Best-selling aperitifs, digestifs and highball - Drinks International - The global choice for drinks buyers (2024)

We polled the World's 50 Best Bars to find out their best-selling aperitifs, digestifs and highball serves. Hamish Smith takes us through the results

....................................................................................................................

Best-selling aperitifs, digestifs and highball - Drinks International - The global choice for drinks buyers (1)Aperitifs

Aperitifs: because it’s good to drink before dinner. They’re great for bars too – no need for happy hour at places such as Artesian or Connaught when punters are politely climbing over themselves to get their paws on pre-dinner co*cktails. Dry Martini kicks off an evening with purpose while the Negroni is a tamer affair. Wthout the gin it is an Americano which goes further into the realms of responsible pre-dinner drinking.

How the Manhattan and Old Fashioned make it into both aperitifs and digestifs we don’t know, but can only say don’t blame the messenger. We suppose these classic co*cktails are popular right now whatever time of day. Probably if we’d done a brunch co*cktails list, you’d find the Old Fashioned and Manhattan there too.

Best-selling aperitifs, digestifs and highball - Drinks International - The global choice for drinks buyers (2)Digestifs

Naturally it is the two most famous American whiskey co*cktails that lead the digestif list – the Old Fashioned and Manhattan are rich nightcaps that work perfectly after the exertions of a meal.

Next up we find our old friend the Sazerac. After an evening of food and fun what better way to finish off than with the strongest drink of the night? Some say the Sazerac doesn’t take prisoners. It does, but it tortures and kills them. It’s a big co*cktail that requires the sub-conscious contemplation of a night’s sleep.

It’s nice to see the Espresso Martini and Irish Coffee make appearances too. These are good old two-for-one type drinks. Why buy a coffee and a spirit when you can combine the two?

Best-selling aperitifs, digestifs and highball - Drinks International - The global choice for drinks buyers (3)Highballs

When is a Highball a co*cktail and co*cktail a Highball? It’s up there with life’s great imponderables. All we know is, the G&T is not a co*cktail– providing it’s not a very creative one with fancy extra ingredients. Most we have seen at The World’s 50 Best Bars are classic gin, tonic, ice and wedge of citrus affairs.

Tom Collins beating the Cuba Libre is heartening for apostles of quality drinking. There are clearly more lemons than cola at The World’s 50 Best Bars – that or customers can’t quite bring themselves to order a glorified rum ’n’ cola in a co*cktail bar. In third and fifth we have Dark ’n’ Stormy and Moscow Mule, reflecting a trend towards house-made ginger beer. The fizzes Gin Fizz and Rickey are refreshing drinks for the uncomplicated occasion.

Best-selling aperitifs, digestifs and highball  - Drinks International - The global choice for drinks buyers (2024)

FAQs

What is the most sold co*cktail in the world? ›

Even today the Old Fashioned has been the number one selling co*cktail in many bars. You just can't beat a classic!

Is a Moscow Mule an aperitif? ›

A classic co*cktail with delicious notes of sharp citrus and smooth vodka, our Moscow Mule recipe is sure to stimulate the senses. Best served over ice, this opulent aperitif is elevated by our warming London Essence Spiced Ginger Beer.

Is G&T an aperitif? ›

Pretty much any dry alcoholic drink (white wine, vermouth, martini…) or anything fizzy and slightly tart (Prosecco, gin and tonic, Aperol spritz…) is technically classed as an aperitif.

Is an Old Fashioned an aperitif? ›

A classic American co*cktail, traditionally offered as an apéritif, the old fashioned is composed of sugar soaked in bitters, such as Angostura, to which bourbon or rye whiskey is added and served with a large ice cube in a tumbler-type whiskey glass to which it gave its name: the old fashioned glass.

Is an Old Fashioned a before or after dinner drink? ›

Old fashioned (co*cktail)
IBA official co*cktail
Commonly servedBefore dinner
Old fashioned recipe at International Bartenders Association
8 more rows

What is the number 1 beverage in the world? ›

Water is the world's most consumed drink, however, 97% of water on Earth is non-drinkable salt water. Fresh water is found in rivers, lakes, wetlands, groundwater, and frozen glaciers.

