🏏 Hot Like Kohli

Chili-infused tequila, matcha, fresh cilantro, mint & lime — GupShup NYC

Tequila
1 hr infusion
Shaken
Rocks Glass
~16%
GupShup
Ingredients
  • 50ml blanco tequila infused with 1 dried chili de arbol for 1 hour (or serrano chili)
  • 15ml matcha syrup (whisk 1 tsp ceremonial-grade matcha into 60ml simple syrup)
  • 8 fresh cilantro sprigs
  • 6 fresh mint leaves
  • 20ml fresh lime juice
  • 10ml agave syrup
  • Ice
  • Charred chili & cilantro sprig to garnish
Method
  1. 1
    InfuseChili tequila: combine tequila with 1 dried chili for 1 hour. Taste frequently — stop when heat is present but not overpowering. Strain.
  2. 2
    MuddleMuddle cilantro and mint with agave syrup in a shaker base.
  3. 3
    AddAdd chili tequila, matcha syrup, and lime juice.
  4. 4
    ShakeAdd ice and shake hard 15 seconds.
  5. 5
    Fine-strainDouble-strain through a fine mesh to remove all herb particles.
  6. 6
    GarnishFloat a charred chili pepper and a cilantro sprig.

About This Cocktail

Virat Kohli's career batting average above 59 and his reputation for aggressive intensity have made his name synonymous with heat and precision in Indian culture. GupShup's cocktail programme liberally names drinks after Indian cultural icons, and Hot Like Kohli is the spiciest thing on their menu. The combination of chili-infused tequila with matcha (which has a vegetal, slightly bitter quality) and fresh cilantro (which carries a floral, citrusy note) creates a drink that hits multiple senses simultaneously — heat, bitterness, herbal freshness.

Variations

Mezcal VersionReplace tequila with mezcal — the smoke + chili + matcha + cilantro is a wild but extraordinary combination
Thai Green GoddessReplace matcha with coconut water, add galangal to the muddle — takes the drink in a Thai direction
Less HeatUse a milder chili (Kashmiri, ancho) or reduce infusion time to 20 minutes — all the complexity, half the fire
Bartender Tips

Matcha quality matters enormously here — ceremonial grade (bright green, grassy, umami) is fundamentally different from culinary grade (yellow-green, bitter, flat). The small quantity of matcha syrup should add a vegetal depth without turning the drink bitter. Chili de arbol creates a clean, hot heat; serrano adds a more complex fruitiness alongside the heat. Char the garnish chili directly over a gas flame for 30 seconds for the visual effect.

Source Restaurant
Restaurant
GupShup, New York City
Spirit
Tequila (Chili-Infused)
Method
Shaken
ABV
~16%
Tequila & Mezcal All 69 Indian Cocktails Indian Mocktails (87) Cocktails A–Z
Where to drink this
Restaurant
GupShup
Address
409 Park Ave South, New York, NY 10016
Style
Modern Indian cocktail bar & restaurant
Accolades
One of NYC's top Indian cocktail destinations

GupShup (meaning 'gossip' or 'chatter' in Hindi and Urdu) is a celebration of Indian social culture through food and drink. The cocktail menu draws from the full breadth of the subcontinent — paan-inspired drinks, lassi riffs, spiced old fashioneds — with an energy that matches the name. One of the most vibrant Indian drinking experiences in New York City.

Visit gupshup.nyc