Yuletide Cocktails for a Very Merry Christmas at Shakinah

It’s that most wonderful time of the year again! We cannot wait to welcome our patrons into our restaurant for cheerful lunches and dinners, where you can toast the end of a fruitful year with an Indian feast ready to be shared and devoured at your table. As always, we have a cocktail menu for every occasion, and this year’s selection is a hands-on homage of all things Christmas. We’ve really focused on the festive flavours, and reinterpreted them as celebratory libations to colour your evening with us. We’re curious to see which of these will be the top favourite for the season… but then again, we welcome you to try and enjoy them all!

Down the Chimney

This is a tipple that’s worthy enough to be left out for Santa. Down the Chimney is a clarified gingerbread milk punch, featuring mint candy-infused tequila and a good squeeze of lime juice. For its festive notes, we’ve mixed apple spiced rum, milk and gingerbread syrup. As a tribute to Father Christmas himself, the foam was directly inspired by his trademark fluffy beard – it’s a flurry of apple juice, Bergamot Liqueur, egg whites, and fresh lime juice. We finish it with a yuletide garnish of dried apple chip, mint top, and cinnamon powder.

The Pumpkin King

Some of us had a really great time at Halloween… and indulged in too many pumpkin spiced lattes. Therefore, we felt this flavour merited a cocktail. We’ve infused our tequila with high-quality pumpkin spice syrup, and added a splash of milk. To give it a Christmas kick, we’ve added lime curd as well as lime juice. The Pumpkin King is clarified and garnished with a vanilla-flavoured bubble and pumpkin chips.

Can’t Stop the Beet

We love all things red and crimson at this time of year. This velvety shake features luscious beetroot purée mixed with our Tequila, Mescal, and festive Fig Liqueur. We then jazz it up with fresh lime juice and Paragon Pepper. It’s a Christmas feast, if you will. We let it snow atop this cocktail with a foam of mint coriander, fluffy egg whites, Himalayan pink salt, and fresh lime juice, and garnish with a fresh fig and beetroot chip. Happy holidays!

 

Spirits in the Sky – Our Summer Cocktail Menu

Inspired by the heavens and the vastness of the stratosphere, our spirits in the sky present delectable tastes and sensations that will take you from one skyline to the next. This year’s summer cocktail menu offers a celestial theme to our patrons, one that has been crafted with vibrant colours and dreamy textures in mind.

We’ve naturally gone for refreshing and zesty flavours for this selection, but we haven’t scrimped on other gastronomic surprises to tickle your tastebuds. We’ve played with salty and spicy sensations, as well as herbaceous and complex notes for an out-of-this-world cocktail experience.

Mango-colada

This is our Indian take on the classic colada. A shot of Malibu rum is velvetised with milk, coconut purée and mango syrup. We then zest this creamy delight with fresh lime juice and bitters. This beautiful cocktail is finally clarified and smoked with roses, then adorned with a solid chia seed ice cube.

Tasting notes: Tropical smooth, fruity sweet and tangy.

Citrus Sky

Forever loyal to the citrus notes of summer, our Citrus Sky is a premium vodka infused with paradiso tea, then flavoured with lime curd and three drops of magic XX1 bitters. For an extra layer of zest, we finish it off with a good squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Tasting notes: Sweet and sour, tangy and zesty.

Himalayan Dreams

Our Himalayan Dreams is so delectable, you’ll be dreaming about it all summer. This is one of our gourmand cocktails, where fruitiness meets a touch of savoury. We layer a shot of gin with Italicus Rosolio Bergamot Liqueur, as well as paragon berry. This is then seasoned with fresh basil, fresh lime juice and a pinch of pink Himalayan salt for a saline sensation.

Tasting notes: Herbaceous and citrusy, refreshing but complex.

Watermelon Dishoom

What’s summer in Malta without a slice of watermelon to refresh the body and soul? We make the most of the season’s produce by blending freshly crushed watermelon with tequila, and this is then infused with fresh mint leaves and squeezed lime juice.

Tasting notes: Tropical and smooth, fruity sweet and tangy.

