India’s bartending scene has found its first Grand Gold Maestro. Yumit Kumar of The First Floor, Delhi, has won the top title at the inaugural Bar Maestro, a nationwide bartending competition by ABD Maestro, in association with Tulleeho Beverage Academy.
The competition concluded at the International Food & Beverage Exhibition (IFBE) in Mumbai, where 16 of India’s leading bartenders came together for the Grand Finale. What followed was an evening filled with creativity, technique and some seriously inventive cocktails.
The final challenge was anything but ordinary. Each bartender had to create an original cocktail inspired by the five elements of nature: Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space. They could choose from three spirits from the ABD Maestro portfolio: WOODBURNS Contemporary Indian Whisky, Rangeela Contemporary Indian Vodka and ZOYA Special Batch Gin.
The challenge gave bartenders plenty of room to experiment. Some brought Earth and Water alive through regional ingredients and familiar flavours, while others used smoke, fire and aromatic techniques to represent Air and Fire. Space, meanwhile, inspired more minimalist and conceptual creations.
But it was Yumit Kumar who stood out.
His winning cocktail brought all five elements together in a single, spirit-forward creation. The judges found the balance particularly impressive, given the complexity of the brief.
For Kumar, the victory was also a return to something simple.
After years of exploring different bartending techniques, he chose simplicity as the foundation for his final creation. Speaking about his win, Kumar said the recognition was special because he was competing alongside some of the finest bartenders in India. He also hoped his approach would encourage other bartenders to trust their instincts and develop their own style.
The competition also awarded two Gold Maestro titles. Delbert D’Costa of Mofo, Goa, and Sandesh Thalang of Sidecar, Delhi, took home the honours.
There was recognition for the hospitality industry beyond individual bartenders too. Houz Cafe, Delhi, was named the outlet with the highest sales nationally during the Bar Maestro journey.
The Grand Finale was judged by an experienced panel comprising Shatbhi Basu, Gresham Fernandes and Vikram Achanta, Founder and CEO of Tulleeho.
Bar Maestro began with a nationwide search for India’s bartending talent. The competition received more than 350 entries from across the country. From these, 160 bartenders were shortlisted for Round 2, where they were evaluated by city-level juries across seven cities. The best 16 then made it to the Mumbai finale.
For ABD Maestro and Tulleeho, the competition is about more than finding a winner. It aims to give bartenders a national platform where their creativity, technical skills and storytelling can take centre stage.
With India’s cocktail culture evolving rapidly, Bar Maestro has arrived at an interesting time. The first edition has shown that the country’s bartenders are not simply mixing drinks. They are experimenting with ingredients, techniques and stories to create experiences of their own.
And at the centre of that journey now stands India’s first Grand Gold Maestro, Yumit Kumar.
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