Cocktail culture is vast and varied, with countless drinks to choose from. While classics like the Martini or the Old Fashioned get a lot of love, there are plenty of hidden gems out there.
We spoke to bartenders from around the world to discover the 10 most underrated cocktails that deserve your attention.
1. The Last Word
Originating from the Prohibition era, this equal-parts cocktail combines gin, Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice. It’s a beautiful balance of herbal, sweet, and tart flavors.
2. Corpse Reviver #2
Don’t let the morbid name scare you away. This refreshing mix of gin, lemon juice, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, and a dash of absinthe is perfect for reviving the spirits.
3. Aviation
A pre-Prohibition classic, the Aviation blends gin with maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, and lemon juice. It’s a floral and delicately sweet cocktail that’s truly soaring under the radar.
4. Boulevardier
A cousin of the Negroni, this cocktail swaps out gin for bourbon or rye whiskey, mixed with Campari and sweet vermouth. It’s a richer, more robust drink that’s perfect for whiskey lovers.
5. Caipirinha
Brazil’s national cocktail, made with cachaça, sugar, and lime, is refreshingly simple yet deeply flavorful. It’s like a more rustic, potent version of the Mojito.
6. Blood and Sand
Named after a 1922 bullfighter movie, this unique cocktail combines Scotch whisky, sweet vermouth, Cherry Heering, and orange juice. It’s a rare Scotch-based cocktail that’s both approachable and complex.
7. Paper Plane
A modern classic, this cocktail is a balanced mix of bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice. Its simplicity belies a sophisticated depth of flavor.
8. Pisco Sour
This Peruvian classic is a delightful mix of pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, egg white, and bitters. It’s a frothy, tangy cocktail that’s criminally underrated outside South America.
9. Penicillin
This modern concoction is a cure-all of sorts, blending Scotch whisky, lemon juice, honey-ginger syrup, and a float of smoky Islay whisky. It’s a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and smoky.
10. Vieux Carré
Hailing from New Orleans, this sophisticated cocktail mixes rye whiskey, Cognac, sweet vermouth, Bénédictine, and bitters. It’s a complex, aromatic drink that’s a hidden gem in the cocktail world.
