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South Indian ingredients, especially from Karanatka are renowned for the depth and intensity the moment it hits your taste buds. The result of combining booze and these ingredients for Holi 2026 can be a unique way to celebrate the festival of colours. Cooling ingredients like cucumber or mint also work well in these cocktails, balancing the heat of ginger and chilli. If you love a curry with a bit of kick, think about drinks that offer balance rather than competition. With the weather also reaching a warmer scale, these cocktail recipes shared by head mixologists and executive bartenders can really raise the cocktail scene for your Holi party that you are about to have. Here are 5 interesting ones to start the party with:
Image Credit: Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel
Malnad Spice Negroni
Executive Bartender, Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel, Ishant Kainthla says, “The Malnad Spice Negroni captures the untamed essence of Karnataka’s Malnad region in every measured serve. The brightness of local citrus, the depth of house-infused coffee, and the warmth of freshly cracked pepper are carefully layered to complement the structure of gin, vermouth and Campari.” For this cocktail, each element is intentional, designed to preserve the integrity of a traditional Negroni while introducing a distinct regional character. Here is how to make it at home:
Ingredients
30 ml London Dry Gin
30 ml Sweet Vermouth
30 ml Campari
10 ml Malnad spice reduction; a strained, concentrated syrup made from fresh Local citrus peels, crushed
Malnad black pepper, lightly roasted coffee beans and raw sugar
2 dashes house coffee tincture
1 drop saline solution (optional, to enhance structure)
Garnish: Flamed orange peel and cracked Malnad black pepper
Method
1. Chill a double old-fashioned glass with a large, clear ice cube
2. In a mixing glass filled with solid cubed ice, combine gin, sweet vermouth, Campari, Malnad spice reduction and coffee tincture
3. Stir steadily for 25–30 seconds to achieve optimal dilution and integration. The objective is balance, allowing the bitterness of Campari, the botanicals of the gin, and the spiced-citrus depth to harmonise without overpowering the palate
4. Strain over the prepared large ice cube in the chilled glass
5. Express the oils of a fresh orange peel over the surface, flame lightly for aromatics, and place as a garnish.
6. Finish with a delicate crack of Malnad black pepper over the top to accentuate the terroir-driven spice character
Image Credit: Marriott Hotel Bengaluru & Pexels
Kallangdi Lemonade
It's familiar, cosy, and wonderfully refreshing, blended with lime, mint, and the perfect amount of sweetness. “Kallangadi” means watermelon in Kannada, and across Karnataka, a chilled watermelon lemonade is something many people have grown up with, especially during the warmer months,” mentions Madhumita Maltesh, Head Mixologist at Marriott Hotel Bengaluru. Building on that recollection, lemonade retains the essential flavours while subtly enhancing them with white rum, making it feel both authentically local and right at home on a modern cocktail menu. Want try it for your Holi 2026 party? Check the recipe here.
Ingredients
6-8 fresh watermelon chunks
8-10 fresh mint leaves
60ml white rum
15ml fresh lime juice
10-15ml sugar syrup
90-120ml sweet and sour soda or lemon soda
Ice cubes, as required
Method
1. Add fresh watermelon chunks and mint leaves to the glass
2. Gently muddle to release the juice and mint oils (do not over-muddle mint)
3. Fill the glass with ice cubes
4. Pour in white rum, fresh lime juice, and sugar syrup
5. Top up with sweet & sour soda or lemon soda
6. Stir gently to combine and serve!
Image Credit: Hilton Bangalore Embassy Golflinks
Coconut Burfi Colada
The Coconut Burfi Colada is a celebration of nostalgia combined with modern mixology and the velvety warmth of white rum, drawing inspiration from the classic Indian sweet coconut burfi. According to Abhishek KM, Head Bartender at Hilton Bangalore Embassy Golflinks, “By pairing freshly made coconut burfi syrup with coconut milk and jaggery syrup, this drink bridges Indian culinary heritage with modern cocktail craftsmanship.”
Ingredients
60 ml white rum
10 ml coconut burfi syrup, homemade
10 ml jaggery syrup
45 ml coconut milk
½ piece coconut burfi
Method
1. Add half a piece of coconut burfi to a cocktail shaker and gently muddle to release flavour and texture.
2. Pour in white rum, coconut burfi syrup, jaggery syrup, and coconut milk.
3. Add ice and shake well until the drink is chilled and creamy.
4. Strain into a rock glass filled with fresh ice.
5. Place a small piece of coconut burfi on top or on a cocktail pick. Enjoy!
Image Credit: Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel and Convention Centre
Kribevu Passion Sour
If you’re looking for something really out of the box for a cocktail that makes you feel like you’re sipping Karnataka in a glass, this is the cocktail you and your guests need to have at your Holi 2026 party. “The Kribevu Passion Sour reflects Bengaluru’s spirit, rooted in tradition yet refreshingly modern. By pairing tropical fruit with Karnataka’s beloved curry leaves, we’ve created a drink that feels local in flavour but contemporary in texture. The foam softens the acidity and allows the aroma to unfold gently with every sip,” explains Jatinder Pal Singh, F&B Director at Zarf, Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel and Convention Centre.
Ingredients
60ml whisky
30ml passion fruit pulp
30ml fresh pineapple juice
20ml fresh lime juice
10–15 ml sugar syrup
Ice, as needed
For curry leaf foam;
8–10 fresh curry leaves
60ml water
15ml lime juice
15ml simple syrup
1 egg white or 20 ml aquafaba
A pinch of salt
Method
1. Prepare the curry leaf foam. Blend curry leaves with water, lime juice and simple syrup. Strain finely.
2. Add egg white or aquafaba and froth until light and airy. Set aside.
3. Build the cocktail. Add whisky, passion fruit pulp, pineapple juice, lime juice and sugar syrup into a shaker with ice.
4. Shake well until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
5. Gently spoon the curry leaf foam over the cocktail. Garnish with a fresh curry leaf sprig.
6. The curry leaf foam adds an aromatic cushion, creating a layered, textural drinking experience that is both refreshing and distinctly local.
South Indian mixology combines the most unique regional flavours, fresh herbs, and aromatic spices with contemporary cocktail crafting, taking centre stage as palates throughout the world become more daring. It's a warm summer day as everyone gears up for Holi 2026, but don't worry, you have a selection of delectable cocktails to go with the vibe now!