What is the number 1 alcoholic beverage? ›

Beer. Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage worldwide. In fact, after water and tea, beer is the most commonly-consumed drink in the world. Beer is also most likely the oldest alcoholic drink in history.

Is Moscow Mule a woman's drink? ›

Is Moscow Mule a girly drink? Moscow Mules don't discriminate. Anyone can enjoy the refreshing taste of ginger, lime, and vodka.

What is a Moscow Mule called now? ›

And so the Moscow Mule became the Snake Island Mule (with a line striking out “Moscow” for emphasis), and the Caipiroska — the Russian-ified name of the classic Brazilian drink the Caipirinha, when it's made with vodka instead of the traditional cachaça — was re-dubbed the Caipi Island.

Why is Moscow Mule so good? ›

Moscow mules are delightfully fizzy drinks made with fiery ginger beer, vodka and fresh lime. Moscow mules are refreshing on hot summer days, sure, but they're also holiday-appropriate thanks to the strong ginger flavor. They strike that elusive balance between spicy, sweet and strong, and I'd sip one any day.

What is a good Italian aperitif? ›

150 years on, Campari is one of the most popular aperitifs (pre-dinner drinks) in Italy and one of the best-known Italian liqueurs across the world. The distinctive dark red liqueur is made from the infusion of herbs and fruit with alcohol and water – the exact recipe is still a tightly-guarded secret.

What is a traditional aperitif? ›

Aperitifs are typically low-ABV liqueurs and spirits that are meant to be drunk before a meal. Within that broad category, you can find vermouth, pastis, sherry, amaro, or even Champagne. Traditionally, an aperitif is meant to stimulate your appetite before eating.

Is Sambuca an aperitif or digestif? ›

Sambuca – an Italian original

Popular as a digestif, Sambuca is preferably enjoyed “con la mosca – with fly”! This usually means three coffee beans which are chewed while drinking and consequently neutralise the sweet taste of the Sambuca. In addition, it is also customary to flambé the spirit before consumption.

What are 5 examples of aperitif? ›

Common choices for an apéritif are vermouth; champagne; pastis; gin; ouzo; fino, amontillado or other styles of dry sherry (but not usually cream or oloroso blended sherry, which is very sweet and rich).

Is vodka an aperitif? ›

As mentioned before, there is not one type of alcohol that is classed as an apéritif, instead, it's the style of dry rather than sweet. For example, dry, sparkling wines like Champagne and Crémant are apéritifs, as well as bitter liqueurs like Aperol and Campari, and sprits like vodka and gin.

Can whisky be an aperitif? ›

Bold and zesty rye is the best whiskey to use in an aperitif. It has the same fruity, herbal notes and spicy complexity found in traditional aperitif liqueurs — all traits that get your digestive juices flowing.

What do Italians drink after dinner? ›

Simply put, the Italian digestif or digestivo is an alcoholic drink served after dinner to help with digestion.

Is Baileys an aperitif or digestif? ›

A cream liqueur for the perfect digestif

With its creamy and smooth texture alongside notes of vanilla and chocolate, Baileys is the perfect liqueur to create an after-dinner serve that your customers will love.

What is the 3 most consumed beverage? ›

3. Tea. After coffee, tea is the world's third most popular beverage. Tea has been used as a beverage for thousands of years.

What is America's most consumed beverage? ›

The most popular drink in America is sold at a 4000 percent markup and is responsible for tens of millions of discarded containers each day: bottled water.

What is America's best selling beverage? ›

U.S. consumption share of beverages 2022, by segment

In 2022, bottled water accounted for roughly 25 percent of beverage consumption in the United States, making it the most consumed type of beverage that year. Value-added water and energy drinks were among the least favorite beverages that year.

