The Story of the Angelfish Cocktail

The Angelfish Cocktail was born many years ago during a memorable afternoon at Anantara Kihavah in the Maldives.

Jo and Dan were spending time with one of the resort’s bartenders, learning a little about the art of cocktail making. After plenty of experimentation – and a few trial runs – a wonderfully refreshing tropical drink emerged. The result was the Angelfish Cocktail.

What began as a fun moment behind the bar soon became something of an Angelfish tradition. On subsequent trips around the Indian Ocean we started challenging bartenders to recreate the cocktail, sometimes following the recipe faithfully, and sometimes adding their own creative twist.

Over time the idea evolved into the Angelfish Cocktail Partnership – a collaboration with some of our favourite luxury resorts across the Indian Ocean. Today, Angelfish guests staying at participating properties can enjoy a complimentary Angelfish Cocktail.

Each resort brings its own personality to the drink, and along the way we’ve met some wonderfully talented mixologists. Many of them now feature in our Bartenders’ Hall of Fame, celebrating the people behind the bar who make every serve special.

Back Where It All Began

Recently we had the pleasure of returning for another visit to Anantara Kihavah, the very place where the cocktail was first created. To mark the occasion, Jo joined Rahul, the resort’s master mixologist, at the spectacular Sky Bar to recreate the Angelfish Cocktail together – high above the lagoon with panoramic views of the Baa Atoll.

Rahul holds a unique honour in our Hall of Fame: he is the first bartender ever to earn two entries, appearing both from our visit back in 2018 and again from our recent return to Kihavah.

It feels wonderfully fitting that the cocktail which began here has now come full circle, proudly served once again at the resort where the story started.

Watch Jo and Rahul making the Angelfish Cocktail at Sky Bar below.

The Angelfish Cocktail can now be found on a number of resort drinks lists and we have created a partnership program, which entitles Angelfish guests to sample a complimentary cocktail (look for the voucher in your travel documents!) when you visit any of the following fabulous participating resorts: