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Celebrate World Cocktail Day 2026 with 24 refreshing cocktail recipes featuring whisky, vodka, gin, rum, espresso martinis perfect for summer parties, brunches & weekend sipping
From Espresso Martinis To Whisky Sours: 24 Cocktails To Try This World Cocktail Day
World Cocktail Day, celebrated on May 13, is the perfect excuse to shake, stir, and sip something exciting. Whether you love fruity vodka coolers, bold whisky cocktails, refreshing gin spritzes, or indulgent espresso martinis, this curated list of 24 cocktail recipes brings together some of the season’s most refreshing mixes.
From tropical flavours and floral infusions to spicy twists and citrusy blends, these drinks are ideal for house parties, brunches, sundowners, and relaxed weekend evenings. Featuring recipes from premium global and Indian spirit brands, these cocktails are designed to elevate your summer hosting game at home.
The Devil’s Roast
Ingredients:
45ml Grey Goose Vodka
Espresso
Coffee liqueur
Fleur de sel
Method:
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass.
Bittersweet Cocktail by Hyatt Regency Delhi
Ingredients
60ml Vodka
Fresh lemon juice
Sugar syrup
Red wine
Method
Shake vodka, lemon juice, and syrup with ice. Top with red wine.
Spiced Apricot Highball
Ingredients:
40ml Chivas Regal XV
100ml Apricot & chai infusion
40ml Soda water
Orange slice
Method:
Pour whisky and apricot-chai mix into a highball glass with ice. Top with soda and garnish with an orange slice.
The Pink Floradora
Ingredients:
50ml Beefeater Pink Strawberry
20ml Lime juice
10ml Ginger syrup
Ginger beer
Method:
Shake ingredients with ice, top with ginger beer, and garnish with a lime wheel.
Lillet And Tonic
Ingredients:
Lillet
Sparkling water/wine/lemonade
Berries, cucumber, citrus, mint
Method:
Pour Lillet over ice in a wine glass, top with bubbles, and garnish as desired.
Jackfruit Delight
Ingredients:
60ml Monkey 47 Gin
15ml Lime juice
Fresh jackfruit
Mint leaves
Method:
Muddle jackfruit and mint, shake with gin and lime juice, then strain over ice.
The Sip Sour
Ingredients:
Jameson Original
Apple juice
Coconut water
Lemon juice
Cinnamon syrup
Egg white
Bitters
Method:
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a coupe glass.
Amalfi Settantancinque
Ingredients:
25ml Malfy Con Limone
Clementine juice
Lemon juice
Simple syrup
Champagne
Method:
Shake ingredients except champagne, strain into a flute, and top with champagne.
Caribbean Fire
Ingredients:
50ml The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve
Pineapple juice
Lime juice
Hot sauce
Agave nectar
Pink grapefruit soda
Method:
Shake all ingredients except soda, strain over ice, and top with grapefruit soda.
Idaaya-roni
Ingredients:
30ml Idaaya Rum
30ml Campari
30ml Sweet vermouth
Method:
Stir with ice and strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with orange peel.
Irish Old Maid
Ingredients:
60ml Royal Challenge Irish Trail Whiskey
Elderflower syrup
Lemon juice
Cucumber slices
Method:
Muddle cucumber, shake with remaining ingredients, and strain over ice.
Pickled Trail
Ingredients:
30ml Royal Challenge Irish Trail Whiskey
30ml Pickle juice
30ml Soda
Method:
Serve as a chilled shot with soda on the side.
Signature Great Indian Julep
Ingredients:
60ml Signature Whiskey
Mint leaves
Honey mint syrup
Lemon juice
Tonic water
Method:
Muddle mint, add whiskey and crushed ice, top with tonic, and garnish with mint.
Guava Lime Rum
Ingredients:
Camikara 3YO Rum
Guava nectar
Lime
Sugar
Method:
Muddle lime and sugar, shake with rum and guava nectar, and strain over ice.
Ballantine’s Whisky Flip
Ingredients:
35ml Ballantine’s Whisky
15ml Amaretto
Cream
Whole egg
Method:
Shake vigorously with ice, strain into a chilled glass, and garnish with nutmeg.
