Boho Spirit Celebrates Excellence

The Spiritz Conclave & Achievers’ Awards 2025 shimmered with creativity as the Spiritz BarCraft Challenge, presented by Boho Premium Blended Whisky, brought together some of the most inventive mixologists under one roof. Kicked off at Drinking Safari PitStop, Gurugram on October 28, the competition saw 18 bartenders transform the familiar warmth of whisky into liquid stories of nostalgia and innovation.

Under the watchful eyes of a discerning jury, contestants used the whisky as a canvas, creating compositions that ranged from sweet and savoury to boldly umami. The judging panel included Kama KM, Founder of The Drinking Safari, Sandy Verma, Founder & CEO of the Institute of Bar Operations & Management; ace mixologist and beverage consultant Akash Tomar and Kuldeep Singh Chauhan aka K.D. of the Bar Academy of Doon. Contestants were scored on storytelling, execution, balance, originality and their ability to spotlight Boho Premium Blended Whisky.

After an intense day of heats, 10 bartenders advanced to the Grand Finale staged on October 29 alongside the Spiritz Conclave & Achievers’ Awards at the beautifully decked up lawn of Olympus Ballroom, Le Meridien, Gurugram. The finals crackled with technical prowess and theatrical flair as bartenders poured personality into every creation.

Winners Who Stirred the Stage

The jury assessed each cocktail with utmost precision before ultimately handing over the title to Odishaborn mixologist Sagar Khuntia for his showstopper, ‘Hikari Melt’.

Hikari Melt married Boho Premium Blended Whisky with a bold sequence of Japanese-inspired elements: a miso butter-wash clarification, bright yuzu, Japanese-filter maple and orange bitters. Sagar finished the drink with a crispy lavas garnish dressed in yuzumiso and served it in a Japanese pot with a sake cup, a presentation that underlined both the cocktail’s cultural reference points and its delicate balance. His nuanced understanding of flavour layering and presentation earned him the top prize of ₹30,000.

Saurabh Rana captured the first runner-up place with ‘Pahadi Chhuin’, a cocktail that evoked the Himalayan air through a decadent mix of dark chocolate wash, Boho whisky, malta marmalade, spiced syrup and a saline touch. He took home a prize of ₹25,000

Guest Service Supervisor at The Oberoi, Gurgaon, Mohit Sindhu, claimed the second runner-up position place with ‘Pumpkin Solstice,’ a festive composition of Boho Premium Blended Whisky, roasted pumpkin, vanilla cordial, orange, ginger, and lemon extracts. Showcasing artistry in both concept and serve, Mohit presented his drink inside little hollowed-out Jack-o’-lantern pumpkins, creating a visual ode to the Halloween season. The cocktail’s warm spice and bright citrus harmonised beautifully with the whisky’s nutty depth. His inventive presentation and balance of flavours won him ₹20,000.

The Jury’s Choice Award was presented to Krish Vij of the Bar Academy of Doon for ‘Unspoken Harmony’, a restrained, texturally nuanced cocktail that paired Boho Premium Blended Whisky with sous-vide pineapple juice, honey, lime and a dash of Angostura bitters, earning him ₹15,000.

The awards and cash prizes were given by Williams Devadass, Senior Vice President, ADS Spirits Pvt. Ltd. amidst loudest cheers from the peers and guests

Amid roaring applause from industry icons, the Spiritz BarCraft Challenge 2025 raised a toast not just to its champions, but to a new wave of bartenders transforming the face of Indian mixology. The competitors pushed whisky into surprising territories, proving spirit-forward cocktails can be both inventive and accessible.