Scene and Heard

Marcellus Baptista

What's happening in Mumbai’s hotels? A peek into the party circuit and events in the city...

Tap-ping the market

Carol Gracias at the Jagermeister tap launch at Vertigo

The buzz was on at nightspots around town as Germany's international spirit brand Jagermeister introduced its tap machines that ensure a 'colder than ice' experience. Model Carol Gracias was designated the task of spreading cheer all around as she went on a bar-hopping spree to inaugurate these taps. Night one saw her, along with hostesses in orange and wigs called Jagerettes, at Vertigo, Vie, Avalon and Enigma, while the next night belonged to the downtown nightspots. Carol and the Jagerettes encouraged customers to try out the cool Jagermeister shots and also have the famed herb liqueur in various cocktails. Launched in 1935, Jagermeister is now sold in over 60 countries and it is hoped that its India sales would zoom among the hip party crowd.

On higher ground

Asif Adil, Aditi Govitrikar, John Pollaers, Shamita Shetty, Isha Koppikar and Anusha Dandekar at the Smirnoff party at Red Light

Smirnoff, projected as the original Russian vodka, believes in giving its consumers in every continent - from Australasia to America - an unparalleled clubbing experience. It recognizes great music as the universal element for the most memorable and fun nightspots across the globe, providing its loyalists a unique and exhilarating night out. And so it was at Red Light with yet another edition of the Smirnoff night. John Pollaers, president, Diageo Asia Pacific and Asif Adil, MD, Diageo India were there to welcome star guests like Isha Koppikar, Shamita Shetty, Aditi Govitrikar and Anusha Dandekar among other regular partygoers. In full flow were the special Smirnoff cocktails like Moscow Mule with its mix of vodka and ginger lime cordial, topped with soda and Sprite, served in a metallic mug and Twist Capirojka. Needless to say, the 'twist and shout' was on.

Crunchy cheer

Nethra Raghuraman at the Fernando Hazelnuts launch at Olive

Nuts and drinks sure go together and if it happens to be Leonardo Hazelnuts then you are munching along with your cocktails you can be double sure that you would have a truly great time. That was the feeling at Olive at the party hosted by V N Dalmia and A D Singh to launch the brand available in the flavours of masala, chatpata and pudina. Just 1.5 ounces of hazelnuts per day may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. So, the guests ended up on a health trip as they savoured the hazelnuts and sipped 100 Pipers, Bacardi and Foster's at the Mediterranean-style eatery and bar. Enjoying the experience were the likes of Rozza Catalano who hopes to anchor a cookery show on TV, model-turned-designer Reshma Bombaywala, Dalbir Bains of Boudoir London, filmmaker Vinta Nanda, theatre personality Dolly Thakore, designers Pria Kataria Puri and Niharika Khan, models Shruti Sharma, Nethra Raghuraman, Chesz Shetty and Ishita Arun and interior designer Monica Vaziralli.

Store and show

Aditi Govitrikar and Asif Adil at the Johnnie Walker Select launch

Say goodbye to across-the-counter wine store sales. Well, that was the case at the launch of the very first Johnnie Walker Select in India, introduced at Silver Coin wine shop in Mumbai. It was a mutual consensus that the air-conditioned walk-in concept of the Johnnie Walker Select created a complete experience allowing consumers to truly experience the look and feel of a brand before purchasing it and re-enforcing Johnnie Walker's commitment to provide consumers with an exclusive experience. Johnnie Walker Select is an exclusive club membership program that upgrades premium wine outlets in the country and is a symbol that assures consumers of a sophisticated world-class shopping experience. Doing the honours on launch day was the stylish and sophisticated Aditi Govitrikar dressed in an elegant black-and-gold ensemble matching the colours of the brand. Also present was Asif Adil, MD, Diageo India that has in its portfolio Johnnie Walker's Red Label, Black Label, Green Label, Gold Label and Blue Label as also Smirnoff, Ciroc, Baileys and Captain Morgan.