AVIATION
Once again, the gins used in the Aviation are provided by the big three producers – Diageo, Pernod Ricard and Bacardi. 30% of polled bars use Tanqueray, 18% Beefeater and 16% Bombay Sapphire. Plymouth, though a little behind Bombay Sapphire, was in fourth.
MOSCOW MULE
This simple ginger and vodka for the masses is most likely made with Ketel One (32%), says our poll. Absolut and Stolichnaya were equal with 11% of the pie apiece. A mention goes out to Aylesbury Duck, which beat Grey Goose to the front of the queue for the podium.
BLOODY MARY
The Bloody Mary is more likely to be made with Ketel One than any other brand at the world’s best bars, suggests our poll, with 33% getting behind the brand. There was fragmented opinion beyond the Diageo vodka, with Absolut being the choice for 14% of those surveyed and Aylesbury Duck for 8%.
ESPRESSO MARTINI
This coffee and vodka cocktail is best made with Ketel One, according to 27% of our sample of the world’s best bars, while 22% were absolute about Absolut. Plucky Aylesbury Duck, with 10% support, continued to punch above its weight, easily knocking Grey Goose into fourth.
MARGARITA
Diageo’s Don Julio is the most popular tequila in the world’s best bars, according to our poll, so it’s no surprise to find it’s the most popular choice for a Margarita. 22% went with Don Julio, Brown-Forman’s El Jimador had support from 11% of bartenders, as did Pernod Ricard’s Olmeca Altos.
PISCO SOUR
As the most popular pisco among our sample of the world’s best bars, Barsol is the top brand for the Pisco Sour. With 36% support, that leaves a number of brands fighting over the remaining places in our three-brand list – fellow Peruvian pisco Campo De Encanto was favoured in 13% of bars, while Chilean Capel was the brand to use in 12%.
BLOOD & SAND
This blood orange, Cherry Heering, vermouth and scotch cocktail tends to be made with blends. It’s no surprise that Johnnie Walker came out top (27%), such is its dominance in top bars, but mixed malt Monkey Shoulder (16%) took second place. Famous Grouse was the choice in 10% of polled bars, ahead of Dewar’s and Chivas Regal.
ROB ROY
This Manhattan in tartan is most likely made with scotch category leader Johnnie Walker, says 32% of our bars. Monkey Shoulder was the second most popular with 14%, while Famous Grouse was ahead of the rest of the field with 8%.
PENICILLIN
This neo-classic is normally made with a blend of unpeated and peated scotch, but the brands to include, our poll reveals, are Johnnie Walker (24%), Laphroaig (11%) and Monkey Shoulder (10%). Ardbeg was a close fourth.
