-flying lyrics.

While it is impossible to reduce Swift to one particular flavour, Pathare remarks, "She is so iconic that it is almost intangible as an experience. She is on her Eras tour, and I hope to catch her in June this year, if I am lucky. But I wanted to share that vibe with people. It is all about the experience," he says. Does this mean people walking into the bar should dress up to a Swiftie vibe, we ask? "Not really. It is all about the music, the cocktails and the experience. You can expect a vibe that celebrates her lyrics, music and the New York style," Pathare concludes.

On: February 10; 8 pm onwards
At: KMC', first floor, Kitab Mahal, near Excelsior Cinema, Fort.
Call: 9987653397

Aviation

Ingredients
>> 60 ml gin
>> 10 ml blue pea
>> 10 ml elderflower
>> 10 ml sugar syrup
>> 10 ml Supasawa

Method
Add the gin, blue pea, elderflower, sugar syrup and supasawa in a shaker with ice, and shake until chilled. Strain into a cocktail glass and serve.
Courtesy: Deep Pathare and Jishnu AJ, head mixologist