The King’s Beer

Long live the king! We’ve merged tequila with a classic Corona beer, and then mixed these with passion fruit and our homemade tamarind syrup. We finally season with a pinch of salt and fresh red chilli, and then top everything with fresh lime juice.

Tasting notes: Zesty, mildly spiced, tropical and bitter.

Orchard Burst

This is our decadent choice for the season. We’ve taken a shot of smooth port and sweetened it with paragon rue berry. We then layer it with XX1 bitters, gingerbread syrup and fresh lime juice. How naughty.

Tasting notes: Rich, sour and complex.

Our Shakinah Summer Dishes for 2023

It’s barbecue season, and we’re serving it up the Indian way. You could say that Indian cuisine has a perennial barbecue element to it, thanks to the charry and smoky flavour the tandoor delivers to meats, seafood, vegetables and paneer. But there’s so much more to savour in the summertime when it comes to Indian food. Think fresh flavours, tangy accompaniments and fruity sensations. Here are some of our recommendations:

Raita

Start off with your constants. Inevitably, you will encounter some level of spice with every Indian meal, so it’s best to have a cooling agent at the ready, not just because it’ll help with the heat, but also because it’s absolutely delicious. Raita is a fresh and summery mixture of cool and thick yoghurt, textured with chopped cucumber, fresh coriander and sometimes tomato. Feel free to add a spoonful of it to temper your curry sauce.

Khachumbar Salad

There’s no summer without salad, and never underestimate its presence at the barbecue table. Our Khachumbar Salad is a colourful mixture of fresh and crunchy garden greens seasoned with Indian spices to add even more vibrancy to your meal.

Malai Tikka

If you’re after a milder experience but with just as much flavour, you must try our nutty-licious Malai Tikka. We marinade our chicken overnight in a creamy and decadent mixture of almond and cashew nut paste infused with yoghurt. This is then beautifully charred on our tandoor.

Mango Lassi

Wash down your Indian barbecue – and mellow that intense level of spice – with a delicious swig of mango lassi. Freshly made in our kitchen, our Mango Lassi is dangerously addictive, and tastes like a summer smoothie packed with probiotics, protein and vitamins. It’s a glass of sunshine!

Saffron Tikka

A dish that’s as golden as the sun. Few flavours match the might of saffron, and who says that such an opulent ingredient shouldn’t feature in a barbecue-inspired supper? Our recipe is quite simple: saffron, coriander and yoghurt are left to marinade our chicken overnight, and the tandoor is left to work its charry magic.

Coconut & Peshwari Naan

It’s a barbecue; you’ve got to have some carbs. Our coconut and Peshwari naans have an added summer flavour with their tropical fillings, and make for a wonderful form of edible crockery to your main dishes. Scoop up some lovely protein or sauce with your naan for some good eating.

Prawns Koliwada

It stands to reason that the fishing village of Koliwada is where this dish had originated from. This delicious street food is made of freshly sourced prawns coated in a heavily spiced and deep-fried batter. Be warned: this is one of our spiciest dishes, and it is not for the faint-hearted. However, the final kick of flavour is totally worth it, and that’s why you’ve ordered raita and lassi.

Mint Kulcha

If you’d like to experience something slightly different to naan, we recommend kulcha as a barbecue alternative. Kulcha is somewhat denser than naan but still comes with a soft and white texture. We especially recommend our kulcha garnished and flavoured with mint for an absolute summer vibe.

Pahadi Kebab

Speaking of mint, this classic summer herb is a main feature in our Pahadi marinade. Succulent pieces of chicken are left to soak up the flavours of a beautiful mixture of yoghurt, garlic, coriander, ginger and fresh mint, then cooked in our tandoor to absolute perfection. We also make this with prawns if you’re after a more pescatarian barbecue.

 

 

Shakinah’s Signature Cocktails

As you may know, one of the many jewels in Shakinah’s crown is our mixology team, who are continuously at work behind the bar, concocting unique and nuanced cocktails to be paired with your meal, or to be enjoyed on their own merit. Our seasonal experiments have resulted in some permanent fixtures to our signature portfolio, and remain crowd pleasers to this day. Here’s a breakdown of what tipples we have to offer you all year round:

Chilli Vodka Passion

We’re obviously passionate about our heat, and we haven’t left that out of our cocktail recipes. Chilli Vodka Passion is a fruity and spicy cocktail which teams the briny flavour of vodka with the spice of fresh chillies. This is embellished with Chambord liqueur, juicy passion fruit, and raspberries for body and taste. We then add a zesty layer to the mix with mandarin and fresh lime juice. Let your server know how spicy you like it!

