The World’s Most Iconic Cocktails: Top 5 According to Expert Bartenders

Ever wondered what the most popular and beloved cocktails in the world are? Drinks International asks 100 of the best bartenders each year to rank the most requested drinks globally. This list is a must-read for mixology lovers looking to discover and possibly learn how to craft the most iconic cocktails of all time.

1. Old Fashioned: The Undisputed Classic

For six years straight, the Old Fashioned has remained the world’s favorite cocktail. Believed to have been created in Louisville, Kentucky, it gained fame thanks to Colonel James E. Pepper, a legendary bourbon distiller. The name “Old Fashioned” comes from the traditional glass used to serve it.

Ingredients: bourbon or rye whiskey, Angostura bitters, sugar, and water.

2. Negroni: Italian Sophistication in a Glass

Second place goes to the timeless Negroni, an Italian aperitif invented in Florence around 1920 by Count Camillo Negroni. It’s a twist on the Americano cocktail, replacing soda water with a splash of gin.

Ingredients: gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari.

Bittersweet and balanced – perfect before dinner.

3. Daiquiri: The Tropical Icon

Taking the third spot is the Daiquiri, a Cuban-born classic made famous by Ernest Hemingway at El Floridita in Havana. The cocktail reportedly originated in Playa Daiquirí, where an American sailor may have improvised the first recipe.

Ingredients: white rum, fresh lime juice, and sugar.

Refreshing and citrusy – ideal for warm weather.

4. Dry Martini: Minimalist Elegance

Fourth place goes to the sophisticated Dry Martini. Although made with Italian dry vermouth, the cocktail was first mixed in the USA in the late 1800s.

Ingredients: gin and dry vermouth.

Served stirred or shaken, garnished with an olive or lemon twist – James Bond approved.

5. Whiskey Sour: Balanced and Timeless

Rounding out the top five is the Whiskey Sour, a classic American drink first documented in 1862 by mixology pioneer Jerry Thomas.

Ingredients: 4.5 cl bourbon, 3 cl lemon juice, 1.5 cl sugar syrup.

Shaken with ice and optionally topped with egg white for a smooth, frothy finish.