What are the top 5 drinks? ›

The Top 10 Most Popular co*cktails
  1. Cosmopolitan.
  2. Mojito. ...
  3. Mai Tai. ...
  4. Mint Julep. ...
  5. Caipirinha. ...
  6. Margarita. ...
  7. Pina Colada. ...
  8. Californication. ...
Jun 28, 2022

What is America's most popular alcoholic drink? ›

Well, the most popular type of liquor in most U.S. states is whiskey, but vodka is a close second. Meanwhile, staple liquors like tequila and rum aren't the most popular liquor in nearly as many states, so the gap between whiskey and vodka and the other liquors is quite large.

How much is a Moscow Mule at a bar? ›

The Moscow Mule had the lowest pour cost of the co*cktails mentioned but one of the highest average prices at $10.23.

Why don't you shake a Moscow Mule? ›

Since this drink has soda in it, you won't want to shake it! You can stir the ingredients together with ice and strain into a new ice-filled glass, or you can just build the ingredients in a glass in the order given. Squeeze the lime wedge over the drink and then drop it in.

What drink uses a copper mug? ›

What Is a Moscow Mule? The Moscow Mule is a classic co*cktail made with vodka, ginger beer, lime juice, and mint. It's traditionally served in a copper mug.

What vodka brand is changing its name? ›

Stolichnaya Vodka — the version produced by the Stoli Group — will now simply be called Stoli Vodka.

What vodka was renamed? ›

As people around the world move to boycott Russian products, one of the most iconic vodka brands will change its name. The company that owns Stolichnaya vodka announced that it is officially adopting the drink's unofficial nickname and will now brand the vodka as Stoli.

What is the new name for Black Russian? ›

"Caddies has changed its co*cktail names: Moscow Mule, White Russian and Black Russian to Kyiv Mule, White Ukrainian and Black Ukrainian.

What is the point of a copper mug? ›

As mentioned earlier, copper is a highly conductive metal that makes it ideal for taking on the temperature of any drink it holds. That is why when you a served a Moscow Mule, the copper mug gives you a cool sensation as it helps keep it at its temperature, all the while enhancing its flavor.

Why do they use copper for Moscow Mule? ›

Copper mugs were perfect for the beverage because Copper conducts temperature and takes on the mule's temperature when it's poured into the glass. This keeps the mule cold and frosty while enhancing the vodka flavor and natural properties of the drink.

Does a Moscow Mule taste like? ›

What does Moscow Mule taste like? Moscow Mules taste spicy, sweet, and strong. The fizz of the ginger beer, the punch of the vodka, and the chilled copper mug combine to make an excellent co*cktail.

What do most Italians drink in the morning? ›

Italians like their morning coffee milky. Breakfast time is the traditional time for macchiato, cappuccino, and mokaccino.

What is the most common aperitif? ›

Classic aperitifs include dry vermouth and white wine, fizz and bitter drinks such as Campari. co*cktails including martinis, G&Ts, spritzes and negronis are also great pre-dinner tipples.

What is the most popular French aperitif? ›

The kir. A kir is the most classic French aperitif to order in a café, a sweet two-ingredient co*cktail that takes seconds to make and is always served in a small wine glass.

What is the best alcohol for digestion? ›

Some common digestifs include:
  • Fortified wines like vermouth or Sherry.
  • Herbal liqueurs like Chartreuse or Cynar.
  • Bitter liqueurs like amaro.
  • Aged liquor like whiskey or brandy.
  • Sweet liqueurs like limoncello or Grand Marnier.
Oct 21, 2021

Do French drink wine with every meal? ›

In France, wine and food go together like a baguette and a chunk of brie. In other words, the French drink wine with most meals and actually think of it as “food.”

What is the most popular alcohol in Italy? ›

Campari. Originating from a small local bar in the province of Novara in the 1800s, Campari is now a widely favourite drink in Italy and across the world. Made from a mixture of herbs, spices, fruits and alcohol, Gaspare Campari formulated the bitter recipe for the drink that later took over Italy and Europe by storm.

