Cannabis Indica

Yangdup Lama
Lama in his new bar Sidecar, Delhi
Born
Yangdup Lama

NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Mixologist, bartender, entrepreneur, author
Years active1995 - Present
Known for
  • Sidecar: Top 50 bars in Asia
  • Drinks International Magazine: 100 most influential people in the beverage industry
  • India attaché by Tales of the Cocktail New Orleans
  • Indian Bartender of the Year 1996
  • Indian Bartender of the year 1997 under 30
  • American Whiskey Ambassador India 2017 by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS)
  • Cocktails & Dreams/Thirsty Three Hospitality (bar service and beverage consultancy)
  • Cocktails & Dreams Speakeasy (beverage bar)
  • Cocktail and Dreams Beverage Studio (school of bar and beverage management and training)
Notable workCocktails & Dreams: The Ultimate Indian Cocktail Book

Yangdup Lama is bartender, bar-owner, entrepreneur, author and mixologist based in India and is known to be one of India's finest mixologists.[1][2][3]

Lama has been featured by drinks international magazine in the Bar World 100 list of most influential people in the global beverage industry 2020, the first Indian to feature on this list. This follows the feat of having his bar Sidecar win a coveted spot as India's best bar in 2021 and the Asia's 50 Best Bars awards 2020 and 2021 and the Joint Nikka Highest Climber Award 2021.[4][5][6]

Early life[edit]

Lama is the second child born to mother Kamala Lama (Sherpa) and father Late Namgal Lama (Yonzon) in the village of Gayabari near Kurseong in the hill district of Darjeeling in the North Eastern part of India. He completed Secondary School Certification (Class 10th) from Victoria Boys’ School, Kuseong and Senior School Certification (Class 12th) from Army Public School Bengdubi.

Lama moved to Kolkata in 1992 to study Hotel Management after completion of which he moved to Delhi in 1995.[1]

Career[edit]

Sidecar[edit]

Lama is the co-owner of India's best cocktail bar Sidecar (Lama's second bar) in Greater Kailash, New Delhi in 2018.[7][8] Sidecar continues to grow in prominence on the Asian cocktail map and in 2021is named the joint Nikka Highest Climber after rising twenty-four places in the list of Asia's 50 Best Bars since 2020, number 16 in Asia and 4th in world.[9]

In 2020 the William Reed Group ranked Sidecar amongst the top 50 bars in Asia making it the only bar in India to feature in the list.[10][11]

Cocktails & Dreams/Thirsty Three Hospitality[edit]

After serving in Hyatt for four and a half years, Yangdup founded a mobile bar tending service company called Cocktails & Dreams and in September 2003, Cocktails & Dreams/Thirsty Three Hospitality – a bar service and beverage consultancy company. Later he opened a commercial bar called Cocktails & Dreams, Speakeasy in Gurugram (Gurgaun) and also a bar training and beverage management school by the name Cocktail and Dreams Beverage Studio in Delhi.[1][2][12][13][14][15]

Polo Lounge, Hyatt Regency Delhi[edit]

Lama joined the Hyatt Regency Delhi as a food and beverage server in the year 1995 where he took to bar tending and worked at the prestigious Polo Lounge bar in the hotel.[14]

Awards and accolades[edit]

Books[edit]

Cocktails & Dreams: The Ultimate Indian Cocktail Book[21][23][24][25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "This young bartender is planning to open an artisanal bar in Delhi". India Today. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  2. ^ a b c "Young Turks - Yangdup Lama". youngturks.in.com. Archived from the original on 2009-10-06. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  3. ^ Borah, Prabalika M. (2020-05-21). "All about Sidecar, the only Indian bar in Asia's Best 50 list, and its creator". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-03-21.
  4. ^ a b Shobita Dhar (September 13, 2020). "Delhi mixologist debuts on list of world's top bars | Delhi News". The Times of India. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  5. ^ "Drink International Supplement". edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  6. ^ a b "Amid crisis in dining and drinking industry, a Delhi bar enters Asia's best 50 list". The Week. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  7. ^ "Gorge On Bloody Mary Prawns, Doughnut Toast & Much More At Sidecar - LBB". Dailyhunt. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  8. ^ "Mixologist Yangdup Lama Shares Tips on How to Appreciate Alcoholic Drinks". www.franchiseindia.com. 2019-02-27. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  9. ^ a b c "Sidecar". UI - 50B - BARS - ASIA. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  10. ^ Borah, Prabalika M. (2020-05-21). "All about Sidecar, the only Indian bar in Asia's Best 50 list, and its creator". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  11. ^ "Rude Food by Vir Sanghvi: At home with food". Hindustan Times. 2020-06-28. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  12. ^ "Add flair to your bartending". Hipcask. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  13. ^ "Raise the bar". hindustantimes.com. 2009-11-24. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  14. ^ a b "Keep it low, 'speak easy' at Cocktails & Dreams - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  15. ^ "Raising the bar". Deccan Herald. 2017-12-20. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  16. ^ "Behind The Bar: In Conversation With Mixologist Yangdup Lama | Pritisha Borthakur". www.pritishaborthakur.com. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  17. ^ "Yangdup Lama - Tulleeho". Tulleeho. 2017-07-18. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  18. ^ "Behind the Bar". Man's World India. 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  19. ^ Feeds, ANI (2017-10-26). "Distilled Spirits council of the United States hosts 'Great American Whiskey Experience' in Bangalore". India.com. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  20. ^ "Yangdup Lama: The Capital's Ace Mixologist On Shaking Cocktails & Sculpting Dreams". DSSC | The Best of Food, Art & Culture in your city. 2017-11-20. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  21. ^ a b "Raising the bar". Deccan Herald. 2017-12-20. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  22. ^ Roy, Nibedita (2017-10-22). "Mastering the art of mixing & fixing with American Whiskey Ambassador, Yangdup Lama - Indiaretailing.com". Indiaretailing.com. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  23. ^ "Master the cocktail with Yangdup Lama's new book - Indulge". Indulge. 2014-05-16. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  24. ^ Lama, Yangdup; Chaturvedi, Gitanjali (2014-06-02). Cocktails & Dreams. Wisdom Tree. ISBN 9788183283502.
  25. ^ Noble, Barnes &. "Cocktails & Dreams: The Ultimate Indian Cocktail Book". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved 2018-07-18.

External links[edit]

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