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Whether you prefer something sweet, spicy, or citrusy, these festive sips are perfect for raising a glass with friends and family
Holi 2025: Cheers to a Holi filled with colour, laughter, and unforgettable flavours
Holi is a festival of colors, joy, and togetherness—and what better way to celebrate than with vibrant cocktails that capture its spirit? Inspired by the hues of the festival, these drinks bring together bold flavors, seasonal ingredients, and playful twists on classic favorites. From tropical fruits and fragrant spices to refreshing florals and indulgent chocolates, each cocktail is a toast to the essence of Holi. Whether you prefer something sweet, spicy, or citrusy, these festive sips are perfect for raising a glass with friends and family. Cheers to a Holi filled with color, laughter, and unforgettable flavors!
Rangila Martini recipe by Gaurav Khurana, Head Quality and New Product Development (NPD), Modi Illva India Pvt. Ltd
A lively vodka martini that embodies the spirit of Holi—bold, colorful, and full of festive cheer!
Ingredients:
Ice cubes
50ml Artic Vodka
20ml blue curaçao
15ml fresh lime juice
10ml simple syrup
1 egg white (optional for frothiness)
Edible colored sugar (for rimming)
Lime wheel & flower petals (for garnish)
How to Mix:
Rim a martini glass with edible colored sugar.
In a shaker, add vodka, blue curaçao, lime juice, simple syrup, and egg white.
Shake vigorously without ice for a few seconds, then add ice and shake again.
Strain into the prepared martini glass.
Garnish with a lime wheel and flower petals. Enjoy!
Rang Rasiya Old Fashioned recipe by Gaurav Khurana, Modi Illva India Pvt. Ltd
A bold and aromatic whisky cocktail to match Holi’s vibrant energy.
Ingredients:
Ice cubes
50ml Rockford Reserve Whisky
10ml honey syrup (1:1 honey and warm water mix)
2 dashes cardamom bitters
5-6 tulsi (holy basil) leaves
Orange peel (for garnish)
Crushed pistachios (for rimming)
How to Mix:
Rim a glass with crushed pistachios.
Lightly muddle tulsi leaves in a mixing glass.
Add whisky, honey syrup, and bitters with ice. Stir well.
Strain into the prepared glass over a large ice cube.
Garnish with an orange peel twist.
Gulal Punch recipe by Gaurav Khurana, Modi Illva India Pvt. Ltd
A fruity, fizzy whisky punch bursting with Holi hues and flavors.
Ingredients:
Ice cubes
50ml Singhasan Whisky
20ml pomegranate juice
15ml rose syrup
10ml fresh lemon juice
Soda water (to top up)
Pomegranate seeds & edible flowers (for garnish)
How to Mix:
Fill a highball glass with ice.
Add whisky, pomegranate juice, rose syrup, and lemon juice. Stir gently.
Top up with soda water.
Garnish with pomegranate seeds and edible flowers.
Rang Barse Martini
A colorful, fruity vodka-based cocktail inspired by the hues of Holi.
Ingredients:
60ml Onegin Vodka
30ml cranberry juice
15ml lime juice
15ml blue curaçao
10ml simple syrup
Ice cubes
Edible glitter (optional)
Instructions:
Shake vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, and simple syrup with ice.
Strain into a martini glass.
Slowly pour blue curaçao for a layered effect.
Sprinkle edible glitter for a magical touch.
Holi Sunset
A tropical rum delight reflecting the warm colors of a Holi evening.
Ingredients:
50ml Viva El Ron White Rum
20ml orange juice
20ml pineapple juice
10ml grenadine
10ml coconut syrup
Ice cubes
Orange slice & cherry for garnish
Instructions:
Shake rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, and coconut syrup with ice.
Strain into a glass filled with ice.
Slowly pour grenadine for a sunset effect.
Garnish with an orange slice and cherry.
