Spice Route Cocktails: Infusing Indian Spices into Drinks

As children, we have been acquainted with kokum sorbet, Jal Jeera, and masala chaas as being the epitome of summer drinks enriched with Indian spices. As adults, we are rooting to provide the same twist to classic alcohols. Let each sip be a reminder of all the nostalgic moments you experience as a kid. 

May we present the most fun and noteworthy fusions to ever exist. Let’s take a walk down this flavorful Khau Galli and explore these spice-infused drinks. It’s time to relive all the good old memories that start with, “Do you remember that time when…”

Cocktail Recipes With A Little Spice

1. Kokum Fusion Cocktail
2. Cardamom & Pop Punch
3. Spicy Cilantro Lime Cucumber Cocktail
4. Bangalore Old Fashioned
5. Ginger & Rosemary Cocktail
6. Black Pepper Daiquiri
7. The Cheshire Cat

1. Kokum Fusion Cocktail

This drink is a flaming red fusion of hot, cool, and sparkle. Kokum sharbat has been a staple in every Indian household for years. Its cooling tendencies have proven to be the best addition to sweaty summers. This fusion cocktail offers a little spicy twist with lemon and cumin. To top it all, the sparkling wine turns it into a desi party popper.

Ingredients

• 5 oz. sparkling wine
• ½ oz. kokum syrup
• ⅓ oz. lychee syrup
• Half a lemon
• A pinch of cumin powder

How To Make Kokum Fusion Cocktail

1. Add kokum syrup, lychee syrup, and cumin powder to a wine glass. Mix it well.
2. Squeeze in the lemon juice and mix again.
3. Top it up with sparkling wine and serve!

2. Cardamom & Pop Punch

The original recipe comes from Phil Ward, a renowned bartender from one of New York’s best bars, Death & Co. Don’t let that fool you, though. This drink has as much Indian as Devi Vishwakumar in Never Have I Ever. Though ‘punch’ comes off as a cheap and sweet alternative, Cardamom & Pop Punch packs a rather strong punch to it (Wow, that was a lot of punches in one sentence). Cardamom (did you know it’s known as the queen of spices?) provides the drink with an exotic flavor.

Ingredients

• 3 oz. club soda
• 3 whole green cardamom
• 2 oz. rum (preferably spicy)
• 1 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 oz. grapefruit juice
• Orange bitters
• 4 sugar cubes
• Lemon wheel for garnish

How To Make Cardamom & Pop Punch

1. Dissolve the sugar cubes in club soda. You can use a cocktail shaker.
2. Add cardamom and mull.
3. Add rum, lemon juice, grapefruit juice, and orange bitters to the mix and stir well.
4. In a tall glass, add ice and strain the mixture in the glass.
5. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

Also Read: Spicy Cocktails You Can Make At Home To Warm Up Your Winter

3. Spicy Cilantro Lime Cucumber Cocktail

We have all observed mint to be a standard addition to lemon cocktails. This is a rather refreshing twist to the classic mojito. The Spicy Cilantro Lime Cucumber Cocktail uses a variety of flavors, starting from refreshing cucumber and ending on a spicy note with zesty jalapenos.

This cocktail uses tequila instead of vodka. A perfect cocktail for outdoor brunches and picnics, because tequila drunk has such an afternoon vibe!

Ingredients

• 4 oz. tequila (Hangover in a glass?)
• 2 oz. lime juice
• 2 oz. simple syrup
• ⅓ cup finely chopped cucumber
• 8 sprigs of roughly chopped cilantro
• 2 finely chopped jalapenos
• Sliced cucumber for garnish

How To Make Spicy Cilantro Lime Cucumber Cocktail

1. Add cucumber, cilantro, jalapenos, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Muddle them together.
2. Add tequila and ice and shake vigorously.
3. Strain the mixture into a cocktail glass and garnish with a cucumber slice.

4. Bangalore Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned is the most popular and commonly ordered cocktail in bartending history. There is absolutely no way we were going to leave this one out. Bangalore Old Fashioned, like its namesake city, is a classic drink packed with a modern twist over the nuance. This drink highlights the taste of citrus laced with garam masala. It truly beats all odds of ever going wrong.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz. Amrut Old Port Indian rum
• ¼ oz. overproof rum
• ¼ oz. garam masala syrup (mixture of sugar, water, and garam masala)
• Grapefruit bitters and Bab Louie’s Aromatic Bitters
• Lemon and orange twist for garnish

How To Make Bangalore Old Fashioned

1. Add rum, masala syrup, and bitters in a cocktail mixer and stir well.
2. Fill the glass with ice. Strain the mixture on top.
3. Garnish with lemon and orange twist at the edge of the glass.

