Bartender Day 2026: Mumbai mixologists dive into the art of creating cocktails

At least once in your life yoursquoll find yourself leaning on a packed bar helmed by a sole bartender Yoursquoll crane your neck desperately wave and pray for a second of eye contact That surge of joy when the bartender finally turns with a reassuring nod will forever remain unmatched by the truest of lovers in your life Since 2018 the world has been celebrating these heroes behind the mix on February 24 What is life like between the shakes stirs and serves We find outLime a dozenDenzil Franklin beverage head GaijinMy mix Kombu Breeze Kombuinfused mezcal campari fresh orange juice spearmint syrup bitters and seltzer make this layered refreshing and slightly unexpected cocktailMost memorable order A guest very confidently asked me for a virgin margarita It threw me off for a second because once you take the tequila and triple sec out yoursquore essentially left with only lime juicePro tip Use fresh citrus Freshly squeezed fruits instantly brighten a drink compared to bottled juiceNailed itGuruprasad Tripathy head mixologist Slink amp BardotMy mix Gin Slink Cucumber and berry teainfused gin topped with housemade rose tonic served long over ice I enjoy crafting something that rewards patienceMost memorable order A guest once asked me to make a cocktail that matched her nail paint shade We spent a good 10 minutes comparing shades under the bar light I ended up adjusting the drink with a touch of hibiscus to get the colour rightPro tip Express a fresh lemon or orange peel over the glass or gently clap mint or basil before adding it in That burst of aroma before the first sip makes a homemade cocktail feel professionalIce ice babyAvinash Singh mixologist YetiMy mix Himalayan Negroni below Coffee gin Campari Rosso Vermouth and two dashes of cocoa bittersMost memorable order One recurring and memorable interaction is explaining to guests that ice is not just a filler in their drink Good ice is as important as good alcohol it can make or break a drinkPro tip Add a pinch of salt or a few drops of saline to fresh fruitbased cocktails It enhances flavour and balances sweetness and acidity Money no barKaustubh Sawardekar mixologist Juliette Cafe and Bar My mix First Light a Konkani sunrise in a glass It brings together mahura a flowerbased spirit kokum and bright citrus finished with a delicate kokum foam on topMost memorable order A guest once asked me to make a cocktail that lsquotastes expensiversquo without telling me what they like That was a fun challenge I built something spiritforward with refined dilution and a subtle aromatic garnish After one sip they said ldquoYes this tastes like moneyrdquoPro tip Control your dilution Shake harder stir longer and always chill your glassNo women in the mixFlair bartender Ami Shroff opens a window into the skewed gender ratio in the cityrsquos bars ldquoWhile there are more women in bartending than two decades ago theyrsquore rarely at senior positions Things have barely changed since I started my careerrdquo she revealsSo is whiskey really for the gents and gin for the ladies Shroff scoffs ldquoItrsquos just clever marketing at play We donrsquot need a pink drink to celebrate Womenrsquos Dayrdquo Well cheers to that