Lotus Flower Martini
Ingredients:
30ml Absolut Vodka
Lychee liqueur
Blue Curacao
Violet liqueur
Method:
Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with edible flowers.
Cashmir Matcha Mint Latte
A refreshing vodka-based matcha latte layered with mint and creamy milk.
Ingredients
50 ml Cashmir Vodka
25 ml sugar syrup
5–6 mint leaves
1 tsp matcha powder
30 ml hot water
60 ml milk
Ice cubes
Method
Whisk matcha with hot water until smooth. Muddle mint with sugar syrup in a shaker, add vodka and ice, then shake lightly. Strain into a glass with fresh ice, pour in milk, and top with matcha for a layered effect. Garnish with mint, strawberry, and matcha dust.
Whistler Mint Julep
A cooling whisky cocktail ideal for summer evenings.
Ingredients
60 ml Whistler Whisky
Mint leaves
10 ml sugar syrup
10 ml lemon juice
Crushed ice
Method
Muddle mint with sugar syrup and lemon juice. Fill the glass with crushed ice, pour whisky, stir lightly, and garnish with fresh mint.
Mango Mirage Whisky Smash
A tropical whisky cocktail with mango and citrus notes.
Ingredients
60 ml MacRoys Extra Peat Whisky
45 ml mango purée
15 ml honey syrup
10 ml lime juice
Mint leaves
Ice cubes
Method
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a rocks glass. Top with soda if desired and garnish with mango and mint.
Monkey Colada
A creamy tropical whisky cocktail inspired by a piña colada.
Ingredients
40 ml Monkey Shoulder Whisky
20 ml coconut cream
60 ml pineapple juice
10 ml lime juice
Method
Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour into a tall glass and garnish with pineapple.
Grant’s Basil Smash
A crisp and herbaceous whisky cocktail.
Ingredients
60 ml Grant’s TripleWood Whisky
Basil leaves
25 ml cucumber syrup
20 ml lime juice
Method
Muddle basil gently, shake all ingredients with ice, and strain into an old-fashioned glass.
Hendrick’s Scroppino
A floral and refreshing gin spritz.
Ingredients
50 ml Hendrick’s Gin
20 ml elderflower cordial
10 ml lime juice
Soda water
Method
Build over ice in a wine glass, stir gently, and garnish with cucumber ribbon and edible flowers.
Himalayan Orchard By Ankur Chawla, Beverage Expert & Soorahi Brand Evangelist
A crisp whisky highball with apple and elderflower.
Ingredients
60 ml Soorahi Whisky
20 ml green apple juice
10 ml elderflower syrup
10 ml lemon juice
Sparkling water
Method
Build over ice in a wine glass, top with sparkling water, and garnish with apple slices and thyme.
Aura Farming
A bold tropical vodka cocktail with mango and ginger.
Ingredients
45 ml TIGERFIRE Vodka
12 ml passion fruit syrup
12 ml mango ginger juice
15 ml lime juice
Method
Shake all ingredients and fine strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with raw mango.
Watermelon Static
A spicy and refreshing watermelon vodka highball.
Ingredients
60 ml TIGERFIRE Vodka
90 ml watermelon juice
10 ml wasabi
15 ml simple syrup
Soda
Method
Shake ingredients except soda with ice. Strain into a highball glass, top with soda, and garnish with orange zest.
The Rosy Melon Spritzer By Nibaran Mandal, Sr. F&B Supervisor, The Deltin Suites, Goa
A refreshing wine cocktail with watermelon and rosemary.
Ingredients
30 ml gin
30 ml bitter aperitif
90 ml Sauvignon Blanc
60 ml watermelon juice
Method
Shake gin, aperitif, and lemon juice with ice. Pour into a wine glass, top with wine and watermelon juice, and garnish with rosemary.
Devil’s Breakfast
A rich whisky cocktail with hazelnut and saffron.
Ingredients
50 ml Lucifer’s Gold Whisky
30 ml milk
20 ml hazelnut syrup
Saffron bitters
Method
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with saffron strands.
Viva La Romance
A creamy rum cocktail with chocolate and pineapple.
Ingredients
45 ml Viva El Ron White Rum
30 ml coconut cream
15 ml crème de cacao
30 ml pineapple juice
Method
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled glass. Finish with chocolate drizzle.
