🏡 Bungalow Old Fashioned

Amrut Indian single malt whisky, paan liqueur, amaretto & Angostura bitters

Amrut Indian Single Malt Whisky
4 min
Stirred
Old Fashioned Glass
~26%
Bungalow
Ingredients
  • 60ml Amrut Fusion or Amrut Double Cask Indian Single Malt
  • 10ml paan liqueur (available at Indian liquor stores; substitute: 5ml kewra water + 5ml anise liqueur)
  • 5ml amaretto
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • 1 tsp demerara sugar
  • Ice (large cube preferred)
  • Orange zest twist & a paan-leaf chip to garnish (optional)
Method
  1. 1
    BuildPlace a large clear ice cube in an Old Fashioned glass.
  2. 2
    DissolveAdd demerara sugar to a mixing glass. Add bitters and stir with a splash of water to dissolve.
  3. 3
    Add spiritsAdd Amrut, paan liqueur, and amaretto to the mixing glass.
  4. 4
    StirAdd ice and stir 30 seconds. Strain over the large cube.
  5. 5
    GarnishExpress an orange zest over the glass and drop in. Optional: add a dried paan leaf chip.

About This Cocktail

Amrut Distilleries was founded in Bengaluru in 1948 but only released its single malt to export markets in 2004. When Whisky Magazine awarded it third place in its 2010 world whisky rankings, the global whisky industry took notice. Amrut's character is distinctive: the tropical climate of Bengaluru means angels' share evaporation rates of up to 12% annually (versus 2% in Scotland), concentrating the spirit rapidly and giving it an unusually rich, tropical-fruit character with spice notes that make it ideal for cocktails. Bungalow's Old Fashioned adds paan liqueur — the commercially available version of the betel leaf-fennel-coconut flavour profile — as a bridge between Indian whisky and Western cocktail tradition.

Variations

Paul John Old FashionedSubstitute Amrut with Paul John Bold (another acclaimed Indian single malt from Goa, with a more coastal character)
Paan SazaracReplace Angostura with Peychaud's bitters and stir with an absinthe rinse — the New Orleans-meets-Mumbai crossover
Cardamom Old FashionedAdd 2 crushed cardamom pods to the mixing glass, remove before straining — classic Indian warming spice meets tropical single malt
Bartender Tips

Amrut is available at specialist whisky shops, Indian liquor stores, and increasingly at premium supermarkets. Amrut Fusion (which uses a blend of Indian and Scottish barley) is slightly more accessible; Amrut Peated adds a smoky dimension that works beautifully here. The paan liqueur bridges the tropical fruit notes of Amrut with the amaretto's almond-cherry. The amaretto should be felt as richness, not tasted directly — keep the measure small.

Source Restaurant
Restaurant
Bungalow, East Village, New York City
Spirit
Amrut Indian Single Malt Whisky
Method
Stirred
ABV
~26%
Scotch Guide All 69 Indian Cocktails Indian Mocktails (87) Cocktails A–Z
Where to drink this
Restaurant
Bungalow
Address
98 3rd Ave, East Village, New York City, NY 10003
Style
Modern Indian cocktail bar & restaurant
Accolades
East Village favourite · standout Indian cocktail programme

Bungalow in the East Village captures the warmth and chaos of an Indian party at home — the kind where the drinks are strong, the food comes in waves, and no one leaves early. The cocktail menu is adventurous and confident, featuring Indian-inspired creations built on solid bartending technique: clarified punches, house-infused spirits, and drinks that treat Indian ingredients with the same seriousness as any other craft bar.

Visit bungalownyc.com