Other
Yangdup Lama
Bartender
- Discipline
- Other
i. Biography
Training and Lineage
Hospitality training at IAM Kolkata set the operating base for Yangdup Lama: service discipline before bar technique, with the guest experience treated as part of the build rather than an afterthought. In 1995, at the Hyatt Regency Delhi, that base moved into professional service, first as a food and Beverage Server and then behind the bar. Independent bar work in India required both drink-making and structure-building. In 2000, Lama founded Cocktails & Dreams, followed in 2003 by Cocktails & Dreams/Thirsty Three Hospitality, extending the work from service into training, consulting, and hospitality operations. The modern Indian cocktail bar gained a specific platform in 2012 with the co-founding of Cocktails & Dreams Speakeasy in Gurugram. The format placed technique, service, and bar culture in the same room. In 2018, the co-ownership of Sidecar in New Delhi added another venue to that practice. In 2024, the co-founding of The Brook in Gurugram continued the same line of work across hospitality and mixology. “I always say that I am an “Accidental Bartender” rather than a “Bartender by Choice”.” Yangdup has said.
Present Day
Bartending in India, as practiced through Yangdup Lama’s current work, is treated as a profession built on hospitality, staff training, and customer experience. The Brook in Gurugram is one expression of that method, while consulting work and the role of Brand Ambassador for Cointreau in India extend the same trade concerns beyond his own establishments.
Signature
Signature cocktails include Thula.
Credentials
Bar recognition in this case is tied to venue performance, peer visibility, and industry influence. Yangdup Lama’s work was named in Asia's 50 Best Bars in both 2020 and 2021. In 2024, he received the Industry Icon award. He was named Mixologist of the Year in 2022, received the Joint Nikka Highest Climber Award in 2021, and was included in the Bar World 100 list of the most influential people in the global beverage industry in 2020.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Yangdup
Where did Yangdup Lama train or study?
Yangdup Lama trained at IAM Kolkata.
What recognition has Yangdup Lama received?
Asia's 50 Best Bars (2021).