Mumbai Mango Mojito

The national fruit of India takes centre stage in our interpretation of the Mojito. We let freshly blended mango do the talking here, with a generous shot of Malibu coconut rum. This is then merged with mint, fresh lime juice and soda water. This cocktail screams summer sips on hot nights.

Gin Cucumber

This is a minimalist but refreshing cocktail with gin, fresh cucumber, fresh coriander leaves and mint. However, we like to give it an extra layer with apple juice and fresh chillies.

Pink Fusion

It’s as sweet as it looks. Our passion fruit purée is mixed with a raspberry and cranberry-infused vodka, then further sweetened with Gomme syrup. We then fizz things up with a shot of prosecco.

King Chivaji’s Chillies

The king of the cocktail menu. Our King Chivaji’s Chillies is another spicy option for you to try, but with a more complex layering of flavour. There’s an almond note here with smooth Disaronno, which is then spruced up with cranberry syrup, fresh lemon juice and chillies. As a cooling agent, we’ve incorporated an aloe vera and raspberry jelly foam on top.

Kashmir Ginger Fizz

Ginger also makes an appearance in our cocktails, and not just in our curries. We’ve taken a silky dash of honey-flavoured Bourbon and Drambuie, then spritzed it up with ginger ale and fresh lime juice.

Vanilla Chai Espresso Martini

Why have coffee when you can have our elevated espresso? Our take on the Espresso Martini includes a shot of vodka that has been infused with chai vanilla tea. This is then merged with a delicious shot of Frangelico hazelnut liqueur, along with the espresso shot itself. The final embellishments are a sprinkle of pink Himalayan rock salt and cinnamon ground powder.

Gin-ger Bread Fusion

Naugh-tea but nice! Our Gin-ger Bread Fusion is as good as it sounds. We’ve taken a shot of gin-infused earl grey tea, and given it a whirl of egg whites and gingerbread syrup. For zest, you’ll find fresh lemon juice as well as fresh mint.

Ginger Fizz Mocktail

If you’re looking for the theatre of cocktails but without the booze, we’ve got you covered. Our Kashmir Ginger Fizz also comes as a non-alcoholic alternative, with just gingerbread syrup, lime juice, mint, apple juice and soda water.

Berries and Green Tea Mocktail

Our second mocktail is an incredible blend of green tea, passion fruit purée, lime juice and fresh berries. Simple, yet so satisfying.

SHAKINAH’S WINTER TIPPLES ❄️ 🍹

SHAKINAH’S WINTER TIPPLES

At Shakinah, we take our cocktails seriously, and in our mixology corner, it’s any excuse for new concoctions. Our seasonal cocktail menus are a hotly-anticipated event, and we do our best to create beverages that reflect our restaurant’s chic and joyous atmosphere, as well as our favourite and freshest ingredients. 

As it’s now a time for merriment, we’ve come up with a yet another festive cocktail menu packed with flavour, theatre and gusto. Here’s a preview of what we have to offer this winter:

Chai Time

India is the real home of good tea, so what better way to celebrate this centuries-old tradition than to pay homage to one of the strongest leaves out there? The main ingredient in Chai Time is black tea, sweetened with marzipan and then infused with tequila. Some people have a slice of lemon with their brew; we’ve added a good squeeze of lime juice. Poured into our tasteful set of patterned bone China, our Chai Time is then topped with a flurry of egg whites and cherry purée. Expect smooth marzipan notes with a well-balanced sweet and sour tone. 


Kerala Cooler

Kerala is an expansive stretch of land on the east coast of Southern India. A tropical paradise in its own right, our Kerala Cooler was inspired by this glorious part of the world; who says you can’t have a tropical Christmas? We’ve combined Cointreau and Tequila as our boozy base, mixed with a luscious purée of coconut, lime juice and morsels of fresh chilli. This is then poured into a crystal goblet with glossy ice cubes, and then topped with a coconut and cherry purée foam. Get ready for some heat, citrusy sourness and floral notes, tempered by fruity cloud.