Gulal Margarita
A spicy and tangy tequila cocktail inspired by Holi’s vibrant powders.
Ingredients:
50ml Jose Cuervo Especial Silver Tequila
25ml fresh lime juice
15ml triple sec
10ml honey syrup
1 pinch of chili powder
Salt & colored sugar (for rim)
Ice cubes
Instructions:
Rim a glass with colored sugar and salt.
Shake tequila, lime juice, triple sec, honey syrup, and chili powder with ice.
Strain into the glass and serve.
Fire & Ice Whisky Sour
A smoky and citrusy whisky cocktail with a Holi twist.
Ingredients:
60ml Lucifer’s Gold Whisky
30ml fresh lemon juice
15ml simple syrup
1 egg white (optional)
A dash of bitters
Ice cubes
Orange zest for garnish
Instructions:
Dry shake all ingredients (without ice) for 10 seconds.
Add ice and shake again.
Strain into a glass and garnish with orange zest.
Thandai Shots By Cedrik Rodrigues, Manager, Beverages at Hitchki
Ingredients:
30 ml Dark Rum
15 ml Thandai Syrup
5 ml Sugar Syrup
100 gm Ice
Method:
Add dark rum, thandai syrup, and sugar syrup into a cocktail shaker.
Fill the shaker with 100 gm of ice.
Shake well for a few seconds to blend the flavors and chill the mixture.
Fine strain into shot glasses.
Serve immediately and enjoy the festive twist!
For an extra touch, garnish with a sprinkle of crushed nuts or saffron strands. Cheers!
Holika Blossom
A floral gin cocktail celebrating spring and new beginnings.
Ingredients:
50ml Hayman’s Old Tom Gin
25ml elderflower liqueur
20ml lemon juice
15ml rose syrup
Ice cubes
Edible flowers for garnish
Instructions:
Shake gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and rose syrup with ice.
Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Garnish with edible flowers.
Blackbush Thandai Cocktail
A festive twist on the classic Thandai—perfect for celebrating Holi!
Ingredients:
50ml Bushmills Black Bush
100ml almond milk (chilled)
10ml rose syrup
15ml elderflower liqueur
2-3 crushed cardamom pods
Ice cubes
Rose petals & crushed pistachios (for garnish)
Instructions:
Shake whisky, almond milk, and rose syrup with ice.
Lightly crush cardamom pods and add to the shaker. Shake well.
Strain into a chilled glass over ice.
Pour elderflower liqueur on top for a floral finish.
Garnish with rose petals and crushed pistachios.
Stir lightly and enjoy!
Spiced Godawan Thandai by Godawan Artisanal Single Malt
Celebrate spring with this rich and creamy whisky thandai cocktail—a festive fusion of tradition and indulgence. Think aromatic spices, velvety nuts, and a bold whisky kick—this colourful creation is as joyful as the festive season itself. Cheers to a sip of celebration!
Ingredients:
• Godawan 02 Fruit & Spice – 300 ml
• Chilled Thandai Mix – 120 ml
• Honey or Rose syrup – 50 ml
• Fresh Cream (Optional) – 50 ml
Method:
• Mix everything in a bowl with lots of ice.
• Garnish with an addition of rose petals, cardamom, pistachios and almonds, with a few strands of Saffron.
• Pour the mix into Kulhads and serve!
Sangaree by Swa Artisanal Syrups
Bold, vibrant, and full of festive warmth, this red wine cocktail is a toast to Holi’s spirit of love and celebration. Deep, spiced, and citrus-kissed, it’s the perfect sip for those who enjoy classic flavours with a playful twist.
Ingredients:
• 120ml red wine
• 20ml brandy
• 10ml lime juice
• 10ml Swa Triple Sec
• 5ml Swa Cinnamon
• 30ml orange juice
Method:
• Add all ingredients to a shaker with 2-3 ice cubes and stir gently.
• Strain into a tulip wine glass filled with ice.
