Just like India’s indigenous single malts are making waves globally, India’s pub and bar scene is coming of age too, and rising aspirations are pushing the entry of niche cocktail bar concepts in smaller towns as well.
Delhi’s Sidecar has experienced a 60% increase in revenues and a 35-45% growth in profits from 2021 to 2023, according to Yangdup Lama, co-owner of Sidecar and India’s leading mixologist.
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Last year, Sidecar secured the 18th position on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list and was ranked 52nd on the list of top 500 bars.
“Sidecar has gone beyond what we expected in terms of numbers, in terms of cocktail sales. In India, there’s a place for all kinds of original concepts now and we will open our new venture in the next six months in Gurugram. It will be a new concept,” said Lama.
“Investors are also open to partnering with bartenders like me to launch concepts just like they would have done in the past with chefs. This never happened before in my career of 27 years. Customers have a lot more clarity now and are more evolved,” he added.
Niche Cocktail Concepts Flourishing in Jaipur:
In Jaipur’s market, various niche concepts have emerged, including the Native Cocktail Room, which claimed the top spot in Bar Wars 2023 and earned a spot in the 50 Best Bars India list. Among the signature cocktails offered are “Jodhpur,” featuring smoky tequila blended with cumin, mathinia chilli syrup, ananaas, and citrus, and “Zafran Sour,” a fusion of Kesar vodka, salted caramel, orange bitters, and citrus.
“Trends swiftly disseminate through the influence of digital media, and with beer’s universal appeal, enthusiasts are now spread across the nation. Beyond the NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Pune, the upcoming year will witness the opening of Taprooms in Ludhiana, Mohali, Jaipur and Manali,” said Rahul Singh, head of the pubs vertical at BIRA 91.
“The upcoming year is poised for a quadruple increase in the number of outlets,” he added.
Having spent fifteen years in the industry, Mayur Marne, the pub partner at Cobbler & Crew in Pune, expressed that he is currently living his dream. Marne previously served as the luxury brand ambassador for Diageo India and was affiliated with Hakkasan Mumbai.
“I am from Pune and always wanted to open a bar here. We launched Cobbler & Crew in September 2022, and the response has been good so far. Our cocktail philosophy is all about using local ingredients and no artificial sugars are used in our drinks,” he added.
In September last year, Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality unveiled the Drawing Room, a cocktail-forward concept at its Smoke House Deli outlet in Bengaluru.
Mohit Balachandran, Brand Head at Smoke House Deli, noted that unlike other Smoke House Deli outlets that employ traditional mixology, the Drawing Room adopts a more ‘forward’ approach, incorporating advanced techniques.
“We thought of converting some of our spaces into more cocktail forward spaces. We have plans of launching the next Drawing Room in Mumbai,” he said.
Among the signature cocktails at The Drawing Room are “Through the Looking Glass,” a fusion of Ballantine’s Finest scotch, grapefruit, basil, honey, ginger, and lemon soda, as well as “Timekeeper’s Smoke,” crafted with Jose Cuervo Tequila, Cointreau l’Unique, French orange liqueur, cold-pressed oranges, smoky Lapsang Souchong tea, and Himalayan Pink Salt.
Last year, The Leela Palace Bengaluru introduced ZLB23, a Speakeasy bar styled after Kyoto, showcasing an array of ‘rare and premium’ spirits.
ZLB23 hosted a series of exclusive bar takeovers in December last year, featuring the Manhattan bar from Singapore and Bar Benfiddich from Tokyo.
MayFair Consultants’ founder, Deepak Jain, stated that his company holds a mandate for specialized and high-energy bars in markets including Chandigarh, Dehradun, Udaipur, Agra, and Moradabad.
“This is primarily due to the affordability of real estate rentals as well as high spending power of consumers,” he said.
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