We spoke with three bartenders about their favorite drinks to make and wish more customers would try. Champagne-based cocktails, such as the French 75, offer a customizable and enjoyable experience. Some bartenders enjoy crafting sotol cocktails or a sophisticated smoked Old Fashioned. While having a reliable go-to drink is great, exploring new options can lead you to discover your next preferred cocktail. Business Insider reached out to bartenders and mixologists for recommendations on must-try drinks. Here are some suggestions to consider for your next favorite sip.
Champagne – Not Just for Mimosas
Champagne can elevate the flavor and effervescence of a cocktail. Alex Cabrera, head mixologist at Puente Romano resort, recommends a simple Champagne-based cocktail with only three ingredients: Champagne, passionfruit juice, and strawberry juice. This refreshing concoction lets the fruit flavors shine and is a great choice for those seeking low-alcohol cocktails.
Unique Takes on the French 75
Monica Wells, a mixologist from Florida, enjoys putting her twist on the classic French 75. She often substitutes regional citrus or tropical fruits for the traditional lemon, making it a versatile base for creativity and personalization.
The Simplicity of a Smoked Old Fashioned
Wells favors crafting a smoked Old Fashioned for its straightforward yet sophisticated character. This three-ingredient drink, typically consisting of bourbon, simple syrup, and bitters, offers surprising depth and complexity that can be enhanced by experimenting with different aged liquors and wood smoke variations.
Exploring Sotol in Cocktails
For a unique Mexican spirit experience, consider trying a cocktail featuring sotol instead of the usual tequila. Eder Leon, restaurant and bar manager at Bonny Moon beach club, suggests sotol for its earthy, herbal, and slightly smoky flavors. Cocktails like the Durango, featuring mezcal, grapefruit soda, and jasmine syrup, highlight sotol’s bold taste and pair well with complementary ingredients.
A Classic Dark and Stormy
Aside from sotol cocktails, Leon’s go-to drink is the Dark and Stormy, made with dark rum and ginger beer over ice. The combination of rich rum flavors and zesty ginger beer offers a bold and refreshing choice that can be customized with bitters, spiced rum variations, or different ginger beer types.
