Wise Tribute by Malinda Kalupahana
Your friendly neighborhood bartender is an ongoing series by the Wise Monkey team featuring fun interactions and crazy cocktails whipped up by the artists behind bar counters. (is what we say as we continue making more excuses to drink free WiseMonkey cocktails in the name of content)
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This month’s artist is Malinda Kalupahana of Siddharta Lounge, Abu Dhabi. And the art he has created with Wise Monkey Rum is the Wise Tribute.A fan of bitter and tropical flavors, Malinda crafts the most imaginative cocktails with an Asian-Mediterranean touch. Proudly speaking about the range of flavors offered by the two regions, he chimes about the boundless space for creativity that lies by bringing in traditional flavors into modern cocktail culture.Born in the tropical lands of Sri Lanka to a family of dedicated hoteliers, Malinda’s inspiration to craft flavorful delights had come to him naturally. Now, 7 years into the profession, he continues to carry an infectious smile while doing what he truly enjoys the most – whipping up crazy cocktails.
And someone who has been able to tap into this gold is Malinda, who humbly tags ita “miracle” that crazy ideas come to him naturally. However, knowing the amount of effort that goes into swinging up unconventional ideas, we would like to credit him for the works he has done over the years. There goes behind a lot of learning,struggling, creative conceptualizing, and a whole lot of “crazy bartender” energy to reach where he stands now.
Playing out our appreciation to Malinda for this interview and the cocktail, we would like to raise a Wise Monkey toast to our first friendly neighborhood bartender.
When asked about a personal favorite stirred up with Wise Monkey Rum, he responded within a blink – “Wise Tribute”. Made with a generous dose of WiseMonkey’s Indian Spiced Rum, the Wise Tribute is a quirky take on the classic martini and will instantly become your favorite if you are a fan of bitter-sweet cocktails. And ifyou are not into that palate, this martini will probably change it.
Make Your Wise Tribute
Indian Spiced Rum
(Wise Monkey’s Indian Spiced Rum is a blend of aromatic cardamom, clove, cinnamon, vanilla with smooth rum)
Umeshu
(Japanese plum liquor)
Dry Vermouth
(Fortified wine enhanced with aromatic botanicals)
Mediterranean Wine
(Boutique fine wine to build up the sweet and sour aftertaste)
Together, the Wise Tribute builds up a beautiful fusion between the Asian and Mediterranean flavors.
But it’s also an equally challenging drink to craft, because unlike neutral spirits, the Indian Spiced Rum is already packed with rich flavors. Striking the right balance iskey to perfecting the Wise Monkey version of the martini.
So, if you’re looking for an easier hack to creating this cocktail, you’re just in luck!
Here’s a 4-step-guide to get your hands on this signature Wise Monkey cocktail:
1) Pick up all the ingredients
2) Leave them behind (all except Wise Monkey Rum)
3) Go to Siddhartha Lounge
4) Ask Malinda to make it for you
Side it along with your favorite starters, or simply sip on it – either way, you’ll be guaranteed to have a good time.
Speaking about the good times sponsored by Wise Monkey Rum, Malinda says that the blends are pretty damn “good as it is”.
They are the perfect choice for neat shots, but also offers a lot of depth in flavor when mixed with cocktails. In other words, rum variants are a goldmine in the ever-evolving cocktail culture.
And someone who has been able to tap into this gold is Malinda, who humbly tags it a “miracle” that crazy ideas come to him naturally. However, knowing the amount of effort that goes into swinging up unconventional ideas, we would like to credit him for the works he has done over the years. There goes behind a lot of learning,struggling, creative conceptualizing, and a whole lot of “crazy bartender” energy to reach where he stands now.
Playing out our appreciation to Malinda for this interview and the cocktail, we would like to raise a Wise Monkey toast to our first friendly neighborhood bartender.