• Garnish with a full-moon orange slice.
Pop-Star by D’YAVOL
Celebrate Holi with a vibrant twist on the classic Old Fashioned! The Pop-Star by D’YAVOL gets a festive upgrade, infusing the rich, smooth D’YAVOL VORTEX Blended Scotch Whisky with the playful flavours of popcorn and a hint of Holi-inspired sweetness. A perfect balance of bold, sweet, and savoury, this cocktail is a colourful delight for your celebrations!
Ingredients:
• D’YAVOL VORTEX Blended Scotch Whisky – 60 ml
• Instant popcorn
• Okinawa sugar syrup – 40 ml
• Angostura bitters – 2 dashes
Method:
Infuse D’YAVOL VORTEX whisky with instant popcorn. Allow this mixture to sit in the refrigerator for a few hours, then strain the liquid. In an old-fashioned glass, gently stir the infused whisky, Okinawa sugar syrup, and Angostura bitters over ice. Finally, garnish with an edible gold leaf.
Mahura Cosmopolitan by Six Brothers Mahura
This Holi, mix up a Mahura Cosmopolitan – an elegant cocktail crafted with the world’s first luxury heritage spirit – Six Brothers Mahura (Mahua) by South Seas Distilleries. Its smooth flavour profile and versatility make it the perfect base for a wide range of cocktails. Paired with bright citrus and tart cranberry, it’s a sophisticated and festive serve, ideal for celebrating, hosting, or simply unwinding.
Ingredients:
• 45 ml Six Brothers Mahura
• 15 ml triple sec
• 10 ml fresh lime juice
• 30 ml cranberry juice
• Ice
• Lime twist (for garnish)
Method:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add Six Brothers Mahura, triple sec, lime juice, and cranberry juice. Shake well until well-chilled (about 15 seconds). Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime twist. Serve and enjoy!
The Bangalore Bakery by Geist Brewing Co.
Inspired by the sights and aromas of Bangalore’s iconic bakeries, the Bangalore Bakery by Geist Brewing Co. Is a cocktail that’s as rich and nostalgic as the treats that line those bustling shelves. The star of the show? A 24-hour infusion of whiskey and honey-soaked sponge cake, creating a velvety smooth sip that captures the essence of fresh, buttery indulgence. With its warm, dessert-like notes and a hint of festive cheer, it’s the perfect addition to a Holi celebration.
Ingredients:
60 ml – Honey Cake Infused Whiskey
30 ml – Lime Juice
5 ml – Vanilla Essence
Raspberry Foam
Method:
1. Mix the Honey-Soaked Sponge Cake with Whiskey and let it infuse for 24 hours, so the Whiskey will absorb all the flavours of Honey and the cake to become smooth as butter.
2. Add raspberry syrup with fresh Cream and mix using a Co2 creamer to get the foamy texture.
3. Assemble all the components into a glass and garnish with cake crumble
Planter’s Punch by Tulleeho
With ingredients easily available in your kitchen, this is a colourful special to whip up for your Holi house parties!
A sip of trivia: the word ‘punch’ is a loaned from the Hindi ‘paanch’ (five), as it is made from five ingredients: spirit, sugar, lemon, water and tea or spice.
Ingredients:
• Dark rum – 60 ml
• Pineapple juice – 60ml
• Orange juice – 90 ml
• Grenadine – 10 ml
• Lime juice – 10 ml
• Ice – to fill glass
• Orange slice (to garnish)
Method:
• Shake all the ingredients except rum in a cocktail shaker.
• Fill a Collins or Hurricane glass with ice and strain the drink into it. Then, gently float the rum on top.
• Garnish with an orange slice and serve.
