British-Indian vodka brand Desi Daru has made its debut at Velvet, the late-night cocktail bar at Corinthia London, with a new signature cocktail created around its Desi Daru Alphonso Mango Vodka. Named the Konkan Sunset, the cocktail has been developed under the guidance of renowned bartender Salvatore “The Maestro” Calabrese and is designed to showcase the tropical mango character of the vodka through a combination of citrus, spice and bittersweet flavours.
The Konkan Sunset is crafted by Velvet’s Head Mixologist Donato Pasquariello, who combines Desi Daru Alphonso Mango Vodka with Ancho Reyes, pineapple, ginger, lime and Peychaud’s bitters. The cocktail is designed to balance the rich and fruity mango notes with gentle heat, fresh citrus and aromatic complexity, creating a flavour profile inspired by the colours and warmth of a sunset.
The cocktail is now available at Velvet, located at London’s Whitehall Place, and is priced at £23. The launch gives Desi Daru a prominent presence at one of London’s luxury hospitality venues while highlighting the brand’s British-Indian identity through a cocktail inspired by India’s Konkan coast.
Mohit Singh, co-founder of Desi Daru, said having the brand’s Alphonso Mango Vodka featured at Velvet and at the heart of a cocktail developed with Salvatore Calabrese was a significant milestone for the company. He added that the name Konkan Sunset reflects the origin of the Ratnagiri Alphonso mangoes used by the brand, bringing the flavours of the Konkan coastline to London.
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Desi Daru produces its vodka from English winter wheat and sun-ripened mangoes, with the fruit distilled into the spirit rather than simply being infused. The process is designed to create a clean, balanced and fruity vodka while retaining the distinctive character of Alphonso mango.
Founded by Mohit and Aneet Singh in 2023, Desi Daru was created to celebrate British and Indian flavours, ingredients and distilling traditions. The B Corp-certified brand has continued to expand its presence in the UK, with Speciality Drinks serving as its UK distributor and listings across retailers including Amathus Drinks and Master of Malt.
The launch of the Konkan Sunset at Velvet marks another step in Desi Daru’s international brand-building journey, bringing its Alphonso Mango Vodka into London’s premium cocktail scene and combining Indian-inspired flavours with contemporary British hospitality.
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