Booze with Frills
Pub City Bangalore has come up with its latest innovation: a state-of-the-art booze boutique. Cheers, toasts ALLEN J. MENDONCA
Boutiques sell labels, big names. This one markets the UB Group Terminus. "It was an idea whose time had come," says Vijay Nakkta the flamboyant chairman of the Rs.3000-crore plus UB Group.
During the next few months, over two dozen such terminals are slated for launch in the metros and major cities across the Country. The first terminus franchised to Perth & Co. retailers with a 150-years-track record of selling quality spirits is located in the hip Brigade Road. There, on the second floor of the building, behind glass doors, is a sight that would warm the cockles of Bacchus. It's a showcase of every single brand of beer, brandy, rum, whiskey, gin, vodka and Scotch that the group has on offer.Each bottle of spirit stands in splendid isolation upon a glass shelf, with lone spotlights suffusing the bottle and the contents with gentle light. The whiskies glow gold and amber, the rums look dark and deep, the brandies seem full-bodied, rich with the grape and the beers as always look cool and inviting.
The mood is set as you climb a steep flight of white marble steps. On either side are framed posters of various brands, including the fabulous art work of the Campari brand, the raspberry red nestling in a simply designed bottle, just waiting to be poured into a tall glass accompanied by the tinkle of ice cubes.There's something for everybody. Even college kinds. The Kingfisher Line of sportswear created by designer Manoviraj Khosla provides the fun image, counterpoised with scaled down cricket momentous like bats and balls sign by the West Indian team, air bags, bar accessories and even mini-bottles of popular Mc-Dowell spirits.
Chorus R. Meganathan and R.Dhandapani, brothers and fifth generation owners of Perth & Co, "We immediately warmed to the idea. Our family has sold beer and spirits from this very spot for 150 years. Our father V.M.Ranganathan Chettiar has known Vijaya Mallya, his father Vittal Mallya and even his father Col. Mallya. When Vijaya suggested that we remodify our store in keeping with the new blueprint for the terminus, we agreed. And are happy with the result."
Booze lovers can now actually stroll from one bottle to the next, check the price tag, let the heart beat quicken, as the message of fun and relaxation with a glass of fine Scotch or a print of fine bubbly, flashes on the mind's eye. The mind made up, you pick the poison of your choice, pay up and go home.If things go well, they just might open a pub or a bar right next to the terminus. Ditto with all the other planned terminals.
"And why not?" says Mallya. Why not? with talk of prohibition all over the land, one might as well have another one for the road.Cheers!
