A good drink becomes a great co*cktail 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 co*cktail recipes of all time, rank them by popularity, and identify an ideal moment for each one.
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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 co*cktail
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 co*cktail
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 co*cktail 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.
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 co*cktail (Campari-Orange)
Base Spirit: Campari
Flavors: Orange juice
When To Drink: After a post-beach (preferably outdoor) shower.
37. Spiced Bourbon co*cktail 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 co*cktail 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 co*cktail 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 co*cktail
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.
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 these52 grilling recipes in the works).
1. Gin Martini
Base Spirit: Gin
Flavors: Vermouth
When To Drink: You’re shuckingoysters.
This article was updated in November 2023 to include more of our favorite products.
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