5 Ultimate Desi Cocktails You Must Drink

It is no secret that India oozes exotic charm and is famed for her taste for bold flavours.

Not many realise these edgy flavours are used to create some of the most wonderful cocktails emerging poolside around the world.

So with that in mind, we are here to introduce you to some of the most popular cocktails around – all with a Desi twist.

DESIblitz presents the ultimate Desi cocktails that will rock your taste buds!

Watermelon Mojito

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces rum
• 1 ounce fresh lime juice
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• 6-8 mint leaves
• 3 1/2 ounces watermelon flesh, cut into cubes

Method:

1. Mix together watermelon and mint in a shaker.
2. Add rum, lime juice and simple syrup. Shake well with ice.
3. Pour (without straining) into a double rocks glass.

Cocktail courtesy of The Kitchn.

Tamarind Margarita

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces tequila
• 1 ounce triple sec
• 2 ounces lime juice
• 0.4 ounces orange juice
• 0.4 ounces simple syrup
• 0.2 ounces tamarind paste

Method:

1. Shake tamarind paste with tequila and triple sec until dissolved.
2. Add remaining ingredients. Shake well and pour into a salt-rimmed double rocks glass over ice.
3. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Cocktail courtesy of The Kitchn.

Kachumber Cooler

Ingredients:

• 2 half-inch slices of cucumber
• 8 leaves fresh cilantro
• 2 quarter-inch slices of fresh green finger chilli (medium to mild)
• 1 3/4 ounce gin
• 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup

Method:

1. Mix cucumber, cilantro and chilli into a shaker and mix until ingredients are mashed together.
2. Add gin, lime and syrup and shake.
3. Strain into glass half filled with ice and garnish with cucumber slices.

Cocktail courtesy of The Kitchn.

Aam Ka Paana

Ingredients:

• 1 raw mango (sour)
• Black salt
• Salt
• Cardamom (elaichi) powder
• Black pepper powder
• A few strands of saffron
• Sugar

Method: 

1. Boil mango until very soft. Let them cool before peeling. Mash and strain the pulp.
2. Add spices, salt and sugar along with water and stir until combined.
3. Garnish with mint and chill before serving.

To jazz up this non-alcoholic cocktail, simply add coconut rum.

Cocktail courtesy of Veg Recipes of India.

Sharabi Lassi

Ingredients:

• 45ml coconut rum
• 60ml mango lassi
• 25ml Bailey’s Irish cream

Method:

1. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the ingredients and shake for 30 seconds.
2. Transfer the contents into a glass, garnish with a mango slice and mint.

Cocktail courtesy of Vgulp.

With so many flavourful fruits and spirits to choose from, spice up your next big party with a refreshing Desi cocktail!