The bestselling classic cocktails at the world's best bars

17 May, 2023

 

25. Gin Fizz

A venerable classic, this non-Ramos Gin Fizz has consistently outranked that famously labour-intensive variant on this list over the years, the latter not cracking the top 50 at all this year a well-deserved respite for bartendersarms, if nothing else. Requiring comparatively less shaking, the original dates all the way back to the mid-1800s. The Jerry Thomas version from the late 1880s, with Holland gin, lemon juice, sugar and soda water, is not only a fine drink, but an excellent base for twists and variations of all sorts. Many consider egg white to be an essential component, but if were being pedantic, thats a Silver Fizz.

24. Jungle Bird

Refreshingly, this tiki classics origins arent disputed, or lost to the mists of time. Believe it or not, we know with relative certainty when it was invented, and who by. Considered to be Malaysias only widely-recognised classic, the Jungle Bird was created by Jeffrey Ong, beverage manager for Kuala Lumpur Hilton when it opened in 1973. Served at the hotels opening that year, the drink was presented in a ceramic bird-shaped vessel, all in keeping with the hotel bars avian theme. The addition of Campari offers a welcome twist to the drinks tropical ingredients of dark rum and pineapple juice.

23. Amaretto Sour

If theres one cocktail that has only become better with age, its the mass-appeal Amaretto Sour. When it was making its first appearances, likely around the year 1974, it was little more than a combination of Amaretto and lemon juice, the latter quickly turning into sour mix thanks very much, 80s bartending. That original formulation has evolved and improved since then, taking cues from the far more established Whiskey Sour. Portland bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler has done much to bring honour to the Amaretto Sour with his version from around 2012, combining the liqueur with cask-strength bourbon, lemon juice, sugar syrup and egg white.

22. Clover Club

Like the group of businessmen who would meet at Philadelphias Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in the early 1900s, whose club gave this classic its name, the Clover Club had something of a fleeting heyday. This delightful blend of gin, vermouth, lemon juice, raspberry syrup and egg white went from pre-Prohibition acclaim to outright mockery in just a few decades. Unlike the original club, the drink has thankfully made a comeback, and deservedly so. This is a beautifully structured drink, simultaneously light and indulgent, bright and silky, with balanced complexity from its various components, not to mention its wonderful pink hue which is, like, so in right now.

21. Gimlet

Born out of necessity that being scurvy prevention this deceptively simple combination of gin and lime cordial has survived relatively intact since the late 1800s. Whether named for the Royal Navys Sir Thomas Desmond Gimlette or the sharp tool used to tap barrels on ships, the Gimlet is inextricably linked with Roses Lime Cordial. The first-ever fruit concentrate, it was patented in 1867, the same year that the Navy began requiring ships to carry lime or lemon juice. Many modern takes have moved on from Roses, with other cordials or fresh juice taking its place, but the spirit of the drink remains.





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