💨 Smoking Betel

Paan-washed rye & bourbon blend, jaggery syrup & aromatic bitters — GupShup NYC

Rye Whiskey + Bourbon
4 hrs wash
Stirred
Old Fashioned Glass
~28%
GupShup
Ingredients
  • 40ml rye whiskey (Rittenhouse or Bulleit Rye), paan-washed (see Paan Pe Raag recipe for technique)
  • 20ml bourbon (Maker's Mark or Woodford Reserve)
  • 15ml jaggery syrup (dissolve grated jaggery in warm water 2:1)
  • 3 dashes aromatic bitters (Angostura or Fee Brothers Whiskey Barrel)
  • 1 dash orange bitters
  • Large clear ice cube
  • Burnt orange zest & paan leaf to garnish
Method
  1. 1
    MixCombine both whiskies in a mixing glass with ice.
  2. 2
    AddAdd jaggery syrup and both bitters.
  3. 3
    StirStir 35–40 seconds. The dilution is key — jaggery needs time to integrate.
  4. 4
    StrainStrain over a large clear ice cube in an Old Fashioned glass.
  5. 5
    Burn the zestHold an orange peel skin-side toward the glass. Pass a flame between the peel and the surface — the expressed oils ignite briefly and mist the drink with caramelised citrus oil. Drop the spent peel.
  6. 6
    GarnishRest a single betel leaf against the ice cube.

About This Cocktail

The Old Fashioned is arguably the most important whiskey cocktail — spirit, sugar, bitters, ice. GupShup's Smoking Betel takes this minimal canvas and applies the paan fat-wash technique to a blend of rye and bourbon: rye for spice, bourbon for sweetness, both washed through a betel leaf-coconut fat that coats the whiskey with a peppery-herbal depth that no infusion or tincture can replicate. The result is an Old Fashioned that tastes entirely like an Old Fashioned until the finish, when the paan note arrives like a memory.

Variations

Single Malt VersionReplace both whiskies with Amrut or Paul John Indian single malt — the tropical fruit notes of Indian whisky with paan are extraordinary
No Fat WashMuddle 1 betel leaf in the mixing glass, stir, strain — less clean but effective shortcut
Spiced VersionAdd ¼ tsp Kashmiri chilli bitters to the build — the heat appears only in the finish and dramatically extends the drink
Bartender Tips

The paan fat wash is interchangeable between this recipe and Paan Pe Raag — make a batch of washed whiskey and use across both drinks. Jaggery syrup has a slight molasses depth that gives the drink a dimension that simple syrup cannot. The burnt orange zest technique (express over an open flame) is called 'flaming' — it caramelises the citrus oils and creates a gorgeous aroma. Do not use a lighter — use a long match or candle for safety.

Source Restaurant
Restaurant
GupShup, New York City
Spirit
Rye Whiskey + Bourbon (Paan-Washed)
Method
Stirred
ABV
~28%
Bourbon Guide 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