Few things bring the fun to an evening out quite like a cocktail. A pretty glass, a jaunty flourish—there’s just something festive and flirty about them, both with and without alcohol. Our Inspectors sipped quite a few this year, but these seven standouts shook things up in 2023.
Chicago
Kumiko
Cocktail: Agony of the Leaf
“This tea-based cocktail was made with sweet potato shochu. It was slightly bitter but really complex. The name is a reference to the softening of the tea leaf in hot water, when it begins to express its flavor and color.”
Denver
Brutø
Cocktail: NA Spring Pea Collins
“I was thoroughly impressed by the non-alcoholic beverage pairing. Each creation was lovely, however the Spring Pea Collins made from a NA heirloom wheatberry "spirit" with pea shoots and yuzu was stunning.”
Hop Alley
Cocktail: Bee's Knees
“Their cocktail program is very interesting with their twists on classics, like the Bee’s Knees done with chili crisp-infused honey.”
Los Angeles
Manzke
Cocktail: The Passion Fruit G&T
“This clever cocktail is infused with fruit flavor but clarified for a stunning, crystal-clear appearance.”
New York
Dhamaka
Cocktail: Goan Gangster
“This cocktail was made with homemade coconut toddy, Paul John single malt, Amaro Nardini, coconut foam, and ash. Served in a coconut shell and topped with a coconut foam flecked with ash. The shell was perched on a silver holder, so it didn’t roll around on the table.”
San Francisco
Friends Only
Cocktail: Contraband
“It’s a mix of Joven mezcal, citrus, black truffle and hibiscus. This was a bright, refreshing cocktail with an intriguing blend of floral and savory notes.”
Washington, D.C.
Rania
Cocktail: Desi Gimlet
“This interesting cocktail was made with yogurt, Ketel One, dry vermouth, lime, butter syrup, and orange bitters.”
Hero image: Hawkeye Johnson/Rania
Thumbnail: Courtesy of Rania
