Home>Blog>JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll to host World Class India 2025 winner for cocktail takeover
21 May 2026
JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll to host World Class India 2025 winner for cocktail takeover
JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort will host an immersive three-night cocktail experience from 17 to 19 June 2026, bringing internationally recognised mixologists Navjot Singh and Nakul Dev to the Maldives for a curated beverage collaboration centred on tropical flavours, storytelling and ingredient-driven mixology.
For beverage professionals, bartenders and hospitality teams in the Maldives, the collaboration highlights the growing importance of destination-led cocktail programming and experiential beverage concepts within luxury resorts.
The guest bartender series will be led by Navjot Singh, Beverage Program Leader at Lair Bar, which was ranked No. 8 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 list. Navjot was also recently named World Class India 2025, strengthening his profile within the international cocktail industry.
Joining him is Nakul Dev, Senior Bartender at Lair Bar, whose cocktail style is influenced by the ingredients and flavours of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. With more than six years of experience in hospitality and mixology, Nakul is known for ingredient-focused drinks inspired by regional produce and contemporary flavour development techniques.
The three-night takeover will take place across several venues at the resort, each built around a distinct cocktail concept and atmosphere.
At Nikkei Bar, guests will experience a sunset activation featuring tropical cocktails paired with interactive beverage experiences designed around island-inspired flavours and presentation.
Wahoo Bar will host a beachfront cocktail evening combining curated tropical drinks with sunset service and relaxed coastal dining experiences.
The final event will take place at JW Garden, where the resort will present a “Garden to Glass” concept focused on locally grown ingredients including basil, lemongrass and pandan. The activation will highlight sustainability, ingredient sourcing and botanical-driven cocktail development, areas that are becoming increasingly important within contemporary beverage programmes across luxury hospitality.
The collaboration reflects a wider trend among Maldives resorts to position bars and beverage experiences as standalone attractions, with increasing focus on storytelling, sustainability, local ingredients and guest interaction.
Commenting on the partnership, General Manager Srikanth Devarapalli said the event aligns with the resort’s focus on immersive luxury experiences.
“We are thrilled to welcome Navjot Singh to JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort for this exclusive guest bartender series,” he said.
“His expertise, creativity, and dedication to craft reflect our commitment to offering guests immersive moments that are aligned with our philosophy of contemporary luxury.”
Through collaborations with internationally recognised bartenders and award-winning bars, resorts in the Maldives continue to expand their beverage offerings beyond traditional cocktail service, introducing guests to more specialised and experience-driven mixology concepts.
