10 Best Indian Cocktails to Drink in Winter

Indian cocktails can make for an enjoyable drinking experience during all four seasons, including winter.

India is known for bold flavours and these are prevalent in the cuisine.

However, not many realise that these exotic flavours can be used to create some of the most wonderful cocktails.

These flavours can provide an Indian twist to some well-known cocktails or they can create completely original ones.

Winter may not normally be associated with cocktails but there are creations that are suitable for the colder months.

Here are 10 Indian cocktails to make this winter.

Mumma Nu Double Dose

This is a potent cocktail that combines two of India’s most popular alcohol choices for the winter, rum and whisky.

It has a dash of syrup for sweetness and is garnished with a bright marigold crown.

This makes for a comforting drink during the cold months.

Ingredients

• 30ml dark rum
• 30ml whisky
• 45ml date and saffron syrup
• 15ml lime juice
• 1 Egg white
• 1 Marigold flower

Method

1. In a cocktail shaker, add all the ingredients along with ice. Shake well.
2. Remove the ice then shake again.
3. Pour into a saucer glass, garnish with the marigold and serve.

Paan Ki Dukaan

Not only is this a delicious Indian cocktail but betel leaves have health benefits.

The leaf is recommended for the common cold, making this cocktail suited for the winter.

The vodka provides a warming sensation and a cherry on top only adds to its elegance.

Ingredients

• 2 Paan leaves (use extra for the garnish)
• 4 Cardamom
• 1 tsp gulkand (rose petal preserve)
• 45ml vodka
• 15ml sambuca
• 1 Maraschino cherry

Method

1. In a cocktail shaker, grind the paan leaves, gulkand and cardamom.
2. Add vodka, sambuca and ice. Shake well.
3. Finely strain into a glass filled with ice and paan leaves.
4. Place the cherry on top and serve.

Brandy Crusta

Brandy Crusta is a warming Indian cocktail perfectly suited for the winter.

The combination of brandy and Grand Marnier liqueur provide that sensation while the liqueur also adds a subtle orange taste.

Lemon juice and sugar syrup offer a contrasting sweet and sour flavour, making this drink a symphony of flavours.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces brandy
• 15ml Grand Marnier liqueur
• A dash of sugar syrup
• ¼ tsp lemon juice
• 3 drops of Angostura bitters
• Lemon peel

Method

1. In a shaker, place all the ingredients along with ice and stir until well chilled.
2. Use a lemon wedge to wet the rim of a small wineglass. Coat the outer rim with fine sugar.
3. Line the glass with the lemon peel.
4. Strain the drink into the glass and serve.

Chai Martini

Chai is a staple drink in India so why not create an alcoholic twist.

This Indian cocktail has the recognisable flavours of chai but with the added taste of alcohol.

Make sure to add plenty of crushed ice and be generous with your favourite liqueur.

Ingredients

• 4 Masala chai teabags
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 ounce vodka
• 1 ounce of any liqueur of your choice
• Nutmeg, freshly ground
• Star-anise

Method

1. In a large cup, pour the boiling water over the teabags. Let them steep for five minutes. Remove and squeeze out any excess tea before discarding.
2. Place the tea into the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
3. In a cocktail shaker, add half a cup of the tea, vodka and liqueur of your choice. Add the crushed ice and shake well.
4. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
5. Garnish with nutmeg, star-anise and serve.

Spicy Moscow Mule

This Indian version of the popular Moscow Mule will be both refreshing and warming to the palate.

It is full of ginger and various spices.

This drink is perfect for the cold months when you want to enjoy a warming, yet flavourful drink.

Ingredients

• 60ml vodka
• 20ml lime juice
• 20ml ginger syrup
• Ginger beer
• Spices of your choice

Method

1. In a metal cup, mix all the ingredients together. Stir until everything has fully combined.
2. Top with ginger beer and garnish with spices.