Gin Has A Crush
A fruity and floral prosecco cocktail.
Ingredients
60 ml Hayman’s Old Tom Gin
10 ml elderflower liqueur
15 ml lemon juice
Fresh raspberries
Prosecco
Method
Muddle raspberries, shake remaining ingredients with ice, strain into a coupe glass, and top with prosecco.
Tequila Mousse
A decadent tequila cocktail with chocolate and cream.
Ingredients
60 ml Jose Cuervo Especial Silver
30 ml chocolate hazelnut syrup
30 ml heavy cream
Method
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled rocks glass. Garnish with cocoa powder.
Bushmills Berry & Honey Highball
A light and fruity whiskey highball.
Ingredients
45 ml Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey
10 ml honey syrup
60 ml cranberry juice
Soda water
Method
Build over ice in a highball glass, stir gently, and garnish with berries.
Black Bush Cherry Cask Highball
A rich whiskey highball with cherry and vermouth.
Ingredients
45 ml Bushmills Black Bush
15 ml cherry syrup
5 ml sweet vermouth
Soda water
Method
Build over ice, stir gently, and garnish with cherry or orange peel.
Cupid’s Arrow
A bold tequila cocktail with chocolate and strawberry notes.
Ingredients
60 ml 1800 Añejo Tequila
10 ml sherry
10 ml chocolate liqueur
5 ml strawberry syrup
Method
Stir all ingredients with ice and strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
Lavender Bloom
A floral gin cocktail with hibiscus and grapefruit.
Ingredients
60 ml Tenjaku Gin
30 ml hibiscus tea
15 ml lavender syrup
20 ml lime juice
Grapefruit soda
Method
Build over ice in a highball glass and top with grapefruit soda.
Choya Sonic
A crisp Japanese-style plum wine highball.
Ingredients
60 ml Choya Golden Ume
60 ml soda water
60 ml tonic water
Method
Build directly in a highball glass over ice and stir gently.
Weekend Blues
A citrusy tequila cocktail with blueberry.
Ingredients
60 ml 1800 Reposado Tequila
20 ml lime juice
15 ml blueberry purée
10 ml Cointreau
Method
Shake with ice and strain into a salt-rimmed old-fashioned glass.
You Are Berry Enigmatic
A berry-forward fizzy cocktail with tea and jasmine notes.
Ingredients
90–120 ml Twisted Tails Enigmatic
Fresh berries
Mint leaves
10 ml lemon juice
Soda or water
Method
Muddle berries and mint, add remaining ingredients with ice, shake well, and strain into a glass with fresh ice.
Kashmiri Saffron Sour
Ingredients:
60ml Longitude77 Whisky
Saffron syrup
Lime juice
Egg white
Method:
Dry shake, then shake with ice and strain into a chilled glass.
Green Apple Cooler
Ingredients:
45ml KIEV Green Apple Vodka
Lime juice
Mint leaves
Soda water
Method:
Muddle mint, add remaining ingredients over ice, and stir gently.
Mid-Innings Citrus Spritz
Ingredients:
45ml Sherry Platinum Whisky
Fresh orange juice
Soda
Method:
Pour over ice, top with soda, and stir lightly.
Summer Citrus Splash
Ingredients:
45ml KIEV Pure Grain Vodka
Orange juice
Soda
Method:
Build over ice and garnish with an orange slice.
Classic Manhattan
Ingredients:
30ml Sherry Platinum Whisky
Sweet vermouth
Angostura bitters
Method:
Stir with ice and strain into a chilled glass.
LITCHI: A Stage In A Glass
Ingredients:
45ml TERAI Litchi & Mulberries Gin
Cucumber chunks
Basil leaves
Citrus juice
Method:
Muddle cucumber and basil, shake with remaining ingredients, and strain into a chilled glass.
Terai Twilight
Ingredients:
50ml TERAI Vodka
Pomegranate juice
Lime juice
Ginger cordial
Method:
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain over a large ice cube.
Jamun-Mint Cocktail
Ingredients:
60ml Magic Moments Jamun Spicy Mint Vodka
Mint leaves
Lemon juice
Sugar syrup
Soda
Method:
Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a glass, and top with soda if desired.
