Alcoholic Drink

The Golden Lychee Fizz is not just a drink, it’s an experience. The golden-sprinkled lychee, like a jewel in your glass, adds an extra touch of excitement to the moment the clock strikes midnight. This is a simple yet dramatic champagne cocktail that adds a playful twist to your New Year’s celebration. The effervescence of […]

Ghee-Washed Whiskey is an Indian-inspired take, and a vegetarian alternative, for the contemporary technique of fat-washing spirits. About this Recipe Rooted in the 2007 experimentations with bacon-infused bourbon, this version introduces ghee—a revered, vegetarian-friendly fat among Indians and South Asians. The practice of fat-washing whiskey is still in its infancy. In 2007, bartender Don Lee […]

In this soul-warming drink, the traditions of Indian warmth meet the classic appeal of a hot toddy, creating a harmonious blend perfect for winter evenings. This delightful beverage, known for its comforting and versatile qualities, combines bourbon’s richness, ginger’s spiciness, and aromatic spices like cardamom and cinnamon. Whether you’re seeking a cozy indulgence or a […]

This Mumbai Mule is a distinctive variation of the Moscow Mule that is inspired by the flavors of Mumbai street food. It blends the classic ingredients of a mule with the lively flavors of Mumbai’s street cuisine – chaat masala, cilantro, and mint. About this Recipe This cocktail presents an Indian twist on the beloved […]

This Pomegranate Tequila Margarita is a refreshing twist on the traditional margarita that harmonizes the boldness of tequila with pomegranate. The marriage of pomegranate and tequila creates a vibrant and festive drink perfect for any occasion. The striking deep red color makes it as much an ideal winter holiday drink as it is a summertime […]

Here is a unique take on the traditional old-fashioned, that uses the Indian dhungar technique to add a smokiness to the cocktail. It is also a fun way to add some presentational drama to a cocktail.  Dhungar is a technique typically reserved for dals and meats. It was introduced to India by the Mughals about […]

Cilantro Gin and Tonic is a refreshing cocktail that features the cooling flavor of cilantro in a classic cocktail. With the addition of some lime juice, it has refreshing herbal and citrus flavors. About this Recipe This cocktail came out of an experiment I did months ago. I made about a dozen different mini-gin and […]

Mint shandy is a refreshing, lightly alcoholic drink made with lemonade, fresh mint, and mild beer, perfect for a hot summer day. This is a drink recipe I discovered from a Colonial Indian cookbook from the 1800s. It was recommended to British Colonists as a way to beat the heat. About this Recipe It is […]

Hot Gin Punch is a warm punch perfect for serving on a cold evening. It’s fruity, citrusy, spicy, and warm. This recipe is loosely adapted from original punch recipes that used fortified wine before rum became widely used in its place. About this Recipe Being a warm beverage, it also brought to mind the hot […]

This cocktail is perfectly balanced. It is sweet, tart, and slightly bitter with the lovely licorice aroma of fennel. This drink has stunned everyone I have ever made it for, even people who didn’t think they liked fennel. About this Recipe Shortly after the pandemic, we moved from an apartment to a house and, among […]

This chai-flavored liqueur is like a chai-spiced tea version of Kahlua. It has the spicy notes and warmth of a chai with the boozy kick of a liqueur. It makes for a good Chai White Russian. I have found many uses of chai masala beyond the classic masala chai (Indian spiced tea), from baked treats […]

Here is a new take on the classic White Russian. It’s a creamy, chai-spiced drink with a hint of tea flavor in place of coffee. This is an excellent cocktail for anyone who likes chai or White Russians, and it has a lovely cinnamon finish. Ingredients Chai liqueur – a liqueur made with masala chai […]

This is a classic gin cocktail with the addition of pomegranate juice. Using egg white is optional but gives it a lovely silky texture. The lemon and pomegranate juices give it a sweetness and tang that is light and refreshing. The pink color makes this a lovely spring drink, but it would be at home […]

For a fun twist on a traditional mimosa cocktail, try this pomegranate mimosa. It’s a beautiful pink mimosa to serve for brunch or any time of the day. It is a light and bubbly alcoholic drink. About the Recipe After some testing, I found the proportions for this recipe that I think is just right. […]

This is a very fun, playful, and festive cocktail. It is the perfect drink to serve on Valentine’s Day, for a bridal shower or a brunch. This is an easy-to-make mimosa that highlights the festive and floral flavors of rose. Mimosas are a popular brunch drink, typically made with fruit juice and sparkling wine or […]

Here’s a new take on the classic margarita that uses one of my favorite ingredients, raw mango. About Raw Mango Raw mango is quite a common ingredient in India. It is simply mangoes that have not been allowed to ripen. Instead of being soft, juicy, bright orange, and sweet, they are firm, green, and tart. […]

One sip of paan cordial and I’m back in my childhood, asking my grandma to make me some paan. She loved her paan, and everyday she would take out her little box of paan with the sudi (betel nut cutter) and prepare her chew. My brother and I would run up to her and ask […]

Here is a refreshing cocktail with the flavors of chai and fall. Make it for Diwali or for a party accompanying an Indian spread. This comes from the classic drink, Gin Fizz. For this I swapped the gin with bourbon because the caramel notes match better with the notes of chai. It is made with […]

Here is a cocktail that is perfect for your upcoming Diwali celebration. I based it on the Gujarati Diwali sweet, Doodh Pak. It’s made with milk, saffron, cardamom simple syrup, and whiskey. This drink is a “milk punch,” which is a type of drink that has its roots in India. Milk Punch Milk punches originate […]

Did you know the classic Gin and Tonic originates in India? Serve this modern cocktail at your next mixer that combines a classic Indian flavor with a classic Indian drink. Since licorice root can be hard to find, I make this simple recipe from licorice herbal tea. The classic G&T is an example of Anglo-Indian […]

Fellow bloggers, Jordan Catapano and Jocelyn Dunn Muhlbach of This Girl Walks into a Bar, reached out and asked if we’d help get the word out about their new book. I knew right away that I wanted to help because I attended one of their cocktail workshops at The Big Potluck last year and thought […]

We ate a lot of guavas while growing up in Mumbai. We called them peru, their Marathi name, because that’s what the street vendors called them (the Hindi name is Amrood and the Gujarati name is Jamphal). As the weather started to cool down, the streets would start to flood with guava vendors. Everywhere you […]

Our favorite Happy Hour spot is hosting their third annual Margarita contest and the deadline to submit a recipe was today. Puja and I came up with our own recipes and held a tasting last night. Last year’s winner was a “Thai-garita”, a Thai inspired, lemongrass and Thai chili flavored margarita. So of course we […]