Bhang Cocktails To Try This Holi

Get ready to have your mind blown because these cocktails are wild. Bhang is an edible that packs a heavy punch because it’s made from the leaves of the cannabis plant. These cocktails are perfect for any time of the day, but having them at 4:20 would make you a man/woman of culture. For those of you who don’t know, bhang powder and pills are one of the stars at Holi parties.

Think of the iconic line through which Gabbar gave us the perfect active voice to passive voice example to ever exist, “Kab hai Holi, Holi kab hai?” His henchmen would have replied, “Bro, just go to any paan shop in Ramgarh and ask!” Because people flock to the paan shops to buy bhang during this festival. Why won’t they? Drinking bhang during Holi is an age-old tradition and everyone is more than happy to keep it going. These powerful cocktails can make Holi’s colors 10 times more vibrant or make you lie around the same spot the entire day! We hope you are ready for this.

NOTE: Consuming alcohol and bhang is fun, but it’s a very potent combination. You need to keep the amount of alcohol and bhang on the lower end to enjoy it safely. Bhang is illegal in many parts of India. So before planning to make these cocktails, ensure that the purchase and consumption of bhang is legal in your state.

5 Bhang cocktails to try this Holi:

1. Hot Buttered Bhang

Butter in most things is the best part of this dish, be it butter pav bhaji, butter chicken, or the butter you put on your paratha. But how about butter in a cocktail? Hell yeah! As the name suggests, it’s a cocktail that: A. Should be served hot, B. Uses a lot of butter and C. Has bhang as its base. The butter and vodka used here help to make the drink even more powerful. Being one of the easiest cocktails to make, this had to be the first one on the list.

Ingredients:

• 1.7 oz white butter
• 8 oz vodka
• 0.08 oz vanilla essence
• 0.17 oz bhang seed powder
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 pinch cinnamon powder

Process:

1. Melt your butter or ghee in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add bhang seed powder to the melted butter. Then add vodka and keep stirring while constantly raising the flame to get it boiling.
3. Once you reach the boiling point, slowly reduce the heat, and let it simmer for the next 30 minutes.
4. Let the mixture come down to room temperature and then pour it into the glass using a sieve. (You can reboil it again once poured using a sieve to increase the power of the cocktail)
5. Top it up with honey, cinnamon powder, and vanilla essence.

Also Read: Paan Cocktails To Freshen Your Mouth And Soul

2. Thandai White Russian

A variety of ingredients come together to form this boozy and creamy version of thandai that’s easy to fall in love with. The cocktail has a sweet taste due to the vodka and coffee liquor used in it. When you top that with bhang-infused whipped cream, you’ll feel like you’re in heaven (quite literally because of the… you know what we mean)

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka (Use one from a Russian brand because duh!)
• 1 oz coffee liqueur
• 1.5 oz whipped cream
• 1 tbsp bhang paste or powder
• 1 tbsp thandai masala

Process:

1. Pour your vodka (chilled) into a glass.
2. Mix coffee liqueur and ice in the glass and stir for 30 seconds. 
3. Pour whipped cream into a different jar and frother it until it becomes dense.
4. Add the thandai masala and bhang powder (or paste) while the process of frothering is still on. (Just ensure you don’t overdo it)
5. Once done, top your glass with the whipped cream and enjoy!!

3. American Thandai

It’s on brand for America to follow Russia, be it the space race or this list. That’s okay because Americans have always been known to raise the bar (pun intended) with their skills. This time, they are doing it with their whiskey. This is a super-easy cocktail made using American whiskey and Bailey Irish Cream. It’s a drink with a creamy undertone and caramel notes which goes well with the milky nature of thandai.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz American whiskey
• 1 oz Baileys Irish Cream
• 3 oz thandai mix
• 1 tbsp bhang powder
• Ice cubes
• Rose petals for garnishing

Process:

1. Mix whiskey, Baileys Irish Cream, thandai mix, and bhang powder in the cocktail shaker.
2. Shake it well.
3. Pour the drink into a glass and top it up with rose petals.

Also Read:  8 Awesome Cocktails To Try This Easter

4. Bhang Margarita

When tequila, made from agave plants, gets mixed with bhang, made from the cannabis plant from the Indian subcontinent, the result is going to buzz you up. This cocktail is the good ol’ Margarita with a small (but high) twist. We love Margaritas because it has all five main tasting notes i.e. sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. The addition of bhang and its herby flavor makes this already amazing cocktail even more powerful and delicious.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz tequila
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1 oz triple sec
• 1 tbsp powdered sugar
• 1 tbsp bhang powder
• Salt
• Lime wedges
• Ice cubes

Process:

1. Add all ingredients in a shaker and shake it well until all the ingredients are properly mixed.
2. Top the edge of the glass with salt.
3. Pour the cocktail into the glass and garnish it with a lime wedge.

5. Bhang Cosmopolitan

We are ending the list with another classic cocktail. The Bhang Cosmopolitan should be your go-to drink if you like a balance of sweet and sour along with a slightly bitter flavor. The beloved Cosmopolitan is made using a combination of vodka, cranberry juice, triple sec, and lime. Now adding bhang to this mix would give a grassy note to this fruity cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz cranberry juice
• 0.5 oz lime juice
• 0.5 oz triple sec
• 1 tbsp bhang powder
• Lime twist
• Ice cubes

Process: 

1. Add vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, triple sec, and bhang powder in a shaker.
2. Mix ice cubes in this solution and shake it well up to the point it chilled.
3. Serve this cocktail immediately and enjoy!

Also Read: Limoncello Cocktails To Make At Home

Conclusion

Be it a buttery cocktail or a classic margarita, you now have the power to make them even stronger. Remember what they say, ‘With great power comes, great responsibility.’ So be responsible and ensure you and others don’t overindulge in these cocktails and you’ll be fine. Enjoy the colors, have a great time with the ones you love, and just chill out while sipping these drinks. Happy Holi you guys!

FAQs

Is Bhang An Alcoholic Drink?

No, Bhang is not an alcoholic drink. It is a cannabis-based food product.

Can Bhang Be Mixed With Water?

Yes, bhang can be mixed with water. But it’s best to have it with thandaai.

Is Bhang Legal In India Now?

No, bhang is illegal and is banned in many Indian states. In certain states, its sale could only be done with government permission.