Today marks Bartender’s Day 2026, the day to celebrate the people behind all the delectable drinks we sip at restaurants and bars. While we often love sipping on the regular Pina Colada, Martini, and Sex On The Beach, there are few drinks that are just made out of ‘fuzzies’. The drinks that were just a part of the experiment, the “accidental” drinks, instantly became the crowd’s favourite. We asked some of the best bartenders across India to reveal their best accidental creations, and trust us! They are not from the usual menu. Take a look!
Bartenders Revealed Their Accidental Drinks
1. Palm Islands By Cedrik Rodrigues, Bayroute Mumbai
Cedrik Rodrigues is known for his handcrafted cocktails that are popular among the Bayroute crowd. Palm Islands is one of his accidental cocktails that suddenly became a hit with the crowd. Talking about the creation, he stated, “The drink was created during a slow shift when we wanted to experiment with something tropical yet refined.”
“We played with fresh coconut milk and pineapple puree but avoided the usual Pina Colada route. Adding basil for freshness and smoking the coconut syrup gave it depth. It started as a fun experiment — but guests kept reordering it, and it quickly became a favourite.”
2. Amalfi Affair By Joel Hoosur, CinCin Mumbai
Joel Hoosur joined CinCin on 13th March 2023, bringing with him a deep passion for mixology that began during his college years. He was drawn to the craft by a fascination with how even the smallest ingredient can influence the balance, depth, and character of a cocktail. Talking about his accidental creation, he stated, “Amalfi Affair started while I was experimenting behind the bar during Lemon Festa at CinCin. Amalfi summer was the inspiration everywhere, and I wanted to create something that captured that mood — bright, relaxed, and citrus-forward, but with a twist.”
He revealed, “I used whisky for depth, passion fruit to bring freshness, and rosemary for that aromatic lift. On impulse, I clarified it with milk to see how it would change the texture. The result was a crystal-clear cocktail that was incredibly smooth but still full of flavour. It wasn’t planned for the menu at all — just something I made for fun while experimenting.”
3. Pineapple Rasam Highball By Krishna Kandwal, Whisky Samba Hyderabad
Krishna Kandwal is the bar manager and head mixologist at Whisky Samba Hyderabad. He is known for his experimental drinks and lip-smacking cocktails that are quite famous among the guests.
Speaking of his accidental drink, he said, “The PINEAPPLE RASAM HIGHBALL began as an experimental idea during a slow prep shift.” I was exploring savoury highballs and wondered how rasam, with its spice, acidity, and depth, could be reinterpreted in a lighter, sparkling format. What started as curiosity turned into an entry for the Dewar’s Highball Competition, where I won the Hyderabad round and moved to the next stage.” He further stated that this is how the drink was created with an ideal blend of Indian flavours and global techniques.
4. Mint Julep by Kishan Nath, TAP Mumbai
Kishan Nath is the head bartender at TAP Mumbai. He also shared a fun incident where he talked about his accidental creation that became a favourite among the public. He said, “One of the drinks that started as a casual experiment behind the bar was our take on the Mint Julep.” It came together during a quiet shift when we were looking to create something refreshing yet classic that would suit TAP’s lively and relaxed vibe. We began playing around with fresh mint and bourbon, aiming to craft a drink that felt crisp, aromatic, and easy to sip, especially in Mumbai’s warm weather.”
5. Churchgate By Daksh Darji, Nksha Restaurant Mumbai
A Mumbai native, Daksh Darji draws inspiration from the city’s vibrant diversity, dynamic food culture, and bold local flavours to create some delectable drinks at Nksha. Growing up amidst varied tastes and familiarity that influenced and shaped his appreciation for balance and simplicity that defines his cocktail approach. Talking about his accidental drink, he said, “Churchgate was the drink I created just for fun during a slow moment behind the bar. I wasn’t trying to design a new cocktail; I was simply experimenting with flavours I enjoy working with. The name comes from Churchgate station, a place full of movement, stories, and energy.”
