Holi 2026 cocktail recipes: Festive cocktails by India’s top mixologists

From kulfi cocktails to sparkling thandai fizz. Shake up your Holi 2026 party with these festive, flavour-packed drinks. (Photo: the mixologists)

• Mixologists craft Holi cocktails blending Indian flavors, global spirits
• Festive drinks feature kulfi, thandai, and coconut cocktails
• Recipes feature rose, saffron, lychee, and tropical sunrise hues

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Holi has always meant colour, community and celebration, and no celebration is complete without something special in your glass. This year, leading mixologists and chefs from various hotels present cocktails that blend traditional Indian flavours like rose, saffron, thandai and coconut with global techniques and premium spirits.

This Holi, raise a glass to colour, creativity and craft; from creamy kulfi-inspired indulgence to sparkling thandai fizz and tropical sunrise hues, there’s a cocktail for every shade of celebration.

Here are five festive cocktails to shake up your Holi party

Kulfilicious

Arunlal K, Assistant Restaurant Manager, Whitefield Bar and Grill, Bengaluru Marriott Hotel Whitefield

The Inspiration: A cocktail inspired by the classic Indian kulfi; creamy, floral and gently spiced.

Also Read: How to host a Holi party at home without the mess

Ingredients

• 45 ml Bacardi Superior white rum
• 1 generous scoop vanilla ice cream (approx. 60 g)
• 20 ml sugar syrup
• 15 ml rose syrup
• 2–3 drops rose water
• 60 ml chilled milk
• 1 small pinch very fine cardamom powder
• Dehydrated rose petals for garnish

Method

• Chill a coupe glass in advance.
• Add rum, milk, sugar syrup, rose syrup, rose water and cardamom powder into a cocktail shaker.
• Add the vanilla ice cream and fill the shaker with ice cubes.
• Shake vigorously for 20–25 seconds until smooth and creamy.
• Double strain into the chilled coupe glass.
• Garnish with dehydrated rose petals and serve immediately.

Roku Sweet Whisper Cocktail

Hitesh Pant, Executive Chef, Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel and Convention Center

The Inspiration: A light, floral cocktail combining gin, lychee and coconut water with a citrus finish.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Roku Sakura Bloom Gin
• 25 ml lychee juice
• 20 ml coconut water
• 10 ml fresh lime juice
• 2 dashes saline solution

Method

• Fill a shaker with ice.
• Add gin, lychee juice, coconut water, lime juice and saline solution.
• Shake well until chilled.
• Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
• Garnish with chopped strawberries if desired.

Phoolon Ki Holi

Madhumita Maltesh, Mixologist, JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru

Ingredients

• 50 ml gin
• 25 ml beetroot and hibiscus reduction
• 20 ml fresh lime juice
• 15 ml white pepper honey syrup
• 2 drops rose water

Method

• Add all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice.
• Shake well until chilled.
• Fine strain into a chilled coupe glass.
• Garnish with a hibiscus flower.

Image: the mixologists

Thandai Highball

Madhumita Maltesh, Mixologist, JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru

Ingredients

• 45 ml saffron-washed gin
• 30 ml almond and fennel cordial
• 10 ml fresh lime juice
• 2 drops green cardamom tincture
• 90 ml sparkling soda

Method

• Fill a highball glass with ice.
• Add gin, cordial, lime juice and cardamom tincture.
• Stir gently.
• Top with sparkling soda and serve chilled.

Coconut Burfi Colada

Abhishek KM, Head Bartender, Hilton Bangalore Embassy GolfLinks

The Inspiration: A dessert-style cocktail inspired by coconut burfi and jaggery.

Ingredients

• 60 ml white rum
• 10 ml coconut burfi syrup
• 10 ml jaggery syrup
• 45 ml coconut milk
• ½ piece coconut burfi

Method

• Add half a piece of coconut burfi into a shaker and gently muddle.
• Add rum, coconut burfi syrup, jaggery syrup and coconut milk.
• Fill with ice and shake well until creamy and chilled.
• Strain into a rock glass filled with fresh ice.
• Garnish with a small piece of coconut burfi and serve.

Caribbean Sunrise

Nilesh Kumar, F&B Manager, Grand Mercure, Bangalore

The inspiration: A slow pour of grenadine creates a glowing sunrise effect, finished with a lemon wheel and cinnamon stick for a festive flourish.

Also Read: 5 savoury Holi snacks you’d totally love 

Ingredients

• 60 ml Pineapple Juice
• 60 ml Cranberry Soda
• 60 ml Vodka
• 15 ml Grenadine Syrup
• 15 ml Fresh Lemon Juice

Method

• Add the pineapple juice, vodka, and fresh lemon juice into a shaker filled with ice.
• Shake well until chilled.
• Strain into a highball glass filled with ice, then top with cranberry soda.
• Slowly pour the grenadine syrup to create a beautiful layered sunrise effect.
• Garnish using lemon wheel and cinnamon stick.