What do Italians drink as a digestif? ›

Digestivi (“digestives,” in English) are often in the class of amari, or Italian bitters. Amari are made by infusing grape brandy with a blend of herbs, flowers, aromatic roots and bark, citrus peels, and spices. The infused brandy is then sweetened with sugar syrup and aged for a few weeks up to a few years.

What alcohol is black? ›

Produced in Germany, Blavod is colored with black catechu, an inky-hued resin that's made from the heartwood of the acacia catechu tree.

What liquors are digestifs? ›

Digestifs are typically bitter, herbal, and culturally distinctive. Whiskey, Brandy, port, cream sherry, Amari (such as Fernet, Averna, and Cynar), bitters (such as Becherovka and Underberg), sweet liqueurs such as Grand Marnier, and dessert co*cktails are other examples.

Is Amaretto an aperitif? ›

Amaretto is a classic aperitif served chilled over ice or in a wide range of co*cktails and mixed drinks and is also an essential ingredient in many Italian desserts. This Italian liqueur has an almond-apricot flavour which marry well together.

How do I choose an aperitif? ›

An aperitif needs to stimulate the appetite and make your tummy rumble for the food being served. As such, it should really be something very dry - that is, very low in sugar. Sweet drinks will inhibit the appetite and put you off savoury dishes, so anything sticky or sickly is a real 'no' in this respect.

Is Grand Marnier an aperitif or digestif? ›

It is commonly consumed "neat" as a cordial or a digestif, and can be used in mixed drinks and desserts. Popular examples of the latter include crêpes Suzette and crêpes au Grand Marnier. Aside from Cordon Rouge, the Grand Marnier line includes other liqueurs, most of which can be used similarly.

What co*cktails are digestifs? ›

Classic digestifs involve sipping whiskey, brandy, aged tequilas, or rum simply on the rocks or mixed, as they often have an herbal flavor profile that encourages slowly savoring the drink. If you've ever had a Manhattan, a Negroni, or a Hot Toddy, you likely know just how delicious those taste at the end of the night!

Is Kahlua a digestif? ›

The digestif is the nightcap following coffee or espresso. This includes brandy, fortified wines, distilled liquors, and liqueurs such as Drambuie, Grand Marnier, Jägermeister, Kahlua, and Fernet, which is classified as an amaro.

Is A cognac an aperitif? ›

As an aperitif, cognac is usually consumed neat. Adding a drop of water will reveal more fruity, floral, and spicy aromas, making the tasting experience smoother.

Which co*cktail is good to serve as an aperitif? ›

The Best 14 Aperitif co*cktails for Any Occasion
  • Martini. Simple yet sophisticated, the classic Martini gin co*cktail par excellence combines gin and dry vermouth, for a bold aperitif choice. ...
  • Dirty Martini. ...
  • Champagne Martini. ...
  • Cosmopolitan. ...
  • Caipirinha. ...
  • Tequila Sunrise. ...
  • Lime Margarita. ...
  • Blood and Sand.
May 29, 2022

What is a straight whiskey drink called? ›

A “neat” drink is a pure spirit, poured into a glass with no other ingredients added, not even ice. Whiskey is a very common spirit to drink neat, but that's different from a shot. A whiskey neat is usually two ounces, not chilled, poured directly into a NEAT glass.

What do Italians do before dinner? ›

Between 6:00 and 8:00pm, just before dinner, it is the Italian aperitivo time. Aperitivo is a drink and a snack or small bite before dinner. If having aperitivo out, the typical price of €10.00 usually includes the food and one drink.

What are the most popular digestivos? ›

Amari are perhaps the most iconic type of digestivo. They are made by infusing alcohol with an often complex variety of herbs and spices, and sometimes other flavorings like dried orange peel. This is achieved through maceration in some cases, in others through distillation, or a combination of the two.

What do Italians drink at night? ›

After a traditional Italian meal or dinner you are likely to be offered a 'digestivo' aka an Italian digestive drink (digestif). Italian digestivo are alcoholic after dinner drinks, usually served in a small glass, straight, as a shot.

