Everyone's Swapping Rum For This Ancient Indian Drink — Have You Tried Mahura Yet?

Sitting next to the window and enjoying the rain with a sip of alcohol and some fried snacks is the classic monsoon vibe for every Mumbaikar right now. This season, instead of your usual rum and coke, why not pour yourself a glass of Mahura? Sip it neat or craft an aesthetic cocktail — either way, the weather is definitely calling for something special.

Mahura, also known as Mahua or Mahuda, isn’t new to India. In fact, it’s ancient. Distilled from the flowers of the Mahua tree that blooms only once a year, it has long been part of tribal traditions and rural celebrations. But for decades, Mahura was dismissed as "country liquor," a term born from colonial-era attitudes that pushed indigenous drinks to the margins.

Today, that narrative is shifting. Mahura is re-emerging as a premium spirit that captures the earthy essence of India's forests. Delicate and unique, it carries floral notes, dried fruit sweetness, and a subtle warmth that makes it an ideal sip when the skies are grey.

"When you think of the monsoon, you think of that earthiness — a time to slow down and reconnect with nature. Six Brothers Mahura fits right into that feeling," says Rupi Chinoy, Director at South Seas Distilleries, the company bottling Mahura for modern palates.

Calling it "a symbol of India's rich cultural heritage and traditional craftsmanship," she adds, "It’s made entirely from Mahura flowers deeply rooted in our lands, and is incredibly versatile–great in people’s favourite cocktails or just sipped over the rocks."

Despite being seasonal, the spirit is available year-round. The flowers are collected, sun-dried, and stored to allow controlled distillation in small batches. This maintains the integrity of the spirit while working within the natural limits of the raw ingredient.

Dried Mahura Flower

While India has a whiskey-and-rum dominated alco-bev space, Rupi tells us that Mahura is standing out, with a growing curiosity among consumers for locally sourced, exquisite spirits.

“Like Scotch to Scotland, tequila to Mexico, and Cognac to France, Mahura is carving a space as India’s native spirit, distinct in origin and taste… A gift from India to the world.”

The spirit’s uniqueness is turning heads at bars and finding a place in India’s evolving cocktail culture, with mixologists embracing Mahura as a soulful, homegrown ingredient.

Mixologists see Mahura as more than just a drink— a story of revival. From being shunned under British rule to now appearing on menus at premium bars across Maharashtra, it represents a comeback.

Raviraj Shetty, bar manager at Bandra Born, describes Six Brothers Mahura as a one-of-a-kind spirit. He says, “Its flavour and aroma are unique and desirable — sweet, earthy, with hints of dried fruits and a touch of spice.” They point out that it is the platinum filtration that gives the drink a silky texture and a smooth, crisp finish.

Rupi adds that her go-to cocktail to enjoy the soothing notes of Mahura comes with a punch of guava, not a guava martini, but “Guava Mahtini.”

Six Brothers Mahura is now poured at top bars like Bandra Born, Waarsa, Mescalita, Mekong at the St Regis Mumbai, The Dome Intercontinental - Marine drive, Bombay Daak, and Grand Hyatt, among others.

Whether you’re sipping it at home or at your nearby bar, Mahura brings a little magic to every glass. This monsoon, maybe all you need is a glass of Mahura, some pakoras, and a little nostalgia to enjoy the rain. Cheers!

Available in two editions, the exclusive 1922 Resurrection is limited to 102 bottles and priced at ₹1,02,000 each, while the more accessible Small Batch is priced at ₹2,500.

The Mahura tree—known as the “Wishing Tree”—is said to symbolize prosperity, abundance, and the power to grant wishes. When it bloomed this year, I had the chance to enjoy Mahura and its cocktails right under the shade of this tree in Dahanu—a perfect moment where culture and flavour came alive.

Six Brothers Mahura Mahua Picante - Jungle Heatwave - Landscape

Guava Mahtini

Bright and tangy, the Guava Mahtini showcases the versatile, smooth and sophisticated character of Six Brothers Mahura (Mahua), India’s first luxury heritage spirit. This refreshing cocktail combines fresh guava juice and zesty lime with a subtle touch of sweetness and spice, perfectly balanced by Mahura’s unique flavour. Six Brothers Mahura is a go-to spirit for cocktail enthusiasts looking to elevate their home bar with a proudly Indian and highly versatile spirit. 

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Ingredients: 

• Six Brothers Mahura – 60 ml 

• Guava Juice – 60 ml 

• Lime Juice – 15 ml 

• Simple Syrup – 10 ml 

• Apple slices – thin, for garnish 

• Black Grapes – for garnish 

• Salt and Chilli Powder  

• Ice  

Method: 

• Prepare the glass by running a lime wedge along the rim of the martini glass. Dip the rim in a salt and chilli powder mix.  

• In a shaker, add ice cubes, Six Brothers Mahura, guava juice, lime juice and simple syrup. Shake for 15-20 seconds until well-chilled.  

• Strain and serve the mixture into the prepped Martini glass.  

Garnish: Fan out thin apple slices and secure them with a toothpick, add the black grape at the centre of the toothpick and lace the garnish over the rim of the glass.