The Maharaja’s Manhattan by Monarch Legacy Edition
Here’s a drink worthy of its name – The Maharaja’s Manhattan. Made with Monarch Legacy Edition, a luxury brandy that blends French and Indian grape spirits, this drink adds a richer, more layered character to the classic Manhattan. The saffron-infused vermouth enhances the warmth of the brandy, while bitters bring just the right amount of depth. The warm spice and golden hues make it a perfect drink for colourful celebrations.
Ingredients:
• Monarch Legacy Edition – 45 ml
• Saffron-infused vermouth – 15 ml
• Aromatic bitters – 1 dash
• Orange bitters – 2 dashes
• Garnish: Maraschino cherry dipped in gold dust
• Glass: Long-stem martini glass
Method:
Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Stir well and serve chilled in a martini glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry dipped in gold dust.
Pistola Picante by Maya Pistola Agavepura
Much like Holi, the Pistola Picante is layered, vibrant, and impossible to ignore. This cocktail is zesty blend of agave, citrus, and spice perfect for the day in the sun. Featuring the smooth, Pistola Reposado, it balances the spice kick of Jalapeño and citrus, creating a refreshing, burst of flavour.
Ingredients:
• 45 ml – Pistola Reposado
• 45 ml – Pineapple Juice
• 20 ml – Lime Juice
• 15 ml – Agave Nectar
• 5 ml – Jalapeño Brine
Method:
1. Muddle 3 – 4 Jalapeños slices, a bunch of fresh Cilantro and Jalapeño brine in a cocktail shaker.
2. Add all ingredients.
3. Fill the shaker with ice and shake to dilute and chill.
4. Double strain into Tajin rimmed glass.
White As Jasmine
A delicate and floral cocktail with the subtle sweetness of jasmine and starfruit.
Ingredients:
50 ml Smirnoff No. 21
20 ml Jasmine Tea Syrup
20 ml Starfruit Juice
2 dashes Vegan Foamer
Method:
Shake all ingredients well and strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Glassware:
Coupe
Garnish:
Starfruit slice
Blue As Pea Flowers
A vibrant, floral highball with botanical undertones and a crisp finish.
Ingredients:
60 ml Black Dog Whisky
30 ml Blue Pea and Lavender Cordial
100 ml Soda Water
Method:
Build up in a highball glass over ice.
Glassware:
Highball
Garnish:
Fresh Blue Pea Flower
Yellow As Pineapples
A tropical whisky cocktail with warm spices and citrusy brightness.
Ingredients:
60 ml Johnnie Walker Blonde
15 ml Spiced Pineapple Syrup
10 ml Maple Syrup
30 ml Fresh Lime Juice
0.5 gm Sea Salt
2 dashes Vegan Foamer
10 ml Italian Bitter Aperitif (float)
Method:
Shake all ingredients well. Float the Italian Bitter Aperitif on top.
Glassware:
Old Fashioned
Garnish:
Charred Pineapple Slice with Italian Bitter Aperitif float
Ice:
Block
Red As Tomatoes
A bold and savoury take on a whisky-based Bloody Mary.
Ingredients:
45 ml Black & White Whisky
120 ml Tomato Juice
2 dashes Green Tabasco Sauce
2 dashes Worcestershire Sauce
10 ml Fresh Lime Juice
0.5 gm Celery Salt
Method:
Roll all ingredients well.
Glassware:
Highball
Garnish:
Celery Salt Rim with Fresh Celery Sticks
Ice:
Cubes
ORANGE AS AN ORANGE
A silky, citrus-forward cocktail with white chocolate indulgence.
Ingredients:
45 ml White Chocolate Fat-Washed Johnnie Walker Black Label
10 ml Orange Liqueur
2 dashes Orange Bitters
Method:
Stir well and strain into an Old Fashioned glass.
Glassware:
Old Fashioned
Garnish:
Orange and White Chocolate Crisp
Ice:
Block
SUMMER MULE
A nostalgic, tropical take on the classic mule, featuring mango and khus.
