Liquid Future

India’s drinks landscape is shifting faster than ever. From buzzing Tier 2 cocktail capitals to globally inspired bar menus, 2025 proved that Indian drinkers are curious, confident and ready for change. As bartenders push technique, celebrities back new spirit labels and once-niche flavours find mass appeal, the stage is set for another transformative year. Here’s a look at the trends, movements and bottles poised to shape what—and how— we’ll be drinking in 2026:

Tier 2 Cities Are Rising Fast
A textile tycoon’s son from Indore once spent every weekend at Mumbai’s bars. Now, thanks to his own city’s booming cocktail scene— think Atelier V and Library Bar—he barely travels for a great drink. Similar shifts are happening across Tier 2 cities, with bars like Tepah By The Bagh and Lord Elgin in Amritsar, Monsoon and Coco Osteria in Dehradun, and Citrus Garden Project in Bhopal drawing serious attention. These bars aren’t playing catch-up. They’re showcasing technique-forward cocktails crafted by award-winning bartenders and delivering vibrant, contemporary menus for increasingly discerning local audiences.

Picantes Are Staying On
After exploring bars across Delhi, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Goa, Kolkata and emerging Tier 2 hotspots, one thing is unmistakable: the Picante continues to dominate India’s cocktail cravings. Essentially a spicy margarita with a chaat-like kick, its roots trace back to Soho House Los Angeles in 2012. In India, bartenders have elevated it further through playful infusions ranging from beetroot to yuzu. As many bartenders told this writer, there’s simply no turning back. From Goa to Gurugram, the nation is hooked. Riding the wave is a new spirit: Pinkante, a small-batch gin picante from the makers of colour-changing Nisaki Gin. With no signs of slowing, picantes are set to headline cocktail menus well into 2026.

Did You Know?
The Picante—India’s favourite spicy cocktail— was born in Los Angeles, but found its true long-term home on Indian menus.

What India’s Drinking Next

• Spicy, savoury cocktails over sweet
• Japanese sake on Indian bar menus
• Technique-driven drinks beyond metros
• Global bars popping up, briefly—but memorably

A Sake Revolution is Brewing
You may not know Maia Laifungbam yet, but her eponymous sake—Maia—is poised to make history as India’s first homegrown sake brand. As India’s first Toji (sake master brewer), Laifungbam has collaborated with Kyoto’s Yamamoto Honke to bring accessible, authentic sake to Indian drinkers. Meanwhile, Japanese sake received a GI tag in India under its traditional name, Nihonshu, opening the door to a broader and higher-quality range of imports. Sake professional Mika Eoka notes that this will significantly improve access for Indian consumers. Between the arrival of India’s first domestic label and the influx of Japanese bottles, sake lovers are in for an exciting season.

Gear Up for More International Bar Takeovers
International bar takeovers have surged, with many global names debuting in India. Jakarta’s Cosmo Pony landed at The Bombay Canteen, Shanghai’s Sober Company appeared at Mizu Izakaya Goa, and Form + Matter from Mexico City toured three Indian cities— offering drinkers a taste of bars featured on global “50 Best” lists.

These takeovers have also grown more immersive. At Late Checkout in Mumbai, Gurugram’s The Brook presented a limited-edition Ladakh-inspired menu featuring yak cheese, wild horsemint, sea buckthorn and more. Expect even more such travelling menus and first-time pop-ups as Indian bars—and their audiences— become increasingly global in their tastes.

Celebrities Will Launch More Spirit Brands
Celebrity-led spirit launches have gathered serious pace. Ajay Devgn’s The GlenJourneys whisky, Ranveer Singh’s Rangeela vodka, Badshah’s Shelter 6 vodka, Sanjay Dutt’s Tigerfire vodka, Yuvraj Singh’s Fino tequila and Rana Daggubati’s Loca Loka tequila all made their mark. And this momentum shows no signs of slowing. Globally, celebrities have long tapped into the spirits business—remember George Clooney’s Casamigos’s billion- dollar sale? In India, stars are using their influence to build premium labels aimed at luxury consumers. Proof of concept: Aryan Khan’s D’Yavol Spirits sold a 47.5% stake to Radico Khaitan for `40 crore.

India’s cocktail culture is in full bloom, fuelled by celebrity ambitions, cross-border bar exchanges and consumers hungry for bigger, bolder flavours. Whether you’re hunting for your next Picante, exploring sake, discovering new spirits or sipping through inventive menus, the world in your glass has never been more exciting.