What drink is Paris famous for? ›

Champagne is one of the top French alcoholic drinks consumed around the world. Champagne is one of the country's most popular alcoholic beverages worldwide for its elegance and sophisticated taste.

What is the best drink after a heavy dinner? ›

The best drinks for digestion:
  • Apple cider vinegar.
  • Peppermint tea.
  • Ginger tea.
  • Kombucha.
  • Green juice.
Jul 20, 2022

Is Prosecco an aperitif? ›

Pretty much any dry alcoholic drink (white wine, vermouth, martini…) or anything fizzy and slightly tart (Prosecco, gin and tonic, Aperol spritz…) is technically classed as an aperitif.

Why is Baileys so good? ›

Many argue that its richness and warm notes of honey and vanilla are unrivaled by any other cream liqueur available. While the exact recipe is a well-kept secret, we do know that Baileys opts for cocoa extract, sugar and herbs as the main other ingredients alongside the whiskey and cream.

What is the best selling classic co*cktail in the world? ›

The top 10 classic co*cktails
  • Dry Martini.
  • Margarita.
  • Daiquiri.
  • Aperol Spritz.
  • Espresso Martini.
  • Manhattan.
  • Mojito.
  • Whiskey Sour.
Jan 30, 2023

What is the best selling co*cktail in the US? ›

Margarita

What is the most sold drink in America? ›

Coca-Cola Classic

Manufactured by the largest soft drink beverage company in the world, co*ke is the staple of the Coca-Cola Company. Crisp, delicious, and super refreshing, Coca-Cola Original is an all-time favorite.

Is Margarita the #1 co*cktail in the US? ›

Continuing to hold onto the top spot, Margaritas remain the country's most popular co*cktail, while Martinis have grown in popularity – now overtaking Moscow Mule for the #2 spot in the rankings of the top 10 co*cktails in the latest quarter.

What are the most classic aperitifs? ›

Classic aperitifs include dry vermouth and white wine, fizz and bitter drinks such as Campari. co*cktails including martinis, G&Ts, spritzes and negronis are also great pre-dinner tipples.

Which is the king of co*cktails? ›

Dale DeGroff (born September 21, 1948, Rhode Island), also known as "the King of co*cktails" or "King co*cktail", is an American bartender and author.

What is celebrity no 10 co*cktail? ›

Ten, a combination of Tanqueray No. Ten gin, fresh raspberries, simple syrup, lemon juice, angostura bitters and creme de violette; or opt for The Buck Stops Here, made from Haig Club whisky, ginger beer, green tea syrup and baked apple bitters.

What are the most popular alcoholic drinks sales? ›

Beer accounted for 42.5 percent of all alcoholic beverage sales in the United States in 2021, with spirits in second place at 41.3 percent and wine in last with 16.1 percent of sales.

What is the number 1 beverage in America? ›

In 2022, bottled water accounted for roughly 25 percent of beverage consumption in the United States, making it the most consumed type of beverage that year. Value-added water and energy drinks were among the least favorite beverages that year.

What is the national co*cktail of USA? ›

While the U.S. does not have a national co*cktail as Canada does, it has a national spirit. Bourbon whiskey was proclaimed the U.S. National Spirit by an act of Congress in 1964.

What is the co*cktail capital of the US? ›

Like the river upon which it was founded, New Orleans has always been happy to sit back and let things take their own course. From its very beginning this “laissez-faire” attitude, along with its warm Southern climes, made New Orleans a perennially perfect place to enjoy a co*cktail or two.

What is the official co*cktail of the US Open? ›

The Honey Deuce made its debut in 2007, becoming the official co*cktail of the U.S. Open.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6284

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Birthday: 1996-05-19

Address: Apt. 114 873 White Lodge, Libbyfurt, CA 93006

Phone: +5983010455207

Job: Legacy Representative

Hobby: Blacksmithing, Urban exploration, Sudoku, Slacklining, Creative writing, Community, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Merrill Bechtelar CPA, I am a clean, agreeable, glorious, magnificent, witty, enchanting, comfortable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.