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From thandai-inspired mixes to whisky, gin, and rum creations, discover 13 festive Holi cocktail recipes crafted by mixologists to add a spirited twist to your celebrations.
Thandai Colada recipe
As Holi paints the air in every shade imaginable, it’s time to bring that same vibrant energy into your glass. This season, celebrate with a curated selection of cocktails that blend festive tradition with a spirited twist. these creations are designed to keep the colours—and the good times, flowing all day long.
Rose & Pistachio Thandai crafted by Merrick Rodrigues, Mixologist at Diageo India
Menu: Rose, dried fruits, milk, pistachio, McDowell’s X Series Gin
Focus Spirit: McDowell’s X Series Gin
Ingredients:
Thandai Base – 45ml
Milk – 120ml
Monin Rose – 10ml
McDowell’s X Series Gin – 30ml
Method:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake well until chilled.
Garnish: Rose petals
Served in: Kulhad
Spiced Apricot Highball
A refreshing, spicy, and fruity Chivas Regal XV whisky highball.
Ingredients:
Chivas Regal XV – 40ml
Apricot and Chai – 100ml
Soda Water – 40ml
Orange Slice – Garnish
Method:
Flavour: Boil 500ml water with 215g chopped fresh apricots and 5g chai. Infuse for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Sweeten: Strain and add 20g sugar, stirring until dissolved.
Serve: Add Chivas Regal XV and the cooled apricot-chai mixture into a highball glass with ice. Top with soda water and garnish with an orange slice.
Thandai Colada recipe crafted by Merrick Rodrigues, Mixologist at Diageo India
Menu: Dried fruits, coconut milk, pineapple, McDowell’s X Series Dark Rum
Focus Spirit: McDowell’s X Series Dark Rum
Ingredients:
Thandai Base – 45ml
Coconut Milk – 120ml
Pineapple Juice – 10ml
McDowell’s X Series Dark Rum – 30ml
Method:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake well until chilled.
Garnish: Pineapple chunks
Served in: Kulhad
Beefeater Pink Strawberry – The Pink Floradora
Ingredients:
Beefeater Pink Strawberry – 50ml
Lime Juice – 20ml
Fresh Ginger Syrup – 10ml
Ginger Beer – To top
Optional: 1 muddled raspberry
Method:
Shake and serve over crushed or cubed ice.
Garnish: Fresh lime wheel
Dark Chocolate & Espresso Thandai recipe crafted by Merrick Rodrigues, Mixologist at Diageo India
Menu Description: Dried fruits, dark chocolate, coffee, McDowell’s X Series Vodka
Focus Spirit: McDowell’s X Series Vodka
Ingredients:
Thandai Base – 45ml
Milk – 120ml
Cocoa Powder – 1 tsp
Coffee – 5ml
McDowell’s X Series Vodka – 30ml
Method:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake well until chilled.
Garnish: Chocolate shavings
Served in: Kulhad
Signature Thandai recipe crafted by Merrick Rodrigues, Mixologist at Diageo India
Menu Description: Signature Whisky, thandai mix, saffron-cardamom honey, saline
Ingredients:
Thandai Base – 30ml
Saffron Cream Honey Syrup – 5ml
Saline Solution – 5ml
Signature Whisky – 30ml
Method:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake well until chilled.
Garnish: Chopped dried fruits
Served in: Kulhad
Lillet And Tonic
Ingredients:
Lillet
Sparkling Water / Sparkling Wine / Sparkling Lemonade
Berries
Cucumber
Citrus Wedge
Mint / Basil / Thyme
Method:
Pour Lillet into a tall wine glass filled with ice. Top with your choice of sparkling mixer and garnish as desired.
Monkey 47 – Jackfruit Delight
Ingredients:
Monkey 47 Gin – 60ml
Lime Juice – 15ml
Fresh Jackfruit – 20g
Mint Leaves – 5
Method:
Muddle jackfruit and mint, add remaining ingredients and shake with ice. Strain and serve.
Garnish: Lime wheel
Horse’s Neck Highball
Ingredients:
Chivas Regal XV – 50ml
Soda – 100ml
Bitters – 2 dashes
Method:
Build in a highball glass with ice. Stir gently.
Garnish: Long lemon twist
XV SOUR
Ingredients:
Chivas Regal XV – 50ml
Lemon Juice – 20ml
Sugar Syrup – 20ml
Bitters – 2 dashes
Egg White – 1
Method:
Shake all ingredients without ice.
Add ice and shake again.
Strain into a rocks glass.
Garnish: Lemon slice and cherry
Punch Fresco
Ingredients:
The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve – 75ml
Watermelon Chunks – 4
Sugar Cane or Agave – 1 tsp
Method:
Muddle ingredients, add ice, and garnish with mint and lemon.
Caribbean Fire
Ingredients:
The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve – 50ml
Pineapple Juice – 25ml
Hot Sauce – 2 tsp
Lime Juice – 15ml
Agave Nectar – 10ml
Pink Grapefruit Soda – To top
Method:
Shake ingredients except soda. Pour over ice, top with soda, and garnish.
Jameson, Ginger & Lime (JGL)
Ingredients:
Jameson – 45ml
Ginger Ale – To top
Lime Wedge
Method:
Build in a highball glass with ice, top with ginger ale, and squeeze fresh lime.
Claw And Leaf
Ingredients
60 ml TIGERFIRE Vodka
30 ml Tamarind Purée
5 Fresh Curry Leaves
5 ml Simple Syrup
45 ml Club Soda
Garnish
Tamarind Sucker
Method
Add TIGERFIRE Vodka, tamarind purée, curry leaves, and simple syrup into a shaker with ice.
Shake well.
Fine strain into a tall glass filled with fresh ice.
Top with club soda.
Garnish with a tamarind sucker.
Something Spicy
Ingredients
45 ml TIGERFIRE Vodka
15 ml Triple Sec
60 ml Fresh Grapefruit Juice
4 Jalapeño Slices
10 ml Honey Syrup
Garnish
Grapefruit Wedge
Salt Rim
Method
Rim a tall glass with salt and fill with ice.
Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice.
Shake well.
Fine strain into the prepared glass.
Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
March 01, 2026, 10:15 IST