Indulgent celebrations, lots of bright colours and really good food – Holi brings with it a vibrant festive spirit that is marked by playful laughter and joyous vibes. While hosting a cocktail party themed around this festival of colours, go for drinks which reflect this festive energy. Skip basic options and introduce a desi twist into your festive cocktail roster.
Craft drinks that infuse traditional Indian flavours with modern mixology flourish to mix colourful, vibrant drinks which will be instant crowd-pleasers. Bring together desi ingredients, festive hues and cocktail blending in drinks that resonate with the cheery spirit of the festive hour.
Aam Panha Mojito
Holi generally descends upon us when summer starts to make its nascent appearance. And come summer, raw mangoes are available aplenty. Turn these fresh raw mangoes into interesting cocktail ingredients for your festive gatherings. Craft an aam panha base by preparing a bright yellow concentrate using the steamed flesh of raw mangoes mixed with saffron and jaggery. The crush can be used as a tangy, acidic flavour accent added to the classic mojito recipe. White rum, aam panha concentrate, mint leaves and lime juice can all be muddled together. Shake this mixture with ice before straining into a glass. Top the aam panha mojito off with club soda and a chilli and salt coated raw mango wedge that acts as a tropical garnish.
Thandai Martini
Turn the classic thandai into a desi-style cocktail for quintessential festive vibes. Reimagine the traditional drink blended for Holi but in martini form. Bring together homemade thandai with vodka and shake well. A splash of almond milk or regular milk will imbue a creaminess into the cocktail. Serve the drink chilled in a tall cocktail glass with a saffron and kishmish garnish. Chilled, aromatic and lightly spiced, the thandi martini cocktail will at once feel nostalgic, festive and quite stylish at your festive gathering.
Jamun Gin Fizz
Bring a desi, deep-hued and utterly bright twist to a classic gin fizz by reinventing it in festive style. For your themed cocktail party, add fresh jamun purée or jamun syrup to gin and shake well with ice. Top the drink off with soda. Express fresh lime juice over the cocktail right before serving to lend it more acidity. The purple colour, acidic flavour and slightly herbaceous touch coming from the gin will definitely make this drink an absolute showstopper at your colourful, festive gathering.
Kala Khatta Whisky Sour
Bring that street-style flair into your elegant cocktail glass with this festive rendition of the whisky sour. Think lime juice, bitters and whisky shaken with kala khatta syrup and ice into a frothy mixture. Sweet, tangy and lightly spiced, the violet tones of the kala khatta whisky sour will play right into the festive, colourful theme. This drink inspired by flavoured ice cones is a mixology nod to summers spent long ago savouring the acidic, tangy and chilled taste of the ice golas found at street-side stalls.
Coconut And Rose Spritzer
Introduce an elegant and spring-like touch into a delicate, modern spritzer with the floral notes of rose syrup. Mix coconut water with this floral ingredient and stir gently after adding lime juice, white rum and a little bit of soda water. Rose syrup introduces a mild, welcoming pinkish hue into the drink, while coconut water keeps it exceedingly fresh and refreshing. It is the perfect addition to a festive-themed cocktail roster, meant for guests who prefer slightly subtle notes and mild flavours in their cocktails. Garnish this rose-infused coconut spritzer with dried rose petals to enunciate its stylish, floral quality.