Top 10 Thandai Cocktails You Must Try For Holi This Year

Is it really Holi if thandai isn't on the menu? If you love thandai and enjoy having it during the festivities, why not give it a fun twist? At unsobered, we believe that instead of sticking to traditional thandai, you can elevate the experience by adding alcohol. If you're hosting a Holi party for your friends this year, consider serving thandai cocktails instead of just the classic thandai. With the right thandai base and spirit choice, your friends will surely shower you with compliments for these delightful cocktails. Not sure how to make them? Don’t worry - unsobered has got you covered! Here are 10 thandai cocktails to try this Holi. Check them out!

Top 10 Thandai Cocktails To Try This Holi

How To Make Thandai Base?

Here’s how you can make one litre of thandai base:

Ingredients:

• 1 liter full-fat milk
• 10 cashews (soaked)
• 20 almonds (soaked 4 hours, peeled)
• 1½ tbsp melon/watermelon seeds (magaz)
• 1-2 tsp rose water
• 10-15 pistachios (soaked, peeled)
• 1½ tbsp fennel seeds (saunf)
• 1½ tbsp poppy seeds (khus khus)
• ½ tsp cinnamon or nutmeg powder (optional)
• 10-12 green cardamom pods
• 4-10 black peppercorns
• 8-10 dried rose petals (optional)
• 2-3 tbsp sugar (adjust to taste)
• Pinch saffron strands (soaked in 2 tbsp warm milk)

Method: 

• Soak nuts, seeds, fennel, peppercorns, cardamom, and rose petals in water for 4 hours (or overnight). 
• Drain, then blend with half a cup of milk to a smooth paste. 
• Boil the remaining milk with sugar and cool slightly. 
• Stir in paste, saffron milk, rose water, and spices. 
• Simmer for 5 minutes, then strain through muslin cloth (twice for smoothness). 
• Chill for 1-2 hours. 

1. Gin Thandai

Gin Thandai offers the crispiness of gin with the velvety creaminess of thandai, with the freshness of fennel and the warmth of spices all in one drink. The brightness of juniper blends well with the peppery spice warmth, bringing out a layered cocktail that is perfect for a vibrant Holi celebration.

Ingredients:

• 120 ml Thandai Base
• 60 ml gin
• 6-8 ice cubes

Method:

• Take a shaker and add thandai base. 
• Add gin and ice, shake well.
• Strain into the glass.
• Garnish with rose petals. 

2. Bourbon Mango Thandai

Bourbon Mango Thandai is a favorite among people for its rich vanilla-oak flavor from bourbon, combined with the sweetness of mango and the spicy smoothness of thandai. The tropical juiciness of the mango pairs beautifully with the deep notes of caramel, while a delightful zing from the spices adds a nice touch, culminating in a creamy finish.

Ingredients:

• 200 ml thandai base
• 60 ml mango puree
• 45 ml bourbon
• 15 ml lemon juice
• Ice cubes

Method:

• Take a cocktail shaker.
• Add thandai base, bourbon, lemon juice, and mango puree with ice.
• Strain it into a chilled glass.
• Serve!

3. Kokum Thandai

Kokum Thandai is a cocktail that every kokum lover will adore! It features the sharp tanginess of kokum, which perfectly complements the nuttiness of creamy thandai. One glass is definitely not enough! The drink also includes the refreshing flavor of fennel, the sweetness of cardamom, and a hint of boldness from pepper, all beautifully blended with white rum.

Ingredients:

• 30 ml kokum syrup
• 200 ml thandai base
• 30 ml white rum
• Soda
• Ice cubes

Method:

• Take a cocktail shaker.
• Add thandai base, kokum base, white rum, and ice.
• Shake well, strain into a glass.
• Add soda for the fizz and serve. 

4. Coco Rose Thandai

Coconut, rose, and thandai, well, hands down the best combination ever! This cocktail is known to evoke coconut-rose paradise in the frothy thandai. The floral rose flavor with the creaminess of coconut rum and warming spices from thandai make it the best choice for an indulgent Holi luxury drink. 

