Bengaluru, 3 August 2026: ABD Maestro Pvt. Ltd., the luxury and super-premium spirits arm of Allied Blenders & Distillers Ltd. (ABD), has moved its multi-city bartending platform Bar Maestro into Round 2, bringing Bengaluru’s rising cocktail talent into the national spotlight. The seven-city competition is being conducted in partnership with the Tulleeho Beverage Academy and aims to identify and nurture India’s next generation of professional mixologists.
The opening round received more than 350 entries from bartenders across India, while the competition generated significant digital engagement with over 7.6 million Instagram views, reflecting the growing popularity of India’s contemporary cocktail culture and the increasing visibility of professional bartending talent.
Original Highball Challenge Using WOODBURNS Contemporary Indian Whisky
The first round challenged participants to create an original highball cocktail using WOODBURNS Contemporary Indian Whisky. Bartenders responded by drawing inspiration from regional traditions, local ingredients and personal cultural narratives. Following the nationwide selection process, 160 mixologists have advanced to Round 2, with shortlisted entries recognised for their technical skill, creativity and storytelling through Indian ingredients.
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Bengaluru Emerges as a Hub of Cocktail Innovation
Bengaluru stood out as one of the strongest-performing cities in the competition, producing cocktails that combined culinary nostalgia with advanced bartending techniques. Local participants experimented with ingredients such as Byadgi chilli, jackfruit, tamarind, Annapurna leaf and clarified sambar, transforming familiar South Indian flavours into innovative cocktail expressions.
These creations highlighted Bengaluru’s reputation as a city where technical experimentation, culinary curiosity and respect for local heritage are driving the evolution of India’s modern beverage industry.
ABD Maestro Highlights Growth of Indian Cocktail Culture
Commenting on the strong response to the competition, Bikram Basu, Managing Director, ABD Maestro, said the platform represents an important milestone for India’s bartending community. He noted that participants had built compelling cocktail narratives around their own regional cultures and ingredients, demonstrating how creative independence is shaping a vibrant new Indian cocktail movement. According to Basu, Bar Maestro is designed to champion craftsmanship, innovation and the growing professionalism of India’s hospitality and beverage sector.
Industry Experts to Judge Bengaluru Round
Round 2 will be evaluated by a panel of leading industry professionals, including Rohan Carvalho, Founder of Bar Square India, and Aslam Gafoor, hospitality professional, independent writer and columnist. The judges will select two bartenders from Bengaluru to advance to the national finals.
The competition will conclude with a Bar Takeover event on 19 August 2026, followed by the Grand Finale on 20 August 2026, where the inaugural Bar Maestro champion will be crowned.
Bengaluru Consumers Can Experience the Finalist Cocktails
Consumers in Bengaluru have been able to sample the competing cocktails between 27 July and 3 August 2026 across a wide network of participating venues.
Indiranagar: Barwild, The Reservoire, The Dual Room, Humming Tree
Koramangala: House of Dopamine, Saporeii Bar House Kitchen
Whitefield: Maize and Malt, Underdoggs Whitefield
Marathahalli: Chifa, NST
HSR Layout: Roxie
Other Bengaluru venues: Indian Craft Brewery (Outer Ring Road), Biergarten (Bellandur), The Oterra Hotel (Electronic City), Runway 27 (Kadubeesanahalli), Koko Bengaluru (Kodihalli), Cleo’s Up Top (Manyata Business Park), The Bier Library (Sarjapur), and Kico Bangalore (St. Mark’s Road).
ABD Maestro Expands Presence in India’s Luxury Spirits Market
ABD Maestro Pvt. Ltd. is the super-premium and luxury spirits subsidiary of Allied Blenders & Distillers Limited, India’s largest domestic spirits company by annual sales volume. Ranveer Singh serves as a co-founder and creative partner of ABD Maestro.
The company’s portfolio includes The Collective Limited Edition, Arthaus Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, Aodh Irish Whiskey, WOODBURNS Contemporary Indian Malt Whisky, Yello Designer Whisky, Zoya Special Batch Gin, Rangeela Contemporary Indian Vodka, Pumori Small Batch Gin, Segredo Aldeia Café Rum and White Rum. Through its partnership with Roust Corporation, ABD Maestro has also introduced Russian Standard Vodka in Original, Gold and Platinum variants for the Indian market.
With Bar Maestro, ABD Maestro is positioning itself not only as a luxury spirits company but also as a catalyst for India’s evolving cocktail and hospitality ecosystem, where regional ingredients, contemporary mixology and cultural storytelling are becoming central to the future of premium beverage experiences.
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