Bacardi, the family-owned spirits company, has strengthened its investment in hospitality talent development in India, with 57 aspiring professionals trained through its Shake Your Future programme in 2026 following the completion of its fourth cohort in Kolkata.
Organised in partnership with Bar Kala Academy, the programme provides unemployed and underrepresented young adults with career-oriented training in bartending and mixology. Participants undergo 10 days of immersive training covering beverage basics, mixology, flairing, personal branding, social media and communication, followed by three weeks of on-the-job industry exposure. Bacardi also facilitates placement opportunities through its hospitality industry network.
Radhika Tomar, HR Director (INDSEA) at Bacardi, said the initiative aims to equip aspiring professionals with the skills, confidence and industry connections required to succeed while building a stronger and more diverse talent pipeline.
Since its India launch in 2024, graduates have secured positions at leading establishments domestically and overseas. Alumni include Deepika Shukla of Japonico, Gurugram, Dubai-based Rupali Gaddoo and Pallabi Nath, who leads the bar programme at Sidecar.
In Kolkata, the initiative could strengthen the city’s hospitality talent pool as hotels, restaurants and bars seek trained professionals to improve service quality and diversify beverage offerings. A stronger pipeline of skilled bartenders could also support employment opportunities across the sector.
Bacardi’s Good Spirited initiative will expand further with a dedicated all-women cohort planned in Delhi early next year.