Ingredients:

• 45 ml coconut rum
• 200 ml thandai base
• 10 ml rose syrup
• 30 ml coconut cream
• Ice cubes

Method:

• Take a cocktail shaker.
• Add rum, thandai base, rose syrup, ice, and cream. 
• Shake well and strain into a glass.
• Serve.

5. Vodka Thandai Shots

Vodka Thandai Shots bring in the vodka rush along with the spice blast from thandai. The intense almond-pistachio cream with fennel, anise, and pepper offers a fiery touch to the amazingness that vodka has to offer. It is the perfect choice to begin the Holi festivities with a nice nutty punch.

Ingredients: 

• 60 ml vodka
• 120 ml thandai base
• Ice cubes

Method: 

• Take a cocktail shaker.
• Add vodka, thandai base, and ice cubes.
• Shake well, strain into rimmed shot glasses. Serve

6. Fizzy Pineapple Thandai

A simple and perfect cocktail to be served to your guests is the Fizzy Pineapple Thandai. This cocktail beautifully delivers tangy and brightness from pineapple with creamy nuttiness from the thandai base. With the subtle warmth of spices and the fizzy lift from soda, Fizzy Pineapple Thandai is vibrant and refreshing.

Ingredients:

• 120 ml thandai base
• 45 ml tequila
• 15 ml lime juice
• 60 ml pineapple juice
• 30 ml soda water
• Ice cubes

Method:

• Take a cocktail shaker. 
• Add thandai base, tequila, lime juice, pineapple juice, and ice cubes. 
• Shake well, strain into a highball glass with ice. 
• Top it with soda for the fizz and enjoy! 

7. LIIT Thandai

If you want a multi-spirit punch that is bold as well as smooth with Thandai’s creaminess, LIIT Thandai should be your go-to this Holi. With spicy warmth and subtle yet sharp citrusy touch and the sweetness of cola, this cocktail is boozy and complex.

Ingredients:

• 15 ml vodka
• 15 ml white rum
• 15 ml triple sec
• 20 ml lemon juice
• 15 ml gin
• 15 ml tequila
• 120 ml thandai base
• Cola to top
• Ice cubes

Method:

• Take a cocktail shaker
• Shake all the spirits with lemon, thandai base, and ice. 
• Strain it into a Collins glass over ice and top with cola.
• Serve

8. Rum Rose Thandai

Rum Rose Thandai slowly unfolds the caramel depth of rum with the floral rose petal and cardamom silkiness with every sip. Its gentle spice glow offers aromatic and elegant layers to the cocktail, making it perfect for evening Holi parties.

Ingredients:

• 120 ml thandai base
• 15 ml rose syrup
• 45 ml dark rum
• 10 ml lime juice
• Ice cubes

Method: 

• Take a glass, stir thandai base, rum, lime juice, and rose syrup over ice. 
• Strain into a rocks glass and serve. 

9. Berry Thandai

Berry Thandai delivers a juicy berry tartness beautifully blended with rich almond thandai. It also features subtle hints of various spices, adding warmth and vibrancy that make it a must-try cocktail this Holi.

Ingredients:

• 120 ml thandai base
• 20 ml mixed berry syrup
• 45 ml gin
• 15 ml lemon juice
• Fresh berries
• Ice cubes

Method: 

• Muddle berries with syrup.
• Add lemon juice, thandai base, vodka, and ice to it.
• Shake well, strain, and serve!

10. Coffee Kick Thandai

This cocktail is surely going to make every coffee lover fall in love with coffee all over again. Coffee Kick Thandai offers a blend of milky sweetness with fennel-anise hints, warming spices, and bold coffee intensity. The cocktail is rich and is sure to awaken your palate this Holi.

Ingredients

• 120 ml thandai base
• 30 ml vodka
• 30 ml coffee liqueur
• 10 ml simple syrup
• Ice cubes

Method:

• Take a cocktail shaker.
• Add all the ingredients with ice and shake them well. 
• Strain into a chilled coupe glass and serve. 

Summing Up

From the creamy Coco Rose Thandai cocktail to the party-starting vodka thandai shots, this list has it all! So save this article for your Holi party and make it more awesome for your friends and family!