Cranberry Mahal Mule

Our Cranberry Mahal Mule is sensationally sour, featuring a fresh blend of cranberries, freshly squeezed lime and pure ginger. The kick finally comes from a serving of vodka with ginger ale. This mildly spicy, light and refreshing beverage is served in our Frida Kahlo glass.

Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice

How’s this for a cup of cocoa? This is a time for all things cosy and comforting, and we can’t have Christmas without a little richness. We take the holy matrimony between spiced chocolate and a velvety vanilla liquor, and jazz it up with Frangelico for a hint of hazelnut, and spiced rum for a dash of warmth. We then pour this into a homely pastel mug, and top it with whipped cream, toasted mini marshmallows, and Lotus biscuits. This is an inviting, creamy and mildly spiced dessert cocktail.

The 24 Karat

If there’s ever a time to decadent, it’s Christmas. The 24 Karat is a nod to the Golden Temple of Punjab, atop its shimmering pool. You’ll find this cocktail to be mildly spicy, with hints of orange zest and bittersweet notes. We’ve infused a good dash of Aperol with cinnamon, and married it with Money 47 sloe gin. This is then dressed with gingerbread syrup and lime juice, and poured into a delicate whiskey glass and a giant ice cube. We finish it off with a cloud of egg whites and chili, and garnish the ice with a serving of gold leaf. Well, what else?

From Worcester to West Bengal

This is our take on a Bloody Mary. A lot of our curries are tomato-based, so why shouldn’t we translate this into one of our cocktails? We’ve gone for the classic tomato juice base, and added vodka that’s been infused with garlic and chilli, much like the start of most good dishes. We then season the concoction with lemon juice, a dash of Worcester sauce and Tabasco sauce for a savoury flavour.

An Indian Barbecue at Cocktail Hour

Fancy the flavour of barbecue, but not in the mood to sit outside for it in the sweltering heat? We have a solution that comes with an Indian twist. The smoky scent of our tandoori dishes is reminiscent of the Mediterranean barbecue waft, and our summer cocktail menu is generous and plentiful. Here at Shakinah, you can have your barbecue and eat it.   

Our team will be more than happy to curate the perfect summer meal for you. Our summer cocktail menu features refreshing beverages that are the perfect antidote to the hot weather. Enjoy fashionable fruits, herbs, spices and liqueurs blended and poured into the most unorthodox and Instagrammable glassware you’ll ever come across. Ordering a cocktail at Shakinah is a theatrical experience, and it’s all the more heightened by a sizzling and colourful spread of food to go with it.

Here are a few of our favourite culinary and cocktail pairings for that Indian barbecue vibe we promised you:

Tandoori King Prawns and Strawberry Garden

What a red-hot pairing. Hues of fuchsia will adorn your table here, with our tandoori prawns beautifully barbecued crimson. Meanwhile, the Strawberry Garden is a fruity concoction of crushed strawberries, vodka, elderflower, basil and mint.

Chicken Tikka Masala and Aperol Foam Bomb

No Aperol, no party, but this is our interpretation on the coveted summer bitter. Enjoy a heightened Aperol and Chambord with cinnamon, tequila, passion fruit purée, and a hint of red chilli. As there is a little bit of fire to this cocktail, we recommend pairing it with a mellow and creamy chicken in a tomato and cashew sauce.

cocktails malta

Vegetarian Nibbles with Gin Cucumber

A selection of our meat-free starters are an eclectic and filling option for a more convivial and shared experience at the table. We cannot but champion our deconstructed onion bhaji, cumin-infused vegetable samosas and cheese corn marbles for a mild dinner. We recommend pairing this trio with this season’s signature cocktail, the Gin Cucumber. We’ve given this drink a beautiful fiery kick with green chillies, but you’re nonetheless guaranteed a refreshingly zen beverage with apple juice, mint, fresh cucumber and coriander leaves.

