Our 15 Most Popular Cocktail Recipes of 2023
It was a big year for caffeinated cocktails and classics alike.
Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele
This year, our readers leaned into the joys of perfecting a classic cocktail. They made batches of Mai Tais and cooled off in the summer months with a simple, satisfying Mudslide or two. When the classics got a bit tiresome, they searched for riffs like a tart, sweet Sour Cherry Negroni or a bold Blood Orange Margarita. 2023 was also a big year for caffeinated cocktails, from the classic Espresso Martini, to the slightly fancier, dessert-ready Affogato Martini; those craving the flavor of coffee without the buzz loved our decaf Carajillo recipe. These were the most searched-for Food & Wine cocktail recipes of 2023.
Sour Cherry Negroni
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon
This tart take on a classic Negroni is true to the spirit of Hawksmoor's buzzy NYC outpost.
Blueberry Margarita
This quick and easy margarita recipe is made with muddled blueberries and bitters.
Sgroppino
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon
This Italian frozen treat stars lemon sorbet and is boozier than you might expect, with half an ounce of vodka and an ounce of Prosecco.
Espresso Martini
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter
This classic combination of coffee liqueur, espresso, and vodka is ideal to enjoy at the beginning or end of a big night out.
Martini
Matt Taylor-Gross
The martini is magical. In its simplest, most pure form it can be modest, even humble but also grand and impressive. While there are more inventive martinis out there, Maison Premiere’s is classic, featuring dry vermouth, London Dry gin, and a touch of orange bitters.
Affogato Martini
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon
For this glitzed-up version of an Espresso Martini, vodka haters will be delighted and surprised to know that rum is the spirit in the spotlight. Vodka brings alcohol to this boozy beverage but not much else; it’s basically a whiteboard to reflect the dominant coffee flavor.
Blood Orange Margarita
Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele
We love that this recipe yields a whole pitcher of cocktails to serve a crowd, but we especially love that it can be prepared ahead of time. For easy entertaining, you can mix up the ingredients a day in advance and store the drink in the fridge. When it's time to partake, coat the rims of each glass with salt, stir ice into the pitcher, then strain the cocktail into the individual glasses. Garnish with blood orange slices and sage leaves.
Carajilo
Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen
This classic Mexican coffee cocktail is the ultimate after-dinner drink — especially if you make it a decaf.
Mai Tai
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon
Perhaps the most well-known Tiki cocktail, the Mai Tai is a true celebration of rum. The pale yellow cocktail topped with a classic rum float elegantly marries citrus flavors with just the right amount of sweetness.
Mudslide
Created in the 1970s at Grand Cayman's Wreck Bar at Rum Point, this potent blend of vodka, Kahlúa, and Baileys Original Irish Cream might taste like a milkshake, but it can't be ordered virgin because all you'd get is a cup of crushed ice! The trio of alcohol blends into a smooth and velvety cocktail just sweet and chocolaty enough without being cloying. A generous drizzle of chocolate syrup and a bright red maraschino cherry with a dusting of ground cinnamon top off each glass.
Maple Bourbon Smash
Julia Hartbeck
Bourbon and maple syrup are a perfect pair in this flavor-packed variation of the Old Fashioned.
New York Sour
In this sophisticated take on a whiskey sour, a vibrant float of fruity red wine hovers at the top of the glass for a striking presentation.
Dark 'n Stormy
The Dark 'n Stormy is a close relative to the Moscow Mule, essentially replacing that drink's vodka with dark rum. While the lime juice in the recipe is optional, it is highly recommended for balancing out the sugar with a touch of tartness. The candied ginger slice is not imperative, either, but it does make for a lovely garnish.
Old Fashioned
© Lucas Allen
Whether you prefer to use rye, bourbon, or a less traditional base spirit in an Old Fashioned, this classic cocktail is dependably warming, sweet, and comforting.
Manhattan
While the Manhattan traditionally calls for rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters, bourbon is an increasingly popular choice in bars across the United States. It's worth noting, however, that using bourbon will make for a sweeter Manhattan, but that flavor can be tempered using dry vermouth and orange bitters instead of sweet vermouth and Angostura bitters.
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