Rum Cocktails With Bael: Try These 5 Drinks Which Celebrate This Indigenous Fruit
Bael, an indigenous fruit found in Indian and certain other south Asian regions goes by a lot of names. While locally termed as bael, it is also recognised as the Bengal quince, the stone apple or even the wood apple. The tropical fruit can be described as a combination of the tasting notes of mangoes, pears and even certain citruses. While it is hard on the outside, the interior of the bael is sweet and pulpy, making its flesh an interesting addition to fruit salads or fruit plates.
Throughout Indian regions where the bael fruit ripens in abundance, it is used to craft a number of different culinary offerings like jams, jellies, squashes, nectars and preserves. It is primarily the aromatic pulp and sweet flavours of the bael that make this a suitable alternative for such preparations. And it is only inevitable that this fruit has found its way into modern mixology, such that it can be paired with a spirit like rum to concoct different tropical blends.
Read on below to know more about some of the cocktails that can be prepared by bringing together different types of rum with the tropical bael fruit:
Smoked Bael And Rum Old Fashioned
Rum has a slightly earthy, bitter tasting note which nicely contrasts the sweet taste of the bael fruit. A twist on the classic old fashioned, this drink can be prepared using 30 ml Captain Morgan Dark Rum or any other premium rum of choice blended with about 15 ml of bael syrup in a stellar combination of complimentary flavours. Infuse a smoky touch with a small drop of liquid smoke that will lend the flavours of the wood apple syrup an added nuance. The smoked, bael-infused rum old fashioned can be garnished with a slice of the fruit to add a soft, chewy texture into the drink.
Bael Rum Smash
Another simple tropical drink that can be prepared by muddling bael pulp with a dash of honey and about a tablespoon of lime juice is a citrusy rum smash complete with summertime notes. The smash will acquire a chewy texture as a result of the bael pulp and adding 30 ml of good quality light rum will introduce into it a fruity, tart note that builds into the drink’s tropical effect. Garnish the cocktail with mint leaves for a light, peppery flavour addition.
Tropical Bael Punch
A tropical punch can be prepared with the addition of a number of citrus fruit juices like freshly squeezed orange, pineapple and lime juice to good quality dark rum. To this mix made using 30 ml Captain Morgan Dark Rum or any other premium rum of choice, add a dash of bael pulp which will introduce a sweet and aromatic layer into the punch. Blend the drink with an additional 30 ml of coconut water for a beachy, tropical finish.
Bael Sour
Put a spin on the classic sour cocktail recipe by bringing together 30 ml white rum and bael syrup or bael pulp in a tangy, acidic, contemporary take on the drink. Bael pulp or puree will bring sweet, chewy and fruity notes into the drink, whereas a teaspoon of lime juice will give it a tangy touch. A dash of honey will introduce just the right amount of syrupy sweetness, and all of these elements will be tied together by the slightly tart, fruity notes of the white rum.
Bael Colada
Prepared by bringing together 15 ml coconut cream with 10 ml bael pulp, the bael colada is a tropical mix well-suited for serving at a summertime gathering. Use 30 ml spiced rum to prepare this cocktail which is a complex combination of caramelised, sweet, spicy and fruity flavours. Garnish the drink with a bael chip and coconut shavings for a crispy structural finish.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
