Ranked by flavor math

The best strong cocktails.
No bystanders.

Spirit-forward means the alcohol is the point, not the punishment. Ranked by the strength axis with richness as the tiebreaker, these are the slow-sippers — stirred, serious, and worth your full attention.

01

Vieux Carré

Rye, cognac, vermouth, Bénédictine, two bitters — the French Quarter, stirred.

Strength 9/10 — order it with intent.

02

Old Fashioned

Whiskey, sugar, bitters — the cocktail other cocktails answer to.

Strength 9/10 — order it with intent.

03

Manhattan

Rye, sweet vermouth, bitters — a drink in a tailored suit.

Strength 9/10 — order it with intent.

04

Sazerac

Rye, Peychaud's, and an absinthe rinse — New Orleans in a chilled rocks glass.

Strength 9/10 — order it with intent.

05

Boulevardier

A Negroni that traded gin for bourbon and put on a winter coat.

Strength 9/10 — order it with intent.

06

Martinez

Old Tom gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino — the missing link between Manhattan and Martini.

Strength 9/10 — order it with intent.

07

Hanky Panky

Gin, sweet vermouth, Fernet — invented by the first famous female bartender, still undefeated.

Strength 9/10 — order it with intent.

08

Zombie

Three rums, falernum, absinthe, and a flaming garnish — tiki's final boss.

Strength 10/10 — order it with intent.

09

Vesper

Gin, vodka, Lillet Blanc — shaken, famously, not stirred.

Strength 10/10 — order it with intent.

10

Dry Martini

Gin, a whisper of vermouth, total conviction. The cocktail as architecture.

Strength 10/10 — order it with intent.

Or let the math pick for you.

Seven questions, scored against all 141 drinks.

More rankings

Best Summer Cocktails Best Winter Cocktails Best Low-ABV Drinks Best Zero-Proof Cocktails & Drinks Best Bitter Cocktails Best Sweet Cocktails