From Margaritas to Thandai: Stir up these boozy delights for a fun Holi

If you’re planning a Holi party, there’s no doubt about the fact that fun colourful refreshments are a must. Be it zero-proof or cocktails, the beverages for the season must surely have local flavours, seasonal ingredients and visually-striking colours. We speak to mixologists to know how to craft festive drinks using fresh fruits, herbs, and traditional flavours that embody the spirit of Holi.

Champion fresh seasonal produce
With fresh local fruits in abundance, Holi cocktails can be as stunning as they are delicious. A medley of citrus on ice — sweet lime, orange, pomelo, or grapefruit — mixed with tequila or rum and sipped through salt and crushed pepper is refreshing. Fresh coconut water and litchi juice with gin or rum and a honey-sweetened pomegranate whiskey sour. Concentrated fruit juices, basil or gondhoraj lime, a touch of salt, and ice-cold soda gaurantee a delish zero-proof drink.

Add a twist to traditional faves

• For those looking to blend tradition with mixology, thandai, coconut water, and aromatic spices make excellent cocktail bases. Shatbhi Basu says, “Take advantage of the versatility of thandai. Mix it into iced coffee, milkshakes with whiskey or rum, or even an iced chai latte.”
• Ipsita recommends a hydrating cucumber-based drink which can be paired with vodka, gin, or tequila. She says, “Salt rims and ‘sonic’ (a mix of soda and tonic) can help cater to different taste preferences while adding a kick to the drink.”

Drinks to try

• Sweet strawberry margaritas
• Tart gooseberry picante
• Refreshing mulberry and mint G&T

Quotes

Add in cucumber for a hydrating zero-sugar drink. Blend it with herbs, and dilute with ice, soda, pink salt, and some lime. This goes great with clear liquors
– Ipsita Chakraborty, mixologist

Use vibrant fresh produce like strawberries, watermelons and gooseberries to make your drinks as colourful as the Holi– Shatbhi Basu, mixologist