The Happy High, a Mumbai-based beverage consultancy, curated the beverage list, the Cholatails, for the ITC Grand Chola, Chennai to bring nuggets of the Chola legacy and local favourites to the fore.
Curated by a dedicated team of beverage enthusiasts, the Cholatails comprises of unique concoctions and innovative flavours designed to tell stories of the Chola dynasty with ingredients that form the core of Tamil cuisine. Blending flavours like pisin, nannari, long pepper, a local grape cola, and basil seeds, among others, make the beverage books elevate experiences ideal for locals and global travellers. The beverage XOXO finds its place on the esteemed list to symbolise the grand life with XO Cognac, Smoky Malt and more and perhaps is the most expensive beverage in the city.
Shaariq Akhtar, General Manager of the ITC Grand Chola, said “We are thrilled to introduce ‘Seven Venues, Seven Menus’ at ITC Grand Chola, curated to elevate every guest’s experience with a fusion of in-house creativity and craftmanship. The books together cover a range of over 100 recipes, such as the Tokyo Mary, Seoul Mate, Makuwa, XOXO and one called 1958 that brings a cult favourite grape cola to the fore. What we are showcasing is the main book, ‘Cholatails- Beverage Recipes from the Tamarind Town’, that we have launched at our bars. While ITC Grand Chola is an ode to the history, architecture, and culture of the mighty Cholas, this book aims to represent little nuggets of flavours, ingredients and anecdotes about the dynasty and the Madras we know today.”
Ajit Balgi, Founder of The Happy High said, “We are elated for our Chennai debut at the ITC Grand Chola. Our aim was to get the tales of valour and conquest into a glass as much as we wanted local ingredients and flavours on a beverage list that travellers from around the world would savour. We have used basic techniques, and fresh ingredients to make concoctions that are delicious, alluring to the eye and can appeal to different palates.”
