Holi Special Drinks: Colourful Cocktails For A Festive Sundowner

Colourful organic gulal flying in the air, DJ playing Holi songs, and pool-side stations stacked with Kesari Ramabai, Thandai, jewel-toned pink sherbets, delightful gujiyas and hoards of Indian sweets along splashing colours on loved ones — that makes up for the perfect sun-soaked Holi Party. If you’re planning to host that much-awaited poolside Holi sundowner, we’ve got you covered with colour-themed cocktails. They’re free from artificial colours and are made with traditional ingredients which lend them a natural hue.

From saffron —  often linked with Hindu rituals, symbolic of fire, purity and representing light — often used in mithais for its orange hue and intense flavour, rose petals used in sherbets and thandai for fragrance and pink hue, citrus burst of orange, pulpy yellow pineapple, green pistachios decorating sweets to colour popping berries that look like a splash of coolness, we have curated a list of colourful Holi drinks to wow your guests this festive season.

Kesari Colada

Saffron (Kesar) is one of the key ingredients for Holi drinks used in Thandai. Often described as a mix of honey, hay, and earthy notes in taste, it can make any drink taste richer. Try Kesari Colada, where the intense taste notes and deep orange colour of Saffron meld with the silky white base of BACARDÍ Carta Blanca. Simply shake 60 ml rum with 30 ml coconut cream, 60 ml pineapple juice and 10 ml saffron syrup over ice. Strain into a hurricane glass over fresh ice cubes. Garnish the Holi cocktail with saffron strands and pineapple for a tropical yet nostalgic nod to festivities.

Rose Fizz

Soft as a blush of pink abeer, the Rose Fizz captures Holi’s fragrant poetry. The botanicals of BOMBAY SAPPHIRE meet the rosy tint of rose syrup, often used in rose sherbets in Holi. All you need to make this easy Holi cocktail is lightly muddle basil, shake with 50 ml gin, 15 ml rose syrup and 15 ml lime juice over ice. Strain into a flute and top with soda.  Add a few rose petals on top, adding a touch of colour and aroma.

Sour Legacy

Deep jewel-toned and dramatic, this cocktail mirrors Holi’s riotous yet playful chaos. In a shaker, 45 ml LEGACY is blended with crushed blueberries that bleed rich indigo-purple into the mix,. Further, sharpen the taste with lime juice and soften it with sugar syrup. Adding egg white can transform the liquid into a velvety cloud. Dry shake the concoction first, then shake again with ice and strain into an Old Fashioned glass, garnished with blueberries.

Lett’s Whisper Essence

A playful medley of jewel tones, this cocktail, built around Davana Vermouth Indica Rosso, feels like Holi in liquid motion. Ruby vermouth meets blush rhubarb syrup, mellowed by pale apple juice and sharpened with lime, before soda lifts the drink with its fizz. Created directly in a highball over ice with 60 ml vermouth, 30 ml rhubarb syrup, 45 ml apple juice and a dash of lime, it’s topped with soda and playful gummy bears dancing atop the drink.

Amalfi Settantancinque

Sunlit and citrus-kissed, this creation by Malfy mirrors the yellow and orange bursts of Holi powders. The limoncello-bright Malfy Con Limone meets glowing clementine juice and lemon, softened by simple syrup before being crowned with champagne bubbles. To make it, shake 25 ml gin with 20 ml clementine juice, 15 ml syrup and 20 ml lemon juice. Strain into a flute and top with champagne. Finish with a lemon twist and star anise for a drink that sparkles like liquid sunlight for a Holi sundowner.

Bhang Thandai Martini

This festive elixir by Bab Louie & Co. transforms traditional Holi hues into a creamy, aromatic indulgence. Clear vodka meets ivory thandai syrup, warmed by a whisper of cardamom and brightened with lemon juice. Once shaken over ice and strained into a martini glass, crushed pistachios lend a soft green dusting while saffron strands pair well with Holi sweets.

The Pink Floradora

A playful splash of blush-Pink brilliance, The Pink Floradora arrives like a cloud of rosy gulal. Built around the juicy strawberry hues of Beefeater Pink Strawberry, this drink glows with a bright pink base that feels festive from the very first pour. Fresh lime juice cuts through with a zesty sparkle, while ginger syrup adds a warm golden tint, creating a sweet, citrusy and fiery taste. A gentle muddle of raspberry (optional) can deepen the colour into a richer berry blush, before the drink is shaken and poured over crushed ice. Garnish it with a ginger beer and fresh lime wheel for sparkling Holi celebrations.

Mercado Verde

A crisp, bright margarita-style cocktail that balances vibrancy with depth. Fresh cucumber juice, zesty lime offer cooling notes, layered with a herbaceous coriander syrup for a subtle aromatic lift. Built on a bold 60 ml pour of tequila and shaken to a silky finish, it’s served in a refined coupe glass and crowned with a delicate cucumber foam. Fun, bright and delicious, it is everything a refreshing Holi drink asks for.