WHY IS EVERYONE DRINKING PICANTE

Industry insiders tell us why this cocktail is a runaway hit at bars, becoming the new 'I'll have what they're having' for desi palates

- Sanchita Kalra

On any given weekend night, walk into a buzzing bar and you'll spot a familiar sight: servers weaving through crowds with chilli salt-rimmed glasses holding cocktails in a playful orangish-green. Even before you know what it is, you've already guessed — it’s the Picante, the drink that has taken over India’s nightlife, usually priced at ₹800 onwards.

It’s a tequila-based cocktail with bold, spicy-tangy notes that hit the Indian palate just right. Made with fresh chilli and coriander, shaken with tequila, lime juice, and agave syrup, the Picante is essentially a boozy, fiery chaat in a glass. And it's everywhere.

Though India is embracing it like a homegrown invention, the Picante didn’t originate here. Created in 2012 in Los Angeles’ SoHo House, the original Picante de la Casa became a hit before drifting into bars around the world.

WHY IT WORKS