🌟 The Golden Lassi

Dark rum, full-fat yogurt, Alphonso mango, green chili & fresh lime — GupShup NYC

Dark Rum
5 min
Blend or Shake
Collins Glass
~14%
GupShup
Ingredients
  • 50ml dark rum (Old Monk preferred)
  • 100g full-fat Greek yogurt
  • 60ml Alphonso mango purée
  • 1 thin slice Indian green chili
  • 15ml fresh lime juice
  • 10ml simple syrup
  • Pinch of cardamom
  • Ice
  • Mango slice, chili & cardamom to garnish
Method
  1. 1
    BlendFor best results, blend all ingredients with ice for 15 seconds — the yogurt needs emulsification.
  2. 2
    Shake alternativeIf blending is not practical, shake very hard with extra ice for 20 seconds — the result is slightly less smooth.
  3. 3
    ServePour into a tall Collins glass.
  4. 4
    GarnishAdd a mango slice, a small chili slice on the rim, and a pinch of cardamom on top.

About This Cocktail

The conceptual logic is simple: rum is made from sugarcane, and sugarcane grows across the same tropical belt as mangoes, coconuts, and all the ingredients that define Indian summer cooking. Dark rum (especially Old Monk, distilled in India) and mango lassi share the same agricultural DNA. GupShup's Golden Lassi is the formal introduction: rum blended with thick yogurt, Alphonso mango purée, and green chili for heat, all brightened with lime. It functions as both cocktail and dessert in a glass.

Variations

Bourbon Golden LassiReplace rum with a high-rye bourbon (Four Roses Single Barrel) — the spice of rye with mango and yogurt is outstanding
Non-Alcoholic Golden LassiReplace rum with 30ml coconut water + 1 tsp vanilla extract — a superb zero-proof version that can fool a casual observer
Saffron Golden LassiAdd 6 saffron strands steeped in 1 tbsp warm milk to the blend — becomes a gold-tinted, saffron-mango lassi cocktail
Bartender Tips

Old Monk rum is ideal here — its rich vanilla-toffee notes and lack of harshness make it the natural choice for a yogurt cocktail. The chili should be detectable but subtle — it should appear on the finish, not dominate the sip. Full-fat yogurt is essential for the right texture; low-fat versions produce a watery result. Serve immediately — the yogurt separates if left standing.

Source Restaurant
Restaurant
GupShup, New York City
Spirit
Dark Rum
Method
Blend or Shake
ABV
~14%
Rum 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