Facing The Float: My Deep-Dive Into India’s Prettiest Yet Trickiest Cocktail Trend
There’s a moment in every cocktail lover’s journey when you’re presented with a drink so visually stunning, it feels almost too pretty to sip. My moment came at a popular progressive Indian cuisine restaurant in Pune—in a lane in Koregaon Park, where the trendiest new restaurants and cocktail bars making a national, if not global, splash, are located—where a young and enthusiastic bartender placed in front of me a glass topped with a golden saffron foam. It shimmered in the candlelight, the liquid layers glinting like a jewel. “That’s one of our signature cocktails, Sone Ki Chidiya,” he said with a knowing smile. I nodded back, pretending I knew exactly what that meant.
Reader, I did not.
Over the past year, float cocktails have been cropping up on menus from Delhi and Mumbai’s trendiest bars and Pune’s modern cocktail bars to Kolkata’s classic cocktail lounges. Their visual drama—thanks to vibrant layers, delicate foams, and gravity-defying garnishes—makes them catnip for food influencers and amateur mixologists alike. But here’s the thing nobody tells you: they’re surprisingly complicated to drink.
And so began my somewhat clumsy—but very illuminating—journey to understand the float cocktail. Because if you’re anything like me, raised on the simplicity of a well-balanced whisky sour cocktail or the honest sourness of a classic margarita cocktail, this new era of “layered mixology” can feel both mesmerising and mildly intimidating.
First Sips Of Floats: A Clumsy Start
The float in Pune was just the beginning for me. In Delhi’s ever popular Sidecar, I encountered Cilantro–a cocktail crafted with tequila that resonated with familiar flavours of coriander, cumin, tomato, mango and lassi (yes, can you imagine?). Once again, I was taken by the visual and flavour appeal of the cocktail, but fumbled when coping with the foam.
My tryst with float cocktails continued as I travelled across the country to taste curated menus in Mumbai, Pune and Kolkata. Forget cocktail bars (those are meant to present the most innovative cocktails after all), but even progressive Indian cuisine restaurants with young and unique chefs are now putting curated cocktails on their menus, and float cocktails seem to be a must-have! All these float cocktails are exquisite to look at, thoughtfully crafted, and yes—challenging in their own ways.
What united all these drinks wasn’t just the presence of a foam or a pretty upper layer, but a shift in how mixologists are thinking. “We’re not just shaking and pouring anymore,” one bartender at a Delhi bar explained to me. “We’re creating experiences—layers, contrasts, textures. The float isn’t a gimmick. It’s part of the story of the drink.”
But when I pressed him on how exactly to drink it—spoon first? Straw? Sip and swirl?—he paused. “Well… that depends.”
The Art And Science Of The Float
Turns out, the float cocktail is a delicate balance of density and technique. The “float” itself could be anything from a clarified juice or spirit, to a flavoured foam made using egg whites, aquafaba, or lecithin. These are often added last and rest atop the main body of the cocktail due to being lighter in density.
In the best-case scenario, the float adds a contrasting texture and flavour—perhaps something sweet to balance sourness, or creamy to temper bitterness. In less ideal cases (which I experienced more than once), you end up drinking all the foam first and being left with a rather plain base. That’s when it hit me: appreciating a float cocktail isn’t just about admiring it—it’s about learning how to drink it.
So… How Do You Actually Drink a Float Cocktail?
After embarrassing myself more than once by licking foam off the rim like it was whipped cream on a milkshake (a moment of reflection I wish to never repeat), I decided it was time to ask the experts.
Here’s what I learnt:
1. There’s No Shame In Asking: No question is too basic. I’ve found that most bartenders are excited to explain their craft and walk you through the flavour profile, especially when a float is involved.
2. Don’t Stir Unless Instructed: Many floats are designed to provide a journey of flavour. Stirring right away defeats the point. Always ask the bartender how the drink is meant to be consumed.
3. Take a Gentle First Sip: Tilt the glass just enough to get both the float and the layer underneath. Tilting your head back a little also helps. A small sip helps your palate pick up the contrast—especially in drinks with foam and spirit-forward bases.
4. Use the Straw Sparingly (If Provided): If your cocktail comes with a straw, it’s likely for accessing the lower layers towards the end. Use it only after you’ve experienced the float layer a few times.
5. Go Slow and Be Mindful: These aren’t cocktails that you consume quickly while dancing–in fact, you’ll find the best float cocktails are served at bars and restaurants that take their food and beverage services and craft very, very seriously. The visual appeal is matched by thoughtful flavour composition. The pleasure lies in taking your time and sipping responsibly.
Why They Appeal (And Why That’s Okay)
As someone who typically leans towards more classic, clean-spirited drinks, I didn’t expect to fall in love with float cocktails. But I’ve come to appreciate their ambition. They encourage us to slow down, to savour and to engage. They make the cocktail itself part of the table conversation.
And in a world increasingly obsessed with the visual, float cocktails strike a balance between art and taste. They’re engineered for the 'gram, yes, but many of them also show serious depth and creativity—especially when grounded in familiar flavours from Indian kitchens or being posited as a part of a highly curated food and beverage experience at a new-age restaurant.
But I also understand the hesitation. Not everyone wants a foamy drink. Some find them impractical, others too theatrical. That’s completely fine. The beauty of today’s Indian cocktail culture is that there’s space for both—the minimal and the maximal, the shaken and the floated. So the next time you’re faced with a tall, foamy number with dried citrus perched precariously on top or a foam that’s sparkling, aromatic and gravity defying, don’t panic. Take a moment, ask about the float, sip gently, and discover a little something new.
Also Read: Summer ready cocktails to raise a glass this World Cocktail Day
*Drink Responsibly. This article is intended for audiences above the age of 25.
