50 Most Popular Cocktails – A Couple Cooks

The most popular cocktail according to internet searches? The Old Fashioned, which happens to be one of the oldest cocktails of them all! The recipe dates back to the early 1800’s, before the words classic and cocktail were even said next to each other. Here are a few tricks to making the best pristine version of this cocktail that lets the whiskey shine.

There’s a reason the margarita is world’s most popular tequila drink: this classic 1930’s sour hits just the right balance of boozy tequila, zingy lime, and sweet orange liqueur. Of course, there are many syrupy sweet and fruity spins on the theme. But as two certified mixologists with over 300 cocktail recipes in our library, we keep coming back to that classic formula as one of our top cocktails of all time. 

One of the most popular cocktails in internet searches that surprised us was the Espresso Martini! Here bittersweet coffee pairs perfectly with the rich sweetness of Kahlua. Add vodka and the trio makes a full-flavored sophisticated drink that’s cool, frothy, and bittersweet. Essentially a vodka martini made with coffee, it was invented in 1983 and surged to massive popularity in the 2020’s.

Almost tied with the Espresso Martini is that ubiquitous cocktail, the Aperol spritz! This drink is renowned the world over, reaching max popularity in the 2000’s. But this Italian cocktail made with Aperol, sparkling wine and soda water as been capturing hearts and minds since the 1950’s.

This popular cocktail isn’t a surprise: the Negroni! It’s equal parts refreshing, bitter, and complex: a drink that you’ll want to sit with and savor. The bright red of the Campari makes for a stunning jewel-tone drink, paired with equal parts gin and vermouth.

It’s bubbly, tangy, looks impressive, and goes down easy. Meet the ever popular Moscow mule! This drink was invented in the 1940’s but has never gone out of style. It’s got just 3 ingredients and you can build it right in the glass, making it perfect for parties or a lazy evening drink. 

The sophisticated Manhattan cocktail is among the first cocktails in history, and has stood the test of time. It’s got only three ingredients, but there’s so much flavor in one sip! Peppery notes come from the rye whiskey, hints of sweet and spicy from the vermouth, and an herbal nuance from the bitters. 

The most popular cocktail with rum is the Mojito! It’s minty fresh, zingy and bubbly, simple to whip up with just a handful of ingredients. The harmony between the boozy rum, zingy lime, herbaceous mint, and sparkling bubbles is legendary.

What makes the very best martini? The martini is one of the most popular cocktails of all time. People have been drinking it for a century. With one sip it announces itself: crisp, cool, searing, and spirit-forward. It’s seeped in tradition, and there’s no cocktail that has the amount of variations: shaken or stirred, gin or vodka, straight or on the rocks. 

When it comes to frozen drinks, the piña colada is the most popular cocktail there is. It’s got 1990’s chain restaurant vibes, and it’s hard to find a resort that doesn’t have on on the menu. But did you know it’s actually a classic cocktail invented in the 1950’s? Here’s how to make a piña colada…the classic way.

Here’s a popular cocktail that takes just 2 minutes and hits the spot in any season: the White Russian! This cocktail mixes vodka with Kahlua and cream in a decadently creamy, searingly sweet beverage. You may know it from the 1990’s movie The Big Lebowski, but this drink has been around since the 1950’s.

The Bloody Mary cocktail was invented in the 1920’s, most likely at the New York Bar in Paris (where a few other famous cocktails were born, like the French 75). This combination of tomato juice and vodka has become one of the most popular brunch cocktails in the world.

Speaking of popular cocktails at brunch, the Mimosa is the next most searched-for cocktail! This 2 ingredient combination of equal parts orange juice and champagne or Prosecco is refreshing and classic.

The Mai Tai might sound like a simple fruity resort drink, but it’s anything but! No, this popular cocktail is a classic from the 1940’s. This rum cocktail is breathtakingly complex, featuring aged rum, orange liqueur, and almond syrup for nutty and vanilla notes against sharp citrus.

Cousin of the margarita, the Paloma is a a classic Mexican cocktail that features tequila with grapefruit instead of lime. Switching up the citrus makes for a simple sour that’s sweet tart and refreshing. It’s perfect for happy hour drinks, or water it down and it could be a brunch drink too.

Here’s one of the most sophisticated popular cocktails: the French 75! It’s tangy, bubbly, and a bit botanical, and it makes every occasion more festive! This classic cocktail of champagne, gin, lemon juice and simple syrup was invented around 1915 and is popular to this day.

Long Island Iced Tea has a reputation for being extra boozy, low-brow, and sickly sweet. But have you tried the classic version of this drink? Ditch the sour mix and Triple Sec in favor of fresh citrus and top shelf liquor. One sip and it’s zingy, sweet tart, nuanced and sophisticated.

Variations: Try a Long Beach Iced Tea or Blue Long Island Iced Tea

It’s got a brilliant pink color and tangy, refreshing flavor: it’s the Cosmo! Or a Cosmopolitan cocktail, to be exact. This popular cocktail is ready to spice up your next gathering, a classic alcoholic drink made with cranberry juice and vodka with a distinctive color.

It’s no surprise the Tequila Sunrise is a popular cocktail! It’s beautiful and vibrant, with layered colors of a summer sunset. Here’s the best part: it’s so easy to make! All you need is 3 ingredients: and no special techniques or equipment! The flavor is refreshingly sweet, with just a hint of tequila. 

Here’s a simple popular cocktail that’s bubbly, zingy and no surprise it made the list: Ranch Water! It’s the unofficial drink of West Texas: a tequila highball made with lime juice and sparkling Topo Chico. It’s like a bubbly, lighter spin on the classic margarita, with all the tangy citrus but less sweetness and booze. 

Here’s a boozy classic popular cocktail invented in New Orleans: the Sazerac! If you love spirit-forward drinks like the Old Fashioned, this one’s for you. Instead of just whiskey and sugar, this one’s got a surprise element: absinthe gives a black licorice finish to each sip! This outlawed liquor is now back in good graces (since 2007, at least), a reason to try this famous slow sipper.

An amaretto sour a classic sour cocktail made with amaretto liqueur. Sours are defined as three parts: liquor, citrus, and sweetener. The most well-known of all sours is the whiskey sour. This spin is tangy and sweet tart, with a hint of almond from the amaretto that’s balanced by bourbon.

The Tom Collins is a popular cocktail that is about as classic as it gets! This tall highball drink is a sweet and sour drink made with gin. A cousin of the Gin Fizz, it’s refreshing and bubbly, loaded with ice in a highball glass. Top with a cocktail cherry and it’s one of the most sought-after cocktails out there.