The reason why he's home tonight!

Disclaimer: We, at The Week, aren’t promoting alcohol. We’re only saying, that for those of you who enjoy an occasional drink and prefer the concept of having a peg or two at home rather than in a crowded bar where you have to scream to be heard, you might as well do it in style.



I know of a few men who talk about their bar with much pride in their voice. [break]



Men who take the time to discuss the advantage of having a bar at home and thus sipping a drink in the tranquility of their own space. For them, a bar is more than a display of their collection of spirits and wines.



It’s not just about a rack full of bottles collected over the years and displayed for the visitors to stop and look at.



It’s more than that. It’s about having a space where you can unwind at the end of a hectic day; a space to call your very own where you can have friends over for some interesting conversation with or without a glass of Glenfiddich for company.



Anudan Jung Rana falls into the category of such men. The moment you enter his house, you’ll see the bar done up with careful consideration.



Right next to where the bar stands now, a room is being renovated, and Anudan informs me that this is where he plans to shift the bar in a few days. Talk about opulence!







The bar is his style statement. It boasts a large collection of wine, whiskey, and crystals.



The whiskey collection, at the moment, is being depleted at a steady pace since his brothers are home on vacation. The bar is actually foldable so it can be tucked away when not in use.



And when it’s not being used, it serves as an interesting display where he shows off the intricate-looking hookah set he got from Dubai, along with his cigar box.



Anudan’s collection of spirits range from the half empty bottle of Caol Ila, which is his favorite, to an unopened bottle of Laphroaig to arrays of wine and champagne. One glance at the bar and you can easily spot his preference for single malts.



One thing that catches your eye is the huge bow and a solitary arrow displayed on the wall.



Anudan is into archery. He fondly recalls the time he lied at the customs office saying he was practicing for the Olympic Games to “rescue” his bow and arrows.



The bar area also serves as a space for him to display his collection of memorabilia.



The wall next to the bar is a witness to a host of memories. Framed records from Raj Kapoor’s “Bobby” to Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis, tickets of concerts he’s been to, a bolo reminiscent of his college days in Texas, and figurines of Wolverine and Al Pacino that showcase his love for Hollywood – you’ll find all these items on his personal wall of fame.



This area is just an extension of his personality.



“I got permission from my wife and made the bar exclusively mine.



This is one area of the house she has no say in,” says Anudan. The house has been done up under the watchful eye of Anudan’s wife, Jeena, but the bar area is completely his style and design.



Anudan likes having friends over and smoking a cigar in the privacy of his bar.



It’s a great stress buster, he says. You relax and enjoy the company of family and friends in an area which speaks volumes about your persona. It just instantly calms you down.



Anudan’s bar is his pride. It’s a place he takes immense care of.



 He has a ritual where every Saturday he takes down his glasses and bottles from the rack and cleans every item thoroughly. “I make sure everything is sparkling and that the display looks like a piece of art,” says Anudan as I’m craning my neck to look while trying not to touch anything for the fear it might leave a fingerprint.



“It’s not the drink but the ambience that makes a huge difference when you sit down in the company of friends,” adds Anudan. There’s something refreshing about the bar area being a private male-dominated sphere in a house where you see feminine touches everywhere else.



When asked what tips he would like to share with others who want to have a bar in their house as well if their wives permit, Anudan says, “Make it your personal space. Don’t just display your crystals and spirits but surround yourself with items that you’ve collected over the years, or things that you like looking at.



Take care of your crystals as well. Don’t keep chipped glasses around. The bar area should be a space you like coming to, whether or not you want a drink.



That’s the bottom line.”

If you’re someone who enjoys a drink and finds it relaxing to settle down with a peg at the end of a long workday, then make sure you do it in a setting you’d like to show off, and not slouched on the sofa with the TV blaring nonsense. Like Anudan says, it’s the ambience that makes all the difference.



So here’s to the bar and its appointments! But if you have somewhere to go and must drink and drive, drink Coke!



Look out for this space next month to get a sneak peek into another tastefully plush bar as well as tips on how to create your own oasis with whatever resources you have at hand.

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