Shakinah King Prawns and Banana & Coconut Elegance

There’s always time for curry and the sea. Our inhouse Shakinah king prawns is a dish inspired by a North Indian recipe, with a rich and spicy sauce thickened by unctuous lentils. This dish is on the spicy side, so you might want to opt for our equally rich but mellow banana & Coconut Elegance. Our creamy cocktail is enhanced with white rum, fresh lime juice, tamarind syrup and cumin for a tropical finish to your meal.

cocktails in malta

Tandoori Chicken and A King’s Beer

Talk about a match made in barbecue heaven. Our tandoori chicken is presented to you as it’s still sizzling barbecue aromas, and the ruby red coating promises succulence, flavour and the right amount of crispiness. Order this timeless classic with a side of coconut naan for dipping, and wash it down with our own elevated Corona that is mixed with passion fruit purée, tamarind syrup and a pinch of cumin.

Pahadi Kebab and Watermelon Martini

Skewered chicken is always a good idea, especially when steeped in a fresh herb marinade. Our Pahadi kebab is dressed in mint, yoghurt, plenty of garlic and ginger for a savoury flavour, and a good kick of coriander. Temper the latter with a good swig of our Watermelon Martini, which is a minimalist cocktail/smoothie of blended chunks of fresh watermelon, prosecco and vodka.

martini malta

Our Summer Cocktail Menu

This is how we freshen up our guests after a hot stroll along the Ta’ Xbiex promenade.

Defined not just by our elevated dishes but also by our curated inhouse beverages, Shakinah is proud to present a spanking new cocktail menu for Summer 2022. With every season comes a blank canvas for our ingredients to be shaken, stirred, crushed and chilled, all to be served in a theatrical selection of glassware. The latest collection from our mixology team is no exception. Good luck with trying to pick a favourite:

Banana & Coconut Elegance

A tropical match made in heaven, the Banana and Coconut Elegance is a cocktail that shows up in Cinderella’s glass slipper. Served in a ceramic stiletto, we’ve cut through the mellow sweetness of banana and coconut with white rum and a good squeeze of fresh lime juice. There’s also a savoury kick to this cocktail with a cumin & tamarind syrup, adding to the cocktail’s creamy texture. The coconut makes its grand entrance on top of the glass in a foam fur coat. 

cocktails in malta

Aperol Foam Bomb

No Aperol, no party. No self-respecting Mediterranean would leave Aperol out of their summer itinerary, so we’ve engineered our own take on the Italian bitter, lest anyone complains. We’ve infused our Aperol with a good sprinkle of cinnamon, and merged it with tequila and Chambord. This has been delectably diluted with an indulgent passion fruit purée, and fried up with a hint of red chilli. We’ve also made use again of our inhouse coconut foam as a topping, garnished with a mini raspberry kebab. 

cocktails malta

A King’s Beer

Who said beers don’t belong on a cocktail menu? The King’s Beer is an elevated Corona, and his queen is tequila. These two alcohols are mixed with a passion fruit purée, as well as our cumin & tamarind syrup. Topped with a slice of passion fruit, the liquid is seasoned with a pinch of salt and red chilli. And don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten the lime. The final flurry includes a good squeeze of fresh lime juice.

cocktail malta

Watermelon Martini

We’ve kept it quite simple with this one. Of course, we couldn’t not make use of our beloved signature watermelon at Shakinah; it’s simply timeless. We’ve essentially juiced the freshest watermelon slices and shaken with some good quality prosecco and vodka. It’s minimal, but a winning combination nonetheless. In keeping with the tropical theme, the Watermelon Martini is served in a pink flamingo glass.

martini malta

Strawberry Garden

“Tastes like strawberries on a summer evening…” That’s because they are fresh strawberries, Mr Styles. We’ve sourced the best local strawberries in Malta, and juiced them with vodka. We’ve also added an aromatically sweet layer with elderflower, basil and mint. And in case you haven’t had enough pink, we garnish this cocktail with candyfloss on ice and serve it in a giant ceramic strawberry.

strawberry cocktail

Shakinah’s Raspberry Fizz

Sweet and sour is one of our go-to sensations when curating our cocktail menu, and Shakinah’s Raspberry Fizz is certainly one of those beverages. The sweetness comes from the matrimony of Chambord and raspberry purée, but we’ve zested it up with gin, fresh cucumber, lime juice and soda water. We did also go a step further by adding red chilli, to keep things interesting.

gin cocktail

Watermelon Dishoom

It’s back. We just couldn’t let go of our bestseller, and we feel it’s here to stay. If you haven’t tried it already, the Watermelon Dishoom is sure to give you a sugar high, but in the right way. We mix freshly crushed watermelon with tequila, and infuse it with fresh mint leaves and squeezed lime juice.

