ABD Maestro Pvt. Ltd., the luxury and super-premium spirits arm of Allied Blenders & Distillers (ABD), has advanced its multi-city bartending competition, Bar Maestro, to the second round after receiving more than 350 entries from across seven cities.
Organised in partnership with Tulleeho Beverage Academy, the competition aims to spotlight India’s growing cocktail culture and emerging mixology talent. Following the first round, 160 bartenders have been shortlisted to progress to the next stage, where they will compete for a place in the national finals.
The opening challenge required participants to create an original highball cocktail using WOODBURNS Contemporary Indian Whisky. According to the organisers, many entries drew inspiration from regional ingredients, local traditions and cultural narratives, highlighting the growing emphasis on Indian storytelling in contemporary cocktail creation.
Mumbai emerged as one of the strongest-performing markets, prompting organisers to double the city’s Round 2 shortlist from 20 to 40 bartenders. Entries showcased a range of locally inspired ingredients, including kokum, coconut, Indrayani rice and dried bombil, reflecting the city’s diverse culinary and cultural influences.
Commenting on the competition, Bikram Basu, Managing Director, ABD Maestro, said the response demonstrates the rapid evolution of India’s bartending community and the increasing focus on local ingredients and innovation in cocktail development.
Round 2 will be judged by a panel comprising mixologists, beverage consultants and hospitality professionals, including Ami Shroff, Arina Suchde, Rojita Tiwari and Feruzan Bilimoria. Four bartenders from Mumbai will be selected to advance to the national finals.
The competition will culminate with a Bar Takeover event on August 19, followed by the Grand Finale on August 20, where the inaugural Bar Maestro champion will be crowned.
For the hospitality and beverage industry, the initiative highlights the growing importance of skill development, cocktail innovation and experiential beverage programmes in shaping India’s premium bar ecosystem.
