Stirred to Perfection

Reimagined festive cocktails from the most innovative bars in India

- By Yashita Damani

There's a kind of alchemy in the art of mixology — where patience meets play, and tradition meets taste.

This season, the country's most inventive bars and spirit houses are reimagining the festive toast with creations that shimmer with intention. And every great celebration deserves a 'signature' pour—something that captures its mood, memory, and magic.

This festive edit brings together creative spirits: fragrant teas stirred with fine wine, saffron steeped in single malt, and elderflower dancing with bubbles. Each cocktail here is more than a drink—it's a conversation between craft and celebration, designed to make every toast a moment to remember.

1. Berry Wine Sangria, Monin

Light, fruit-forward, and endlessly refreshing, this Berry Wine Sangria is summer bottled in a glass. MONIN’s Red Berries and Sangria Mix blend seamlessly with vodka, apple juice, and white wine, creating a vibrant pour ideal for afternoon garden parties.

Ingredients:

MONIN Red Berries Fruit Mix - 15ml

MONIN Sangria Mix - 10ml

Vodka - 30ml

Apple Juice - 30ml

White Wine - 120ml

Soda - 60ml

Fresh Fruits & Cinnamon Stick

Method: Add fresh fruits to a glass, pour all ingredients, stir well, add ice and cinnamon, top with soda, and serve chilled.

2. Ballantine’s Whisky Flip

Rich, velvety and indulgent, the Ballantine’s Whisky Flip is dessert in a glass. Blending whisky, amaretto and cream, this cocktail is finished with a dusting of nutmeg - a true winter warmer for the discerning palate.

Ingredients:

Ballantine's 7 American Barrel Whisky - 35ml

Amaretto Liqueur -15ml

Double Cream - 20ml

1 Whole Egg

Nutmeg

Method: Shake all ingredients vigorously for 30 seconds with ice, strain into a chilled glass, and dust with nutmeg.

3. Timur Berry Tequila Negroni Monin