The Ultimate Cocktail Playground, India Bartender Week 2025 Was A Happy Hour That Lasted A Week!

The world thrives on communities, groups of like-minded individuals who come together with shared passions and common goals. When you witness a community uniting for something that drives them, the energy is truly infectious. That is exactly what India Bartender Week (IBW) felt like. It was an electrifying, week-long tribute to the art of bartending, bringing together India’s finest bartenders, industry pioneers, and global experts under one roof.

An Immersive Experience At India Bartender Week

IBW, curated by the visionaries Minakshi Singh, Yangdup Lama, and Vikram Achanta, was a movement. Designed to elevate the Indian bartending landscape, the week-long celebration (Feb 21-27) was split into two key segments: Beverage Week (Feb 21-25) and the India Bar Summit (Feb 26-27). Panel discussions, masterclasses, trend explorations, and networking opportunities made this an unparalleled experience, setting new industry standards,

The grand kickoff took place at The Library Bar, The Leela Palace, New Delhi, where industry leaders set the stage for engaging conversations and collaborative knowledge-sharing. What followed was a series of bar takeovers across Delhi NCR. These takeovers went beyond the usual, showcasing creativity, craftsmanship, and international flair, setting the tone for what was to come.

However, the true highlight of IBW was the two-day India Bar Summit (Feb 26-27). Technically termed a summit, it was actually a festival packed with sessions, workshops, lectures, and live demonstrations. Stepping into the venue was an overwhelming experience. The palpable excitement on every face I encountered was contagious. Bartenders from across India were eager to absorb every drop of wisdom the event had to offer. 

While I had expected a structured display of technical expertise, India Bartender Week was a deeply immersive festival of joy, learning, and cultural exchange. Although I attended only briefly on the first day, I found myself wondering: Should I be a bartender? If a single event could spark such a thought, I can only imagine its transformative effect on those already part of this vibrant industry.

The summit was divided into four sections:

• Main Stage: For engaging panel discussions
• Workshops: For hands-on experiences
• Future Room: Dedicated to innovation and upcoming trends
• Baithak: For highly interactive, Hindi-led conversations

While I expected a technical showcase of mixology and trends, IBW proved to be an immersive, almost transformative experience. The sessions weren’t just about perfecting cocktails; they were about changing mindsets, breaking barriers, and redefining what bartending means in India.

Eric Lorincz’s Reality Check On Bartending

One of the most riveting sessions I attended was Eric Lorincz’s talk,  “How I Reopened Kwānt Mayfair 2.0.” It wasn’t just about bartending trends; it was about real-world struggles, perseverance, and the business acumen needed to succeed in the bar industry. Eric gave the audience a crucial reality check: ‘Bars are by bartenders, but they are not for bartenders. They are for the guests.’

He urged bartenders not just to focus on their craft but to treat their bars as businesses. He also shared essential elements of a perfect bar: good music, comfortable seating, good lighting, clean air, and good service. His session ended with a tasting of his iconic ‘Kwānt Bloody Mary‘, featuring a blend of marmite redistilled Don Julio Blanco, El Diablo mix, lemon juice, and tomato juice.

Also Read: 11 New Restaurants In Delhi NCR To Head To This Month

Future Room: A Glimpse Into Tomorrow’s Cocktails

This section at the India Bartender Week was perhaps the most exciting for me, showcasing where Indian bartending is heading. One session that truly stood out was “Evolve: From Desi to Modern” by Nitin Tiwari, Param Veer Singh Saharan, Praveen Singh, and Suraj Singh.

Paramveer Singh presented a ‘Sarson Ka Saag’ Cocktail, a drink that reimagined the beloved Punjabi dish in a glass. The complexity of the flavours, the meticulous preparation process, and the nostalgia it evoked were nothing short of genius. Since traditional clarification methods weren’t an option during its development, Singh used agar-agar to solidify the mixture, then thawed and filtered it. This technique ultimately resulted in one of the most innovative cocktails I’ve ever tasted.

Another standout was Nitin Tiwari’s ‘Ghee-Rice Old Fashioned’, made with bourbon, Angostura bitters, and sugar, fat-washed with Jharna ghee infused with Gondhoraj peel and Gobindobhog rice. The depth of flavour was exceptional. This drink was truly a game-changer for Old Fashioned lovers.

Another standout session was “Reviving Ancient Recipes: Crafting Cocktails with Heritage Spirits”, presented by The Good Craft Co. and Diageo India. This session spotlighted India’s indigenous spirits, including different types of toddy, mahua, and feni, offering a deep dive into their history, production, and mixology applications. As a part of their movement, they create cocktails from these spirits and I got to try a few of them. The highlight of their menu has to be ‘The Mughal Twist,’ which tasted exactly like biryani. With the first sip of this beautiful creation, I was in heaven.

Conversations With Industry Leaders

My experience became even more enriching when I had the privilege of speaking with the masterminds behind India Bartender Week: Minakshi Singh and Yangdup Lama. The excitement of their faces resembled that of the attendees. Yangdup shared how the idea of this event took root when he attended New York Bar Week last year. When asked why India didn’t have its own version, he realised there was no reason to wait any longer. From that moment, he, Minakshi and Vikram worked tirelessly to turn their vision into reality.

Minakshi admitted that they initially had no idea how successful it would be. Would people sign up? Would brands come forward to support them? They were overwhelmed by the response as tickets sold out instantly, and sponsorships flowed in organically. Yangdup added that the focus of this endeavour wasn’t about generating business but about building a lasting community of bartenders.

I also had the chance to speak with Lam Chi Mun, the global director of Diageo Bar Academy. He was thrilled to see the rise of India’s bartending scene and acknowledged the growing global interest in Indian cocktail culture. He particularly noted the nation’s newfound love for Picante, calling it an excitement he hadn’t seen anywhere else in the world.

Special Mentions: Game-Changing Brands

A few standout brands at India Bartender Week deserve special recognition for their contributions:

• Swa Artisanal Syrups: Swa is revolutionising the cocktail and mocktail space with its commitment to using fruit pulp and absolutely no additives or preservatives. Speaking with the founder of Swa, Vaishali Mehta, I could sense the deep passion for creating an all-natural product. The brand’s name itself reflects its mission, prefixing words like Swadesi, Swadisht, Swasthya, Swabhimaan, and Swayam to emphasise authenticity and self-reliance.
• Maka Zai Rum: Maka Zai’s newly launched Gud Rum, a dark rum, was one of the smoothest spirits I have ever tasted. Sipping it neat was a revelation. It was refined, well-balanced, and didn’t require a mixer to enhance its flavours. This rum is a must-try for consumers who appreciate a high-quality sipping spirit.
• Bandarful: As a coffee lover, trying Bandarful was an absolute delight. This homegrown coffee liqueur, which I had been eagerly waiting to try, lived up to every expectation. Their ice-cold shots were a standout, and the bottle itself was a piece of art, featuring stunning langur illustrations on the label. The liquid inside? Even better.

A Celebration Done Right

India Bartender Week was a milestone in the Indian bar industry. It was a festival of passion, camaraderie, and learning, setting a benchmark for the years to come. As I left, I couldn’t help but reflect on the impact this gathering had on me. The brilliance of this event has undoubtedly laid the foundation for a bright future, and I cannot wait to see what the next editions have in store!

Cover Image Courtesy: Mallika Khurana