India is a country blessed with festivals and flavors which reflect in our drinks as well. There are so many regular Indian drinks that we all grew up drinking and the majority of them can mix really well with alcohol. These cocktails can be easily made with the stuff available in your kitchen. So, read on and get ready to add some desi twist to our 7 best Indian cocktails that are as colorful and rich as Indian festivities.
7 Best Indian Cocktails To Welcome The Festive Spirit
- Jaisalmer Golden Fort
- Nimbu Pani Mint Julep
- Mumbai Mule
- Mango Mojito
- Jal Jeera Gin And Tonic
- Indian Hot Toddy
- Boozy Mango Lassi
1. Jaisalmer Golden Fort
This cocktail recipe has everything you expect from an Indian cocktail. From spices and aromas to Indian gin as a base liquor, this drink ticks all the boxes. Jaisalmer gin is an Indian craft gin that goes really well with Indian aromas and spices. It’s a great gin to add to your drink collection as well. Read on to know the simple recipe for making Jaisalmer Golden Fort which certainly has the potential to become your new favorite drink.
Ingredients
- Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin (1¾ ounces)
- Lime juice (½ ounce)
- Cinnamon syrup (¼ ounce)
- Cloudy apple juice (1¾ ounces)
- Sliced green apple (for garnishing)
How To Make Jaisalmer Golden Fort
- Take a cocktail glass and put some ice cubes in it.
- Now, pour Jaisalmer gin on top of the ice cubes.
- Add some lime juice, cinnamon syrup, and cloudy apple juice to it.
- Garnish your flavorful cocktail with a sliced green apple and enjoy.
Also Read: Best Cocktail Recipes For A Girls’ Night In
2. Nimbu Pani Mint Julep
If you’re an Indian, we’re sure you grew up drinking nimbu pani, which has been a staple summer drink in many Indian households. This delicious and tangy Indian drink is great to provide relief from scorching heat while pleasing your taste buds. The fun part is that it serves as a great base for cocktails and Nimbu Pani Mint Julep is a fine example of it. This tangy and refreshing cocktail will remind you of your childhood while giving you the buzz you can legally enjoy as an adult. Here’s a simple recipe for how you can make this interesting Indian cocktail.
Ingredients
- Kentucky bourbon (2 ounces)
- Sugar (½ cup)
- Lime (2 pieces)
- Mint leaves (½ bunch)
- Indian black salt/rock salt (½ tsp)
- Soda water
- Mint leaves and sprig (for garnishing)
How To Make Nimbu Pani Mint Julep
- Take a saucepan and combine water, mint, rock salt, and sugar in it.
- Heat the mixture over medium flame till the salt and sugar dissolve into a mix.
- Strain the syrup and let it cool in a fridge.
- Take a pitcher and add the chilled syrup to it
- Now, squeeze the limes into the drink.
- Muddle a few mint leaves in a Julep cup till they form a paste.
- Fill it half with ice and add 2 ounces of the syrup.
- Top it with bourbon and soda water.
- Stir the mix well till you can see the cup getting frosted from the outside.
- Garnish your drink with fresh mint leaves and sprig and enjoy it cold.
Also Read: Best Homemade Wine Recipes For Christmas
3. Mumbai Mule
Mumbai is a beautiful layered Indian city that can offer you everything you can possibly need. Named after the City of Dreams, this cocktail embodies the spirit of Mumbai with its ingredients. Unlike Mumbai’s commute, this recipe is pretty simple to make. It will hardly require any preparation and can be enjoyed in any party setting, be it a Halloween party or a new year celebration. Here’s how you can make this fun cocktail.
Ingredients
- Vodka (1½ ounces)
- Lemon juice (½ ounce)
- Spiced ginger simple syrup (¾ ounce)
- Ginger beer (4 ounces)
- Sprig of mint and wedge of lime for garnish
How To Make Mumbai Mule
- Take a copper cup and pour vodka, ginger beer, ginger simple syrup, and lemon juice into it.
- Now, add some ice cubes to it.
- Stir the drink for a few seconds.
- Garnish it with mint and lime and enjoy.
Also Read: 6 French 75 Cocktail Variation Recipes For A Pool Party
4. Mango Mojito
Mango is known as the king of fruits and it rightfully deserves the place. This delicious fruit can be eaten as it is, made into smoothies, and even pleasantly mixes with alcohol to give you a delicious buzz. This refreshing cocktail also looks stunning, like the festive spirit of the country. Your elders and friends are going to love this cocktail. Here’s how you can make it.
Ingredients
- Sugar (1 tsp)
- Lime juice
- Sliced lime (1)
- Mango puree (1 cup)
- Club soda (4 ounces)
- Rum (2 ounces)
- Mint leaves
- A pinch of salt
- Lime (for garnishing)
How To Make Mango Mojito
- Take a cocktail glass and add some mint leaves to it.
- Now, add sugar, salt, and a slice of lime and muddle the mixture well.
- Add some lime juice and fill the glass with ice.
- Now, top it with mango puree, rum, and water.
- Garnish the Mango Mojito with a slice of lime and enjoy.