Indian Winter

A unique cocktail to make for the colder months is the Indian Winter.

It is a sophisticated drink made with cardamom honey syrup.

The star-anise and vodka warm you up as you drink this cocktail.

Ingredients

• 1½ ounce vodka
• ½ ounce lemon juice
• 1 Egg white
• 1-2 drops of Angostura bitters
• 1 Star-anise
• Ice

For the Honey Cardamom Syrup

• ½ cup water
• ½ cup honey
• 4-5 Cardamom pods, lightly crushed

Method

1. Heat a saucepan on medium heat and add water, honey and cardamom pods. Stir occasionally until well combined.
2. Remove from the heat and allow it to reach room temperature.
3. Using a fine-mesh sieve, strain the syrup into an airtight jar.
4. To make the cocktail, chill a lowball glass.
5. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add vodka, half an ounce of syrup, lemon juice and egg white.
6. Shake thoroughly and strain into the glass. Garnish with bitters and star-anise.

Winter is Here

This is a comforting combination of whisky, lime, pineapple juice and spicy pomegranate syrup.

The ingredients make for a sweet, sour and spicy drink.

This cocktail is a true winter drink that you can enjoy on a cold evening with friends.

Ingredients

• 60ml whisky
• 20ml lime juice
• 30ml pomegranate spice syrup
• 45ml pineapple juice

Method

1. Place all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake well.
2. Pour into a tall glass over ice.
3. Garnish with a sprig of mint and serve.

Brandy Toddy

One of the best ways to keep warm this winter is to enjoy a glass of brandy toddy.

This cocktail contains honey, cardamom and cinnamon sticks, offering a variety of flavours to please the tastebuds.

Ingredients

• 60ml brandy
• 30ml apple juice
• 10ml honey
• 5ml lemon juice
• 8 Cloves
• 3-4 Lime slices
• 2 Cinnamon sticks
• 2 Star-anise
• 10-12 Orange peel
• 2 Green cardamom, crushed
• 150ml boiling water

Method

1. In a brandy balloon glass, add all the ingredients.
2. Stir continuously until all the ingredients have fully combined then enjoy.

Red Snapper

This is effectively a Bloody Mary cocktail, but with gin instead of vodka.

Nevertheless, it still offers the same spicy kick but with subtle smells of juniper.

It is warming, spicy and really enjoyable to drink, especially during the cold.

Ingredients

• Tomato juice (as needed)
• 50ml gin
• 4 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
• 3-6 dashes of Tabasco sauce
• A squeeze of lemon juice
• A pinch of salt
• A pinch of black pepper
• A sprinkle of garam masala
• Ice
• 1 Celery stick, to garnish

Method

1. Place the ice into a large tumbler.
2. Add the lemon juice, salt, black pepper, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce and gin.
3. Mix well then top up with tomato juice. Garnish with the celery stick and sprinkle over some garam masala. Serve immediately.

Tamarind Martini

This Tamarind Martini has a nice mix of sweetness and tang.

The chilli rimmed glass provides a kick of heat which is a nice surprise.

When it comes to making this Indian cocktail, use tamarind concentrate and high-quality vodka to ensure a well-balanced drink.

Ingredients

• 1 ounce tamarind concentrate
• 4 ounces cold water
• 2 ounces vodka
• 6 tbsp chilli powder-sugar mixture
• 1 Lime, cut into wedges
• Ice

Method

1. In a cocktail shaker, add the tamarind concentrate, water, vodka and ice. Shake until all the ingredients have fully mixed together.
2. Use a lime wedge to coat the rim of a martini glass. Dip the glass into the chilli powder-sugar mix until the rim is coated.
3. Pour in the cocktail and enjoy.

These 10 Indian cocktails contain a variety of ingredients, meaning that there is something for everyone, especially when it comes to choice of alcohol.

With so many flavourful ingredients to choose from, enjoy the winter with a warming Indian cocktail!