India, Feb. 6 -- Bartenders across Maharashtra are turning cocktails into stories, blending regional flavours, culinary artistry, and familiar aromas. The result is offbeat drinks that blend chaos, comfort, and creativity in equal measure.

For Maharashtrians, the monsoon carries a sense of romanticism, one that lives in memories of first kisses in the rain and the unmistakable scent of petrichor rising from wet streets.

This emotion finds liquid expression at Scarlett House in Mumbai, which channels the city's monsoon mood through a cocktail crafted with a fusion of jasmine, pandan, coconut water, cacao butter, and charred pineapple. Fay Barretto, Bar Chef at Scarlett House, explains the intent behind the drink: "We hide the unexpected ...