Desi Daru cocktail contest to return
British-Indian vodka brand Desi Daru will bring its Culture Colliders cocktail competition back to the UK for a second edition.
Culture Colliders is inspired by Desi Daru’s founders’ dual British-Indian heritage, which is also reflected in the brand’s Alphoso Mango vodka, made with Indian mangoes and English winter wheat.
For its second edition, the competition invites UK bartenders to create a cocktail that includes at least one Indian-inspired ingredient and one ingredient inspired by either Britain or their home country.
Each cocktail requires a minimum of 40ml of Desi Daru Alphonso Mango Vodka and a maximum of eight ingredients, excluding garnishes.
The cocktail challenge encourages bartenders to share their personal stories through the art of mixology.
Last year’s inaugural edition of the competition saw Vitor Sousa, from the Churchill Bar & Terrace, take home the crown with his ‘Duke of Goa’ cocktail that blended smoked paprika, mustard cordial, and mango vodka.
Mohit Singh, co-founder of Desi Daru, said: “We were blown away by the level of talent and creativity in last year’s competition, and we can’t wait to take it up a notch. This year, we want to give bartenders a platform to tell their own personal stories.
“Desi Daru reflects our heritage, and we’d love to see cocktails that reflect our entrants’ personal stories too. We cannot wait to see this year’s entries.”
This year’s finalists will compete in a grand final in London in November, judged by an expert panel that will include returning 2024 champion Sousa.
Sousa reflected on last year’s win: “Culture Colliders was a fantastic experience, it not only challenged my creativity, but I got to connect with a great community of like-minded bartenders who shared a passion for pushing flavour boundaries and storytelling through drinks.
“My advice to those considering entering this year: stay authentic. Create a drink that’s true to you, and make sure that you pay attention to all the details: the balance of the drink, its presentation, the story that you’re looking to tell.”
Entries are now open to hospitality professionals across the UK at the brand’s website. The deadline for submissions is 20 October 2025.
Earlier this year, Desi Daru unveiled its new signature serves, created in collaboration with drinks consultant Greg Almeida.
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