Karan Dhanelia, the head mixologist at Atelier V & Masala Code, has been honored with a prestigious award. He was crowned as ‘Bartender of the Year 2026’ at Diageo India-hosted World Class (India, Nepal & Sri Lanka). In just the second year of competing, Karan has achieved this huge feat. He will also represent India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka at the World Class Global Finals later this year.
This was Karan Dhanelia’s second year competing for ‘Bartender of the Year 2026,’ and he managed to stand out with his creativity, precision, and clarity of flavors. He also took home some of the top honors in the Singleton 12 Sensory and Speed Round sessions. His win is nothing less than a defining moment, not only for him but also for the evolving bar landscape of Indore.
The vision of Atelier V & Masala Code is to build a technique-driven, serious bar program in Indore. It is a city where such ecosystems are still taking place, and Karan’s approach, curiosity, and craft closely align with it. His performance reflects a huge shift in speaking about how talents from tier 2 cities are now shaping India’s cocktail scene.
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Speaking about his win, Karan Dhanelia said that the win is a big moment for him. He mentioned how great it feels to see all his hard work, practice, trial, and error finally come together and pay off in the best way. Karan is happy about the fact that he got to represent Indore on such a big stage and also show people that the kind of work they’re doing here can stand alongside the best.
Karan spoke about how his time at Atelier V & Masala Code shaped his understanding of classic cocktails. This foundation gave him an edge as well as the space to experiment and explore more.
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He offered special mention to the Founder and Head Chef of Atelier V & Masala Code, Vedant Newatia. Karan spoke about how working with Vedant has been a big part of his journey and how he challenged Karan to showcase his craft and push boundaries. The head mixologist conveyed his gratitude to Vedant for his constant input and mentorship.
Founder and Head Chef Vedant Newatia called Karan’s win a reflection of his consistency at work and is very proud of him. He believed his win is a testament to the fact that one does not have to move to a metro city to be taken seriously.
Head Mixologist at Atelier V & Masala Code, Karan Dhanelia, has surely made Indore proud with his achievement. This win reinforces the commitment of both these distinct culinary concepts to putting Indore on the map as a city that is capable of world-class dining and cocktail programs.
