A good drink becomes a great cocktail when consumed in the proper setting. This is why the same gin martini will taste better in a Manhattan hotel bar than it does in the bleachers of Yankee Stadium. It’s why a strawberry margarita sounds fun at your cousin’s wedding but strange at a pub on St. Patrick’s Day. With that in mind, we decided to look back at our 52 most popular cocktail recipes of all time, rank them by popularity, and identify an ideal moment for each one.
52. Mezcal Michelada
Base Spirit: Mezcal
Flavors: Lime, light beer, agave, hot sauce
When To Drink: The third weekend of July when your early-afternoon poolside beer needs a little extra spark.
51. The Fall 75
Base Spirit: Cognac or gin
Flavors: Champagne, vanilla, blood orange
When To Drink: You’re awake before noon on the day after Thanksgiving—treat yourself.
50. Hello Summer Cocktail
Base Spirit: Tequila
Flavors: Watermelon, lime, Lillet Blanc, cilantro, chile
When To Drink: At a dinner party on the last weekend of June. Drink one while you set up and another once your friends arrive.
49. Rosebud
Base Spirit: Vodka
Flavors: Cointreau, rosewater, cucumber, mint
When To Drink: Two words: spa day.
48. Rosemary Gin Cocktail
Base Spirit: Gin
Flavors: Rosemary, lemon, club soda
When To Drink: You’re at a tailgate, and you’d like something other than beer.
47. Mid-Winter Margarita
Base Spirit: Tequila
Flavors: Grapefruit, lime, chile salt
When To Drink: It’s a Wednesday in late January, and you leave work early, but the sun’s already down. You make this, and (some) light returns.
46. Non-Alcoholic Espresso Martini
Base Spirit: Spiced, non-alcoholic spirit
Flavors: Espresso, some sugar
When To Drink: You’re abstaining from alcohol but want dinner to end with an aesethetic Instagram story.
45. Cognac Old Fashioned
Base Spirit: Cognac
Flavors: Orange & Angostura bitters, lemon
When To Drink: Sitting on a porch in late August.
44. Cold Brew Negroni
Base Spirit: Gin
Flavors: Campari, cold brew, sweet vermouth
When To Drink: Easter brunch.
43. Blueberry Tea Cocktail From Eric Bemis
Base Spirit: Grand Marnier
Flavors: Blueberry, Earl Grey tea, amaretto
When To Drink: You need a break from building snowmen.
42. Tequila Manhattan
Base Spirit: Tequila
Flavors: Sweet vermouth, chocolate bitters, maraschino cherry
When To Drink: You’re out of whiskey.
41. Smoky Pear & Ginger Margarita
Base Spirits: Tequila, mezcal
Flavors: Fresh ginger, pear juice, agave, sea salt
When To Drink: You’re at a bonfire in late October.
40. Cynar Spritz
Base Spirit: Cynar
Flavors: Prosecco, club soda, lemon
When To Drink: You’re making eggs Benedict.
39. Tamarind Martinis
Base Spirit: Vodka
Flavors: Tamarind, Tajín, lime
When To Drink: You’re at a wedding, and “humidity” is the word of the day.
38. Garibaldi Cocktail (Campari-Orange)
Base Spirit: Campari
Flavors: Orange juice
When To Drink: After a post-beach (preferably outdoor) shower.
37. Spiced Bourbon Cocktail With Pomegranate Syrup
Base Spirit: Bourbon
Flavors: Pomegranate, lime, grapefruit, cinnamon, rosemary
When To Drink: You spent an afternoon evaluating the size, shape, and artistic capacity of pumpkins.
36. The R.B. Ginger
Base Spirit: Rum
Flavors: Ginger beer, Cointreau, lime
When To Drink: A sunset boat ride with “Brandy” by Looking Glass playing in the background.
35. Scotch Old Fashioned
Base Spirit: Scotch
Flavors: Honey syrup, orange bitters
When To Drink: You’re drafting a petition to remove the speed bumps in your neighborhood.
34. The Ultimate Chocolate Martini
Base Spirit: Vanilla vodka
Flavors: Bailey’s Irish Cream, Frangelico, Chocolate liquor
When To Drink: A Willy Wonka movie pregame.
33. Bubbly Manhattan
Base Spirit: Rye whiskey
Flavors: IPA, sweet vermouth, orange
When To Drink: You’re out of bitters.
32. Hibiscus Margarita
Base Spirit: Tequila
Flavors: Hibiscus, lime, cinnamon, agave
When To Drink: Saturday afternoon, year-round.
31. Glögg (Mulled Wine Punch)
Base Spirit: Brandy
Flavors: Red wine, port, cardamom, anise, cloves, cinnamon, ginger
When To Drink: You’re rewatching A Charlie Brown Christmas… for the third time.
30. Holiday Milk Punch
Base Spirit: Brandy
Flavors: Rum, nutmeg, cream, sugar
When To Drink: At the holiday party you actually look forward to.
29. Manhattan
Base Spirit: Rye
Flavors: Sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters, cherry
When To Drink: You’re beginning an evening of heavy eating and semi-serious conversation.