Also Read: How To Rim A Glass
5. Jal Jeera Gin And Tonic
If we talk about bringing the best of two worlds, this cocktail can be a fine example. Jal jeera is a loved Indian drink and we’re sure you know about the mass appeal of G&T. Jal Jeera Gin And Tonic brings together the tangy Indian flavors of cumin and seed water and blends it with the classic Gin and Tonic.
This drink will tap into your happy childhood memories while giving you a flavorful high. It’s going to be a conversation starter and party favorite in any festive scenario. Here’s how you can make this tangy Indian cocktail.
Ingredients
- Gin (2 ounces)
- Lime juice (¼ ounce)
- Jal jeera (2 ounces)
- Black salt (½ pinch)
- Chaat masala ( ½ pinch)
- Tonic water
- Basil leaves (for garnishing)
How To Make Jal Jeera Gin And Tonic
- Take a cocktail glass and fill it with ice.
- Now add gin and tonic to it.
- Top it with jal jeera, chaat masala, and black salt.
- Garnish the cocktail with basil leaves and enjoy the nostalgic cocktail.
(You can easily get jal jeera pouches in the market. If it’s not accessible, simply blend ginger, lemon juice, mint leaves, coriander powder, cumin seeds, chaat masala, and water together. Once properly blended, it’s ready to be enjoyed and mixed with your G&T.)
Also Read: 8 Best Daiquiri Cocktail Recipes
6. Indian Hot Toddy
When it comes to Indian festivals, a lot of them fall during cold weather. Yes, we all love our chilled cocktails despite the weather but it’s always nice to have some warm options. Hot Toddy has been a saving grace for many cold nights and will be a perfect addition to your festivities. Follow this recipe to make this drink and feel cozy in the chilly weather.
Ingredients
- Whiskey (1½ ounces)
- Boiling water (2 ounces)
- Honey (1 tsp)
- Cloves (3 pieces)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Lemon (1 slice)
- Ground nutmeg
How To Make Indian Hot Toddy
- Take a mug and pour boiling water, whiskey, and honey into it.
- Now, add cloves, a slice of lemon, and a cinnamon stick.
- Let the flavors mix together for 5 minutes and then add a pinch of ground nutmeg. Enjoy your hot Hot Toddy!
Also Read: Best Homegrown Gin Brands
7. Boozy Mango Lassi
Yes, another mango-based cocktail because yes, we’re obsessed with mangoes and it’s a superior fruit! Lassi is a big hit in Indian families and you’ll rarely hear anyone complaining if it’s mango lassi. You can easily booze up mango lassi and the flavors can literally rock your world. It’s a fun, creamy, and delicious Indian cocktail that is also pretty easy to make. Just follow these simple steps and you’ll have the delicious cocktail all ready to drink and enjoy.
Ingredients
- White rum (2 ounces)
- Peeled and diced mangoes (2 pieces)
- Sugar (½ cup)
- Yogurt (½ cup)
- Mint leaf (for garnishing)
How To Make Boozy Mango Lassi
- Take a blender and add rum, mangoes, sugar, and yogurt into it.
- Now blend all the ingredients until they have a thick and smooth consistency.
- With the help of a spoon, check and see that there are no crumbs of sugar and mango left.
- Pour the mix into a glass and garnish it with a mint leaf.
Also Read: Best Places To Try Craft Beer In India
Summing Up
Festivals are a time of joy, family, food, and drinks. We’re pretty sure that our list of the 7 best Indian cocktails to welcome the festive spirit will take care of the last part. Simply pick the drink you enjoy the most, booze it up, and enjoy it with your family and friends.
FAQs
What Are The 7 Basic Cocktails?
The history of cocktails is pretty rich and complex with people having their own theories to add to it. This is true when it comes to basic cocktails as well. Generally, Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Dry Martini, Daiquiri, Negroni, Margarita, and Espresso Martini are considered the 7 basic cocktails. You’ll also find Sidecar and Gin and Tonic making it into several lists.
What Is The Oldest Cocktail?
As per alcohol enthusiasts and researchers, Sazerac is known as the oldest cocktail in the world. If we consider the legend, Sazerac is believed to be first made in 1838 by a Creole apothecary named Antoine Peychaud.
What Are The 3 Elements Of A Cocktail?
There are 3 essential elements when it comes to making a cocktail. The first is the core, also known as the base spirit, which is generally your main alcohol. The balance is the second element, which mostly includes sugar or mixers and the final element is the seasoning which includes bitters, limes, and fruits.
Which Country Invented Cocktails?
The United States is credited to be the first one to come up with cocktails. As per written records, the cocktail was first mentioned in the Farmers Cabinet as a drink in 1803.
Which Cocktail Is Best For Beginners?
Cocktails are good when you’re starting with alcohol because they don’t taste too bitter and the alcohol content is also comparatively less. Moscow Mule, Margarita, and Bloody Mary are generally popular picks if you’re just starting out with cocktails.
Which Cocktail Has The Most Alcohol?
Aunt Roberta is considered among the strongest cocktails in the world. For this cocktail, gin, vodka, absinthe, blackberry liquor, and brandy are mixed together. The drink has 100 percent alcohol content with no mixers to dilute it whatsoever.
Which Is The Best Alcoholic Drink In India?
India is a diverse country and so are our preferences. When we talk about alcohol, the best could be subjective but generally, Indians love a good beer, old monk, and vodka.
