If you have friends who love to check out the drinks menu before checking out the food, we have got you covered. Delicious and unique — these colourful cocktails by celebrity bar consultant Irfan Ahmed of AltAir - Capella are sure to get everyone into the mood at your Holi party. So, what are you waiting for?
Celebrity bar consultant Irfan Ahmed of AltAir - Capella
Mirchi Rita
Mirchi Rita
A drink that tastes as good as it looks has to be the Mirchi Rita. Its icy blue colour would make you wonder if you're staring at the blue sea. This spicy cocktail sure does more than just quench your thirst.
Glass: Cocktail and Margarita (for the masala rim mix, take equal parts of roasted jeera powder, salt and chaat masala)
Ingredients
- 50ml Tequila
- 15ml Triple Sec liqueur or lime cordial syrup
- 20ml freshly squeezed lime juice
- 4 coriander sprigs
- 3 dashes of green tobacco tabasco
- 4 jalapeno slices
- 6 ice cubes
Garnish: Lime wedge, cilantro sprigs
Method
- Add all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker
- Shake the above ingredients vigorously for 12 seconds
- Strain into a masala rimmed glass
- Drizzle 5ml of Blue Curacao (optional) and serve
Indi Gazpacho
Indi Gazpacho
What makes this drink a great choice during conversation, is not because it has its origins in Spain and India but the flavourful blend that lifts the mood at a Holi event.
Glass: Wine goblet (rimmed with gazpacho masala — equal parts of celery salt & peri-peri mix)
Ingredients:
- 50ml vodka
- 90ml tomato juice
- 60ml orange juice
- 2 tablespoons of red and yellow chopped bell pepper
- 15ml lime juice
- 1/4th teaspoon of Bengal mustard paste
- 5ml vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon of celery salt and peri-peri mix
Garnish: Lemon leaf and cherry tomato
Method
- Blend all ingredients together and strain
- Add 4 ice cubes into the glass
- Stir the strained mix with ice cubes for 10 seconds. Serve.
Kesaria Aamras Colada
Kesaria Aamras Colada
A Gujarati twist to the Cuban drink, using aamras, may raise eyebrows. However, the cocktail's orangey effervescence does create a magic and takes centre stage at any Holi bash.
Glass: Tall fancy glassware
Ingredients:
- 50ml white rum with 10 strands of saffron soaked in
- 2 large pinches of cardamom powder
- 30ml honey
- 90ml mango puree
- 60ml mango juice
- 90ml yoghurt
Garnish: Bright coloured orchid flower
Method
- Blend all ingredients and strain
- Add 5 ice cubes into the glass
- Stir the mix with ice cubes for 10 seconds and serve
Pink Supari Martini
Pink supari martini
If you blend Amitabh Bachchan's fancy for paan and James Bond’s favourite drink, you get a classy Indian flavoured martini. Try it..
Glass: Martini
Ingredients:
- 50ml London dry gin
- 1pc mitha paan
- 45ml lychee juice
- 45ml cranberry juice
- 10ml Triple Sec liqueur
- 10ml lime juice
Garnish: Paan (betel) leaf
Method
- Blend all ingredients and strain into a cocktail shaker
- Add 6 ice cubes and shake for 12 seconds
- Strain the mix again into your glass and serve