28. Spicy Apple Cider Margarita
Base Spirit: Tequila
Flavors: Apple cider, lime, cinnamon, agave
When To Drink: You’re celebrating your escape from a conversation about fantasy football.
27. White Negroni
Base Spirit: Gin
Flavors: Dry vermouth, Suze, lemon
When To Drink: You’re considering wearing a silk button-down.
26. Crimson Bulleit Punch
Base Spirit: Bourbon
Flavors: Champagne, ginger liqueur, pomegranate, lime
When To Drink: A White Elephant gift exchange.
25. Nineteenth Century: Roman Punch
Base Spirit: Rum
Flavors: Champagne, lemonade, egg whites
When To Drink: You’re craving something bright and acidic that’s just the right amount of sweet.
24. Rosemary-Grapefruit Margarita
Base Spirit: Tequila
Flavors: Grapefruit, lime, rosemary
When To Drink: The Thanksgiving turkey is in the oven.
23. Golden Hour Cocktail From Basil Hayden®
Base Spirit: Bourbon
Flavors: Lillet Blanc, Aperol, Grapefruit
When To Drink: You’re losing in a late-afternoon card game.
22. Rum Punch
Base Spirit: Rum
Flavors: Black tea, lime, spices
When To Drink: You’re within arms length of this snack mix.
21. Aperol Spritz
Base Spirit: Prosecco
Flavors: Aperol, orange
When To Drink: Rewatching season two of The White Lotus.
20. Negroni Flip
Base Spirit: Gin
Flavors: Campari, sweet vermouth, egg
When To Drink: Your friends are hosting a cocktail competition.
19. Holiday Manhattan
Base Spirit: Bourbon
Flavors: Pomegranate, dry vermouth, lemon
When To Drink: It’s (holiday) sweater season.
18. Fall Wisconsin Old Fashioned
Base Spirit: Brandy
Flavors: Angostura bitters, apple cider, grenadine
When To Drink: There are leaves on the ground, and you’ll soon be going toe-to-toe with some cheese curds.
17. The Desert Bird Cocktail
Base Spirit: Mezcal
Flavors: Campari, lime, pineapple, mint
When To Drink: Your air conditioner breaks on the hottest day of the year.
16. Whiskey Punch
Base Spirit: Whiskey
Flavors: Lemonade, club soda, honey
When To Drink: You’re celebrating a lawn well mowed.
15. Whiskey & Apple Cider Syrup (aka the Only Fall Cocktail You Need in Your Life)
Base Spirit: Rye whiskey
Flavors: Cider syrup, cinnamon, orange
When To Drink: It’s fall.
14. Four Ingredient Strawberry Martini
Base Spirit: Vodka
Flavors: Strawberries, sugar, lemon
When To Drink: You bought an extra box of strawberries.
13. Negroni Sbagliato
Base Spirits: Campari, sweet vermouth
Flavors: Prosecco
When To Drink: You want to feel “stunning.”
12. Tom Collins
Base Spirit: Gin
Flavors: Lemon, club soda, sugar
When To Drink: You’re lounging on a pool chair, snacking on a chicken Caesar.
11. The Original Margarita From Cointreau
Base Spirit: Tequila
Flavors: Lime, Cointreau
When To Drink: Summer Fridays.
10. Bowery Punch
Base Spirit: Gin
Flavors: Grapefruit, lemon, bitters
When To Drink: You’re the lead architect of a mid-century modern gingerbread house.
9. Old Fashioned
Base Spirit: Rye whiskey
Flavors: Angostura bitters, orange peel, sugar cube
When To Drink: Before doing anything that you’re even remotely excited about.
8. Gin Spritz
Base Spirit: Gin
Flavors: Mint, lime, Prosecco
When To Drink: You're breaking out the white jeans.
7. Apple Rye Moonshine Punch
Base Spirit: Rye whiskey
Flavors: Maple bitters, cider
When To Drink: When fall’s colder weather is still new and adorable.
6. Margarita
Base Spirit: Tequila
Flavors: Cointreau, lime, agave
When To Drink: Anytime you’re snacking on something salty.
5. Pear Vodka Martini
Base Spirit: Peard Vodka
Flavors: Pear nectar, lemon juice
When To Drink: You’re watching reality television.
4. The Written Word
Base Spirit: Gin
Flavors: Lime, Cointreau, Chartreuse
When To Drink: Date night at home.
3. The Perfect Negroni
Base Spirit: Gin
Flavors: Campari, sweet vermouth
When To Drink: It’s 5 p.m.
2. Strawberry Margarita on the Rocks
Base Spirit: Tequila
Flavors: Lime, strawberry, triple sec
When To Drink: At a backyard barbecue with your closest friends (with at least one of these 52 grilling recipes in the works).
1. Gin Martini
Base Spirit: Gin
Flavors: Vermouth
When To Drink: You’re shucking oysters.
This article was updated in November 2023 to include more of our favorite products.
Written by: Paul Hagopian
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