Ingredients:
50 ml Camikara 3YO
30 ml Mango and Khus Cordial
Top up with Ginger Ale
Method:
Shake rum and mango-khus cordial with ice.
Strain into a mule mug.
Top with ginger ale.
Glassware:
Mule Mug
Garnish:
Edible Flower
Lotus Flower Martini
A visually stunning, floral martini with exotic flavors.
Ingredients:
Ice Cubes
30 ml Absolut Vodka
15 ml Lychee Liqueur
10 ml Blue Curacao
10 ml Violet Liqueur
Method:
Shake all ingredients with ice.
Strain into a martini glass.
Glassware:
Martini
Garnish:
Edible flowers & mint leaf
Ballantine’s Whisky Flip
A rich, creamy whisky cocktail with nutty, spiced depth.
Ingredients:
35 ml Ballantine’s 7 American Barrel Whisky
15 ml Amaretto Liqueur
20 ml Double Cream
1 Whole Egg
Ice
Method:
Shake all ingredients vigorously for 30 seconds.
Strain into a chilled glass.
Glassware:
Nick & Nora
Garnish:
Dust with nutmeg
Magic Moments Remix Smooth Chocolate
A luscious and chocolatey indulgence perfect for dessert lovers.
Ingredients:
40 ml Chocolate Liqueur
Cocoa Powder
Magic Moments Chocolate Vodka
Method:
Shake chocolate liqueur and cocoa powder with vodka.
Strain into a cocktail glass.
Glassware:
Cocktail Glass
Garnish:
Chocolate Candy
Mango Chilli Pina Colada
A spicy, fruity twist on the tropical classic.
Ingredients:
60 ml Bacardí Mango Chilli
40 ml Fresh Coconut Water
25 ml Fresh Pineapple Juice
3 chunks Fresh Mango
2 tsp White Caster Sugar
½ Red Chilli (ingredient)
10 ml Lime Juice
Method:
Muddle mango and chilli in a shaker.
Add other ingredients, shake well, and strain.
Glassware:
Hurricane or Highball
Garnish:
Pineapple wedge, pineapple leaf & red chilli
Ice:
Crushed or Cubed
MANGO CHILLI MOJITO
A fiery twist on the classic Mojito with bold tropical flavors.
Ingredients:
60 ml Bacardí Mango Chilli
30 ml Lime Juice
20 ml Sugar Syrup
6-8 Mint Leaves
Top up with Soda Water
Method:
Add all ingredients (except soda) to a glass with ⅓ crushed ice.
Churn for 5 seconds, then top with crushed ice and soda.
Glassware:
Highball
Garnish:
Mint sprig & red chilli
MORPHEUS SIDECAR
A refined brandy cocktail with citrus and sweetness in perfect balance.
Ingredients:
45 ml Morpheus Brandy
¾ oz Orange Liqueur (e.g., Cointreau)
¾ oz Lemon Juice (freshly squeezed)
Method:
Rim a coupe glass with sugar if desired.
Shake all ingredients with ice.
Strain into the prepared glass.
Glassware:
Coupe
Garnish:
Orange twist
APPLETINI
A crisp, fruity apple-infused martini with a citrusy zing.
Ingredients:
45 ml Khukri White Rum
15 ml Green Apple Syrup
15 ml Triple Sec
15 ml Lemon Juice
20 ml Apple Juice
Method:
Shake all ingredients with ice.
Strain into a martini glass.
LONGITUDE 77 KASHMIRI SAFFRON SOUR
A luxurious whisky sour infused with Kashmiri saffron and a hint of spice.
Ingredients:
60 ml Longitude 77 Indian Single Malt Whisky
30 ml Kashmiri Saffron Syrup
20 ml Lime Juice
3 drops Egg White / Magic Velvet
Method:
Dry shake all ingredients.
Add ice, shake again, and strain into a chilled glass.
Glassware:
Nick & Nora
Garnish:
Kashmiri Chilli Oil & Saffron Strands
