Reflections of the Hills: An Evening with Kumaon & I at Miss Pinto

It was one of those evenings that felt like a whisper from the mountains — serene, elegant, and quietly intoxicating. I found myself at Miss Pinto, the chic Modern European restaurant in Delhi’s Vasant Vihar, for a special dinner celebrating Kumaon & I, India’s first premium provincial gin crafted entirely from Himalayan botanicals.

The evening, titled “Reflections of I,” was an ode to the Kumaon region and its lush bounty. Each course, each cocktail, carried a fragment of the hills — a sense of place that lingered like a mountain breeze.

The experience began with the Kumaoni Tonic, simple yet striking — the gin’s juniper and citrus notes shining through, lifted by a slice of orange. But it was the Pahadi Picante, with its guava syrup, jalapeños, and bird’s eye chilli, that stole the spotlight for me. It had that perfect Himalayan heat, balanced with coriander and citrus — a cocktail that felt alive, fiery, and playful.

Dinner unfolded as a series of edible stories. Crispy kale came dressed with mango and avocado salsa, feta, and a tamarind-rose reduction — a riot of flavours that teased the palate. Then arrived the beetroot ravioli, delicate discs of ruby red filled with Kinu emulsion, toasted hazelnut, and salsa verde. It was as beautiful as it was delicious — earthy, nutty, and perfectly paired with the freshness of the gin.

There were more delights — from baked crepes with ricotta and walnuts to the comforting Welsh lamb braised to tenderness with Himalayan timur gremolata. But the evening’s sweetest surprise came from Chef Devika Kumari’s desserts — a zesty lemon gin sorbet laced with passionfruit and peppermint, served with the kind of grace that made you pause before the first spoonful. Cool, aromatic, and subtly boozy, it was the perfect finale to a meal that had celebrated both craft and connection.

As the night drew to a close, we were handed Kumaon & I gin pralines, crafted by Chandigarh’s Mozimo Chocolates, to take home — a small reminder of an evening steeped in mountain spirit and urban sophistication.

What lingered wasn’t just the taste of the gin — distilled with timur, black turmeric, and Himalayan juniper — but the philosophy behind it. Kumaon & I isn’t just a drink; it’s a love letter to a region, a celebration of its soil, its people, and its slow, deliberate way of life.

At Miss Pinto, that spirit came alive — one sip, one bite, one conversation at a time.