✨ Indian Winter

Brandy, cardamom honey syrup, cinnamon & a floated cream cap

Brandy / Bourbon
10 min
Stirred, cream float
Old Fashioned Glass
~23%
Ingredients
  • 60ml (2 oz) VSOP Cognac, Armagnac, or bourbon whisky
  • 15ml (½ oz) cardamom honey syrup (see tips)
  • 7.5ml (¼ oz) cinnamon syrup
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • 22ml (¾ oz) heavy cream — to float
  • Star anise, cinnamon stick & green cardamom to garnish
Method
  1. 1
    StirCombine brandy/bourbon, cardamom honey syrup, cinnamon syrup, and bitters in a mixing glass with ice. Stir 30 seconds until well chilled.
  2. 2
    StrainStrain into a lowball glass over a large ice cube.
  3. 3
    FloatPour heavy cream very slowly over the back of a bar spoon held just above the surface of the drink — it should float as a distinct white layer.
  4. 4
    GarnishRest a star anise and a cinnamon stick on the cream. Add 2 dashes of Angostura bitters on top of the cream cap.

About This Cocktail

The Indian Winter draws on the tradition of warming spiced drinks in North India during December through February — when chai vendors add extra cardamom and ginger, and households warm up with spirits mixed with honey and spices. This cocktail translates that tradition through a Western spirit-forward lens. It sits between an Irish Coffee (cream float) and an Old Fashioned (stirred, spirit-forward), but with a distinctly subcontinental spice character. The cardamom honey syrup is the defining element.

Variations

Hot Indian WinterServe in a pre-warmed glass without ice, top with warm steamed cream dusted with cardamom — a serious contender for best hot cocktail ever made
Himalayan WinterAdd ¼ oz Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur) — adds a nut dimension that echoes Thandai
Cognac-FreeUse Calvados (French apple brandy) — the apple notes harmonise beautifully with cardamom
Bartender Tips

Cardamom honey syrup: combine ½ cup water + ½ cup raw honey + 5 lightly crushed green cardamom pods. Heat gently until combined, do not boil. Steep 30 minutes. Strain. Keeps 4 weeks refrigerated. For a hot version, serve in a pre-warmed glass, omit ice, and use warm cream instead of floated cold cream — this is the definitive winter nightcap. Replace cream with coconut cream for a dairy-free version that adds a tropical note.

The Specs
Spirit Base
Brandy / Bourbon
Method
Stirred, cream float
Glass
Old Fashioned Glass
ABV
~23%
Where to Find It
Restaurants
Craft cocktail bars specialising in Indian spirits; featured at The Tasting Room (Bengaluru), Indian-inspired winter menus at Cinnamon Club (London)
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