A Year-End Cocktail List You Don’t Want to Miss

A curated selection of inventive, year-end cocktails that capture the creativity, craft, and evolving spirit of India’s bar scene.

As the year winds down, raise a glass to cocktails that tell a story. From floral and umami-led flavours to bold Indian infusions, this list brings together some of the country’s most inventive pours. Perfect for your final nights out, these are cocktails worth seeking out before the year ends.

Scarlett House, Bandra / Juhu

Drink Name: Bandra Babe

Base: Beefeater Pink, Lillet Rosé, Scarlett Rose Cordial, Cashew Distillate

Garnish: Cashew chip

IDYLLL, Bengaluru

Drink Name: Sakket Rasam

Base: Vodka, smoked guava rasa, coriander, citrus, tangy basil foam

Tasting Notes: Tangy, spicy, earthy

Nara Thai, BKC / Worli

Drink Name: Jasmine Sour

Base Spirit: Gin

Other Ingredients: Homemade limoncello, Thai jasmine rice extract

Baglami, Mumbai

Drink Name: The Amorist

Base: Whisky

Other Ingredients: Indian lemongrass syrup, jasmine tincture, vetiver tincture

The Nook, Bandra

Drink Name: Cameo

Base: Gin, poured with a raspberry ferment

Finish: Silken

Supa San, BKC

Drink Name: Sakura Shinka

Base Spirit: Pisco

Call Me Sofia, Khar

Drink Name: Call Me, Maybe

Base Spirit: Select Pilla

1932 Trevi, Jaipur

Drink Name: Hessonite Boost

Base: House-blend whisky, tomato pickle brine, tartaric acid, magic foam

Tasting Notes: Smoky, tangy, and savoury, with layered complexity

Blondie, Bandra

Drink Name: Pour-Over Negroni

Base Notes: Campari, gin, vermouth, coffee

As the year draws to a close, these cocktails do more than mark a night out, they capture the evolving language of India’s bar culture. Each drink reflects a moment of creativity, where bartenders push boundaries with local ingredients, unexpected techniques, and thoughtful storytelling. From floral gin sours and umami-driven savoury pours to spirit-forward classics reimagined with regional nuance, these cocktails mirror a larger shift towards intention and identity behind the bar.

What makes this list special is not just innovation, but personality. Every glass carries the ethos of the space it comes from, its neighbourhood, its audience, and its point of view. In a year defined by experimentation and refinement, these pours stand as reminders that great cocktails aren’t about spectacle alone, but balance, restraint, and a sense of place. As the final evenings of the year unfold, let these drinks be your reason to step out, slow down, and raise a glass to craft, community, and the stories worth toasting before the clock strikes midnight.