Just when you thought The Bombay Canteen had spilled all its beans, out pops the fifth Canteen Cocktail Book, audaciously titled ‘Make Mine A Bombay’. Now, if that doesn't spark a grin wider than the Queen’s Necklace at night, what will?

A sipster (yeah, we just coined that, you’re welcome) who swaggered into the canteen recounted, “They’re like the Willy Wonka of cocktails but less creepy and more intoxicating.” The mischievous glint in Yash Bhanage and Sameer Seth's eyes can’t be mistaken. They’re the sorcerers brewing up the city in a glass, with stories taller than the Rajabai Tower, and flavors as zesty as a monsoon evening at Marine Drive.

One review, scribbled with evident enthusiasm, praised the Phool, a gin spritzer with Umeshu and a playful marigold soda that “hugged the taste buds like the cosy, inviting chaos of Dadar’s flower market.” Another patron, clearly a connoisseur of stronger spirits, was mesmerized by The Verdict, “A cocktail so stiff, it could make the town's statues blush. Yet, the banana sherry and dark rum made it a solace after a long day, not just a beverage.”

‘Make Mine A Bombay’ is as much an experience as it is a cocktail menu. Bar Head Prantik Haldar, with the panache of a seasoned poet, paints portraits of Bombay with his mixtures. There’s the Paparazzi, a sweet and savory vodka concoction with the pizzazz of Bollywood’s flashbulbs, and the Rear View, a tequila masterpiece that has the echo of monsoon rains pelting against the city's iconic ‘kaali-peeli’ taxis.

The ambience? It’s where the timeless charm of old Bombay waltzes with the vibrant energy of the new city. Every corner, every concoction is a nostalgic journey down the gallis of Bombay, yet each sip is as fresh as the city's first monsoon showers. Prices, starting at ₹675, might make you raise an eyebrow but believe us, every sip is akin to taking a joyride down Marine Drive with the wind in your hair.

Though our taste buds might be partial to the eclectic mixtures of flavors, the real triumph of The Bombay Canteen lies in its adept juggling of nostalgia and innovation. The Canteen Cocktail Book isn’t just a menu; it’s a passport to the city, from the languid laps of the Arabian Sea to the buzzing gullies of Mohammed Ali Road.

If Bombay was a drink, it would undoubtedly be served at The Bombay Canteen. In the warm, ambient glow of the restaurant, every clink of the glasses echoes the city’s unyielding spirit and every sip is a toast to the indomitable soul of Bombay. Book your tables, not just for a meal, but for a soul-stirring sojourn through the city that never sleeps, and seldom stops dreaming. Cheers to that, Bambai!