Tequila cocktail

Gin Cucumber

The Gin Cucumber is our signature cocktail of the season. We’ve created a balanced flavour that is refreshing but mildly spicy. Our gin of choice is dressed with apple juice, mint, fresh cucumber, coriander leaves and green chilli. Very zen.

gin

A Collection of Winter Cocktails

A Collection of Winter Cocktails

Looking for a fresh vibe for your cocktail hour this weekend? Shakinah has gone the extra mile to present an exuberant collection of original cocktails, packed with flair, flavour and texture. Curated by our resident mixologists, the Shakinah Winter Cocktail Menu is served in a handmade selection of unique and Instagram-worthy glassware.

King Shivaji’s Chillies

Named after a historical leader in Indian lore, our King Shivaji pays tribute to the culture of heat and spice in Indian cuisine. A concoction of sweet and sour notes, cranberry syrup is teamed with freshly squeezed lemon juice and fresh chillies, topped onto a double shot of Disaronno. The mixture is then dry shaken with cloudy egg whites to merge everything together. We like to serve King Shivaji’s Chillies in our David glass with a garnish of fresh cranberries and lemon zest.

Sweet City

Here’s a lesson for 2022: Everyone should drink straight out of a miniature bathtub for once in their lives. And if it’s to be any liquid, it ought to be Shakinah’s Sweet City. Served with a shot of Prosecco and raspberry on the side, Sweet City is a sweet and creamy cocktail that sets its own little scene of luxury. Foamed for that bubble bath finish, this is garnished with finely chopped rose petals and smooth crystal ice cubes. For its alcoholic base, our mixologists have opted for Sailor Jerry Rum (vanilla and cinnamon notes) and that quintessential raspberry liqueur, Chambord.

Shakinah’s Pumpkin Spice

We couldn’t present a winter menu without having a pumpkin staple in the list. Proving to be incredibly popular among our regular clientele, our Pumpkin Spice is packed with flavour and a heady texture. Presenting the sweet flavours of molasses, cinnamon, ginger and clove through Kraken Spiced Rum, the blend includes almond and vanilla milk, golden honey syrup and a pumpkin spice mix. Naturally, we’ve topped this with pumpkin seeds for that extra crunch.

Gin-ger Bread Fusion

We don’t mind milking the Christmas flavours throughout the rest of the winter period. Our Gin-ger Bread Fusion is a sour and creamy fluid of naughty niceness, served in a blush pink Christmas stocking, because why not? Bombay Sapphire Gin is infused with earl grey tea, gingerbread syrup, fresh lemon juice and mint leaves then well shaken with a delightful mixture of cloudy egg whites and a few drops of angostura bitters. We’re not afraid to be decadent at Shakinah.

Emperor Akbar’s Caramel Coffee Deluxe

We suggest you leave this one for afters. Our rich and sweet caffeine option comes with a coffee liqueur base, coupled with a serving of vodka and a fresh shot of espresso. Emperor Akbar offers a generous helping of caramel syrup and a pinch of pink Himalayan salt. This is also served with a cheeky side of sweet and salty popcorn.

Cranberry Mahal Mule

 

Our feisty thirst quencher comes adorned in our Frida glass, and encompasses all that is beautifully sour. The Cranberry Mahal Mule combines the sour classics of freshly blended cranberries, freshly squeezed lime and fresh ginger. These are then amalgamated with a serving of vodka and ginger ale. We recommend this tasty concoction at the start of your meal to whet your appetite.

Mulled Cider

Our mulled cider or wine is our very own mystery basket. Ask your server what we have on offer on the daily!