Akhilesh Sheoran's dream of becoming a mixologist only found shape once he moved to Bengaluru, where he found his calling as a bartender during his stint as a student in a hospitality school.

Since then, Sheoran has come a long way, winning many accolades with his ingenious cocktails and his ability to put a spin on an often frowned-upon alcohol, rum. "Bartending is an exciting profession and surely no walk in the park, but it can take you places once you put your body and mind to it," the 23-year-old mixologist tells us, ahead of his visit to Mumbai where he will be curating a week-long special cocktail menu for a Lower Parel bar and restaurant.