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“I wanted the drink to reflect that feeling. I was experimenting with smoky mezcal and Indian ingredients: Bhavnagri chilli for a mild heat, black cardamom syrup for warmth and depth, and fresh lime to keep the drink fresh and balanced.” He also stated that what made the drink special was how it came from a natural moment of creativity.
6. The Cancun Sour By Akhilendra Singh, Paro, Jaipur
Akhilendra Singh, the head mixologist in Paro, Jaipur, loves experimenting and creating cocktails that are unique and completely innovative. He revealed his accidental drink and said, “The Cancun Sour was born out of curiosity.” While experimenting with our homemade spicy tamarind cordial, we paired it with tequila, and the contrast felt instantly exciting: bold, earthy, slightly fiery.”
7. The Christmas Candy Frost By Abhishek Sharma, Tattva Bar & Cafe, Mumbai
Abhishek Sharma is a well-travelled Indian bartender with 13+ years of professional beverage experience in the beverage industry. He shared a fun incident behind his accidental cocktail, stating, “Honestly, this one came from a very fun space. Before our Christmas menu prep, Hitarthi, our marketing head, gave me a loose brief with conviction. She said she wanted something that tasted like a Christmas candy cane. Strawberry, watermelon… that happy childhood flavour. ”
He further revealed how he was just experimenting. “I started thinking about how to recreate that candy flavour and memory in cocktail form, something creamy but clean, playful but still technical. I was experimenting with milk-washing and yoghurt clarification at the time, so I decided to build the drink around that. The idea was simple… when you taste it, it should feel like candy. That’s how Christmas Candy Frost started, and that’s why it stayed!”
8. Biscoff Bourbon Cloud, By Ashwani Saini, Masaya, Goa
Ashwani Saini, who is the head mixologist at Masaya Goa, is quite popular for his incredible cocktail creations. He discussed his story of accidental cocktails and revealed, “At Masaya, one of the cocktails that started as a fun experiment behind the bar was the Biscoff Bourbon Cloud. The idea came from a quiet afternoon when we were experimenting with dessert-inspired cocktails and wanted to create something indulgent yet balanced. We were playing with the rich caramelised notes of Biscoff and pairing them with the warmth of bourbon to see if we could craft a drink that felt like a liquid dessert without being overly heavy.”
9. Buttered Up Babe By Santosh Kukreti, Roxanne’s Bar and All Day Diner, Mumbai
Santosh Kukreti also discussed his love for curating cocktails and accidental drinks and said, “This started with a brief from Shashank (Director, Peninsula Hospitality).” We were riffing off some ideas for the signature cocktail menu. He wanted a playful whiskey drink that would still appeal to an older palate, something nostalgic, something familiar. From there, my mind went straight to movie time. You know that feeling… popcorn in hand, sometimes hiding alcohol in your soft drink, watching a film. That small rebellious joy. I wanted to turn that moment into a cocktail. That’s when the popcorn idea came in. I liked the idea of hiding the drink underneath real popcorn, so it feels like you’re discovering it.”
10. Spanish G&T By Rahul Singh, BlueBop Cafe & Bar, Mumbai
Rahul Singh is a passion-driven bartender and mixologist who believes that every drink tells a story. Currently at The Bluebop Café, where he pours his heart into every cocktail he crafts. He talked about his accidental cocktail and stated, “One of our most loved cocktails, which is Spanish G&T, actually started as a fun after-hours experiment by our bar team. ” We were playing around with bright, summer-forward flavours and wanted to create something that felt vibrant, refreshing, and slightly theatrical that is very much in line with BlueBop’s energetic vibe. Spanish influences inspired us, especially the balance of citrus, fruit, and light spice commonly seen in Mediterranean drinking culture.”
Which is the best accidental drink out of them? Let us know in the comments below!
Cover Image Courtesy: Supplied