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Serving suggestions for our Permit Room Old Fashioned

Our chief Daru-walla expertly guides us on the perfect serve of our Permit Room Old-Fashioned cocktail at home

The Permit Room

Our Old-Fashioned bottled cocktail takes its name from the Permit Room bar, found in every Dishoom and so named after the official term for all Bombay drinking establishments, in which, according to the Bombay Prohibition Act of 1949, only permit-holders may consume alcohol. Herein, liquor can be sold and imbibed, but only for the goodness of one’s health.

A serving suggestion

Though the doors of the Permit Room are closed for now, you can still enjoy our tipples in bottled form at home. Follow our lead to achieve the perfect pour, and transport yourself back to a cosy corner of the bar.

Our industrious Daru-wallas have readied a most delicious muddle of Woodford Reserve bourbon with bay leaf reduction, green tea and so on. Bottle-aged to perfection.


Per serve, you will need:

  • A rocks glass
  • Cubed ice
  • A bay leaf
  • A black olive


Photos and captions courtesy of “India in Focus. Camera Chronicles of Homai Vyarawalla,” by Sabeena Gadihoke.