Similar to food fads, cocktail trends experience cycles of popularity, fading in and out of fashion. And akin to retro cuisine making a comeback on menus, vintage cocktails are also getting revived with modern twists.
As with any industry built on innovation and novelty, the world of mixology has its fair share of short-lived gimmicks. However, some drinks stand the test of time or manage to capture the zeitgeist years after first hitting the scene. The classics have secured their spot on bar menus for good reason, while adventurous bartenders are resurrecting bygone eras of cocktails for new generations.
To compile a list of the top 10 trending cocktails for 2023, 24/7 Tempo consulted a report published by The Spirits Business, an international spirits magazine and website, based on Google search traffic for the year to date. The list ranks those drinks that enjoyed the highest spikes in traffic in the U.S. over a sustained period this year, compared with 2022. (On an international level, these are the world’s 25 most popular cocktails.)
Five of the cocktails featured here are classics with origins dating back to the late teens of the 20th century through the 1930s. These include the Last Word, White Lady, Bee’s Knees, Gimlet, and Brown Derby. Four out of the five are gin-based, with the exception being the bourbon-based Brown Derby. Notably, the Gimlet stands out for its timeless and sophisticated simplicity, consisting only of gin and fresh lime juice.
It’s worth noting that the original White Lady, named after a courageous woman who disguised herself as a washerwoman (wearing white) to aid British prisoners of war escape from Turkey during WWI, was initially crafted with crème de menthe instead of gin. This concoction was created by the legendary bartender Harry MacElhone in London in 1919, but he later modified it to include gin a decade later at his establishment, Harry’s American Bar in Paris.
Another cocktail on the list is the Revolver, which originated in San Francisco in 2004. This modern twist on the classic Manhattan, known for its caffeinated elements, serves as an updated rendition of a cocktail classic that was conceived not in the last century but in the late 1800s.
The No. 2 cocktail on the list, the vodka-based Azalea, is popular among spectators at the Masters Tournament held annually at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. As for No. 1, it’s not only the top cocktail but also the youngest one here. It was invented at the bar Death and Company in New York City in 2011, inspired by the Last Word and a 21st-century drink called the Paper Plane. (Here is our list of the best bar in every state.)
Here are the top 10 trending cocktails of 2023
10. Sex on the Beach
- Ingredients: Vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice, cranberry juice
9. Last Word
- Ingredients: Gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, lime juice
8. White Lady
- Ingredients: Gin, triple sec, lemon juice, egg white (optional)
7. Bee’s Knees
- Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, honey
6. El Presidente
- Ingredients: White rum, dry vermouth, orange Curaçao, grenadine
5. Gimlet
- Ingredients: Gin, lime juice
4. Revolver
- Ingredients: Bourbon, coffee liqueur, orange bitters
3. Brown Derby
- Ingredients: Bourbon, grapefruit juice, honey or maple syrup
2. Azalea
- Ingredients: Vodka, pineapple juice, lemon juice, grenadine
1. Naked & Famous
- Ingredients: Mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, Aperol, lime juice