Also Read: 8 Old Fashioned Recipes And Variations

5. Ginger & Rosemary Cocktail

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the most flavourful drink, Ginger & Rosemary cocktail. Hold on, we are onto something. Have you heard of the saying, “Bandar kya jaane adrak ka swad?” The literal translation is ‘What would a monkey know about the taste of ginger?’ That’s the importance of ginger in an Indian household. Don’t be a monkey and try this cocktail!

Ingredients

For Ginger Cardamom syrup:

• ½ cup water
• ½ cup sugar
• 6 green cardamom pods
• 1 tbsp. chopped ginger

For the cocktail:

• 1 ½ oz. gin
• 1 oz. vermouth (sweet-tasting ones are a better option)
• 1 oz. lemon juice
• ½ oz. ginger cardamom syrup
• ½ sprig fresh rosemary
• Angostura bitters (optional)
• Rosemary sprig for garnish

How To Make Ginger & Rosemary Cocktail

1. In a saucepan, add sugar, water, cardamom pods, and ginger. Heat it on medium heat. The sugar should melt and thicken the mixture.
2. Once all the sugar is melted, take it off the heat and strain the liquid into another container. Let it cool.
3. Add gin and rosemary to a cocktail shaker and muddle the rosemary into the alcohol.
4. Add vermouth, lemon juice, angostura bitters, and ginger cardamom syrup into the cocktail shaker.
5. Add ice and shake well.
6. Strain the mixture into a tall glass filled with ice.
7. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and it’s ready to be consumed!

Also Read: Best Homemade Wine Recipes For Christmas

6. Black Pepper Daiquiri

This 3 ingredient cocktail is here to blow your mind away. Black pepper Daiquiri is like a low-maintenance friend. You can just wake up one day and plan the day with this drink. It requires white rum, lime juice, and black pepper syrup. All the ingredients are readily available in your home for a quick cocktail hour. If you like your drinks spicy, you can swap the white rum with the dark and smoky ones.

Ingredients

• 2 oz. white rum
• 1 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ oz. black pepper syrup (made with sugar, water, and black pepper powder)

How To Make Black Pepper Daiquiri

1. Add rum, lemon juice, and black pepper syrup in a cocktail shaker.
2. Add ice and shake well.
3. Use a cocktail glass and strain the liquid into the glass.
4. Add a little umbrella because the spice might get you teary-eyed.

7. The Cheshire Cat

We saved the pretty one for the last. The Cheshire Cat captures the essence of a bonfire night during a camping trip. This drink depends on the sweet and spicy nature of cinnamon while embodying the flavors of whiskey, cognac, and vermouth. That’s right, this drink is as mischievous as its namesake character. Your last sip will make you recite the famous quote “You may have noticed that I’m not all there myself.”

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz. cognac
• ⅔ oz. scotch whiskey
• ½ oz. vermouth
• ½ oz. cherry liqueur
• ⅙ oz. cinnamon syrup (made with sugar, water, and cinnamon powder)
• Rosemary sprig, lemon twist, and cinnamon stick for garnish

How To Make The Cheshire Cat

1. Toss all the ingredients, and ice in a cocktail shaker and shake gently.
2. Fill a glass with ice and strain the mixture on top.
3. Add a lemon twist, and place the cinnamon stick and rosemary spring vertically into the glass.
4. Set the cinnamon stick top on fire. Don’t forget to extinguish it before it turns into a fire hazard.
5. Enjoy the smoke-blowing beauty.

Also Read: 10 Cognac Cocktails To Try In Mumbai Winters

Summing Up

Everyone needs a little spice in life, be it as a child or as an adult. That’s what makes life interesting and unpredictable. It’s a driving force to unforgettable memories. So let these spice-infused cocktails reincarnate the deep-embedded memories of childhood bliss.

FAQs

What Is The Most Popular Cocktail In India?

Mai Tai is the most popular cocktail. This is followed by Mojito, Old Fashioned, and Cosmopolitan.

What Is A Good Cocktail With Indian Food?

Sweet and spicy cocktails go best with Indian food. Some of the common ones are Margarita, Mojito, and Martini.

What Spices Go In Cocktails?

Here’s a cool fact. Literally, any kind of spice can be used to make cocktails. The most common ones are cardamom, ginger, peppercorn, star anise, cinnamon, and whole chilies.

What Is The Best Drink For Spice?

Milk is the best drink to soothe the burning sensation. If you’re looking for an alcoholic drink, then sweet-tasting cocktails are the best fit.

What Is India’s Number One Drink?

According to a survey, Kingfisher is India’s favorite Indian beer, followed by Bacardi and Old Monk being the favorite rum options. Mojito and Daiquiri are the most popular cocktails. The most preferred wine brands are Sula, Fratelli, Myra, and Chandon among many others.