Madira: India’s Forgotten Spirits and Cocktail Revival

Madira is not just a cocktail book; it is a journey into India’s forgotten and overlooked drinking heritage, stretching from the forests of Central India to the coastal homes of Goa. Through 101 recipes and rich cultural notes, Parag A. Shastry reveals how indigenous ingredients, rituals, and memories can inspire a distinctly Indian approach to mixology. The book uncovers lost traditions of fermentation, local spirits, and region-led cocktails shaped by season, emotion, and place. Each drink is rooted in cultural stories, reimagining the glass not merely as a vessel, but as a storyteller of India’s diverse drinking customs. Standing at the intersection of heritage and innovation, Madira is part recipe book, part cultural archive, and a bold invitation for those who believe India’s spirit deserves its own voice.