The last few years have all been about women making a mark in industries that were previously dominated by men like delivery services, cab drivers or pilots. One such field which is often thought to be a man’s domain is, bartending. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we #BreakTheBias by introducing you to some of the most popular women bartenders in India who, with their knowledge and craft, have helped revolutionise the hospitality industry. By Anushka Goel
The success of a bar isn’t determined just by the kinds of liquor they serve but also by a good bartender who knows how to mix up just the right drink for you. From Cosmopolitans to the basic mojitos and special cocktails formulated for the restaurant or bar you’re at, these bartenders work day and night, crafting the best beverages for you to sip on as you let your hair down and enjoy.
However, being in the liquor business and knowing how to make a drink ‘just right’ has often been thought to be a man’s job. Traditionally, it’s always the men who have been shown to drink or get drunk, even though many women, especially in urban areas, enjoy a good drink or two. But with more openness about women who drink, a lot of women bartenders have made their presence felt in the business, taking over the bar and mixing new and old drinks for their customers.
So, as we gear up to celebrate International Women’s Day, we #BreakTheBias by introducing you to some women bartenders in India who have made their presence felt in the business and made their mark in the industry.
12 women bartenders in India to check out
Ami Behram Shroff
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A flair bartender by profession, Ami Shroff is one of the pioneers for women in the industry. She started mixing drinks when she was a teenager, and today, Ami is among the most sought-after flair bartenders in India, especially when it comes to events and parties. In an interview, Ami spoke about how bartending began for her as a hobby to make a few bucks while she was in college. She took up flair bartending, drawn in by the theatrics around it, and has stuck to it for almost two decades now.
Arati Mestry
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Entering a male-dominated industry isn’t easy, and Arati Mestry made her mark by competing against 19 men in the finals of the Ultimate Bartender Championship! Based out of Bengaluru, she is currently the bar manager with Taj Hotels, working day and night to mix up some memorable beverages for her guests.
Shatbhi Basu
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The ace mixologist and author is among the first women bartenders in India. The bar and beverage consultant for hundreds of bars across the country, Shatbhi has been instrumental in women claiming spaces that have been thought of as arenas for men. Starting her bartending career at the early age of 21, today, she not only is an author and bartender but also teaches at the STIR Academy of Bartending, which she founded. What’s more, she was credited with the first show based on cocktails and beverages in India, called In High Spirits.
Vibhuti Angane
Vibhuti Angane has been in the hospitality industry for a long time now, mixing the perfect beverages as a woman bartender in India. She now coaches budding hotel management students at a Mumbai-based college.
Hemali Bendre
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Hemali Bendre works with The Bombay Canteen in Mumbai, and her Instagram is full of tips and tricks for those planning on mixing a drink at home. Be it beginner-friendly beverages or the more intricate ones, Hemali has a fix for all, and her workplace is full of innovative mixes and beverages inspired by what she has seen online and in the works of other popular and experienced bartenders.
Colette Pereira
Among the women bartenders in India is Colette Pereira, who has been working with Hakkasan in Mumbai as an Assistant Bartender for over eight years now. She started her career in Public Relations and later forayed into the beverage mixing industry and is a force to be reckoned with.
Priyanka Kandalkar Devsaria
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Priyanka Kandalkar Devsaria, who goes on Instagram by Daily Drink Gyan, is a mixologist who shares her knowledge on making the perfect cocktails at home and the flavour profiles different ingredients offer. Priyanka has worked behind several bars in her lifetime, and now, she works as a trainer and freelance mixologist, guiding both her students and people on the ‘gram to whip up some delicious beverages and understand the science behind them.
Dhanashree Kirdat Punekar
Bartending is what Dhanashree Kirdat Punekar set out to do, but it is something that happened by chance. Training to become a chef, she developed an interest in mixing beverages – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic – which carved her path into being a mixologist.
Vasundhara Vats
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Based out of Goa, Vasundhara Vats turned bartending into her career. She’s worked at places such as Soho House in Mumbai, working tirelessly to carve a name for herself, and in a short while, she has managed to impress guests, bar owners and even spirit companies! Her Instagram often features insights from her life as well as some simple recipes people can mix for their at-home parties and drinking sessions.
Feruzan Bilimoria
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Feruzan Bilimoria started her career as a chef and bartending happened to her when she was filling in for an absentee at an event. Once she got the hang of it, there was no looking back, and she continued freelancing and making a name for herself. She also worked at Mumbai’s London Taxi and JW Marriot Mumbai Sahar’s Romano’s nightclub bar, and today, she is the brand ambassador for the homegrown gin brand, Stranger and Sons.
Cindy Lalramngaihzuali
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Cindy Lalramngaihzuali started her career in the F&B industry in 2015, and it was her experience behind at Delhi‘s Ek Bar that introduced her to the world of bartending. One of the few women bartenders in India, Cindy has made her presence felt with her cocktails and aims to open a restaurant and bar closer to her home in Mizoram.
Evgenya Prazdnik
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Among India’s Top 12 bartenders, Russian bartender Evgenya Prazdnik has been working in India for over five years now, crafting fancy cocktails for her customers in Goa. She goes beyond the basics when creating her recipes, using a mix of homemade bitters, earl grey teas, unusual flavours such as kewra and more to create unique and never-seen-before drinks for guests to sip on.
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