The 90s are back. From fashion to music and even trending cocktails, what was once out of vogue is now back in demand. However, it is not a repeat of this decade gone by. Instead, people are looking for ways to enjoy nostalgia while embracing quality or quantity. So, instead of slamming back the cheap drinks of your youth, try to keep an eye out for these ten most popular cocktail requests in 2023. 

1. Negroni Sbagliato

The Negroni is an Italian cocktail seeing renewed popularity thanks to a twist on the traditional recipe. People took notice when Emma D’Arcy from House of Dragons proclaimed the Negroni Sbagliato as her favorite cocktail. The sweet, slightly citrusy, and light sweetness of the drink combine to make an easy-drinking cocktail that is perfect for happy hour. 

• 1 ½ oz sweet vermouth
• 1 ½ oz Campari
• 1 ½ oz Prosecco or other sparkling wine

To make your own Negroni Sbagliato, use a mixing glass to stir the vermouth and Campari together. Then, strain it into a champagne flute and add the Prosecco. Garnish with an orange slice. 

2. Martinis 

There was a time throughout the 1990s when every bar and restaurant menu featured full martini lists. No matter what your taste preference was, there was a martini with it. Some of the most popular cocktail varieties are making a resurgence. However, these are not cheap concoctions from the past. Instead, you will see better-quality ingredients that produce authentic flavors.  

Espresso Martini

The espresso martini was the caffeinated alcohol drink before Red Bull, and vodka became king. Except the espresso martini has more depth of flavor and class. You can control the flavors of the drink by what vodka and espresso you choose to use. 

• 2 ounces vodka
• 1/2 ounce coffee liqueur (usually Kahlúa)
• 1 ounce espresso, freshly brewed (or cold brew concentrate)
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup

Use a shaker filled with ice to blend the ingredients together. When very cold, strain into a martini glass and garnish with a few coffee beans. 

Appletini 

If coffee isn’t your thing, the appletini is also making a big comeback in 2023 as a trending cocktail. This light and crisp drink embraces the tart flavor of green apples. 

• 1 ¼ oz vodka
• 1 oz Calvados
• 1 ¼ oz Granny Smith apple juice
• ¼ oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• ¼ oz simple syrup

Chill and combine all ingredients in an ice-filled shaker. Double strain the appletini into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a granny smith apple slice. 

3. Two Spirit Popular Cocktails 

There is a beauty and classiness to simplicity. With the rise in popularity of craft cocktails, recipes became over the top and overly complicated. People are not moving away from these pretentious drinks for simplistic elegance. Two-spirit cocktails showcase the flavors of the alcohol, are fast to make, and are delicious to drink. 

Rusty Nail

• 1 ½ oz scotch
• ¾ oz Drambuie

The rusty nail is a simple drink, requiring a mixing glass and a rocks glass. Chill the drink in your mixing glass and pour it into your rocks glass. If you are feeling fancy, add one of those extra-large ice cubes or an ice ball. 

4. Pre-Batched Popular Cocktails

Nothing is more challenging than making a large batch of popular cocktails when everyone orders something different. The bartender races around making the different drinks. Or worse, you are entertaining at home, stuck at the bar making everyone’s drink while they enjoy the party. Enter the pre-batched cocktail. Restaurants and bars are offering them more now, as they are the perfect solution for faster service to large groups. They also work well at home. Mix up a large batch of a single cocktail or two and have it ready to serve. These popular cocktails lend themselves well to making in large quantities. 

Negroni

The Negroni is a cocktail bursting with flavor. You will get notes of licorice root, juniper, and orange. When made right, there is a balance between sour, bitter, and sweet. 

•  1 750-ml bottle of Campari, chilled
•  1 750-ml bottle of Cinzano sweet vermouth, chilled
•  1 750-ml bottle of prosecco, chilled
•  Rind from 1 large orange, cut into long, thin ribbons with a vegetable peeler.

Add all of the ingredients to a pitcher or punch bowl. Chill until you are ready to serve. Provide people with rocks, glasses, ice, and small orange peel twists for a garnish. 

Vodka Martini 

This classy and sophisticated drink tends to be a love it or hate it cocktail. It never really goes out of style, regularly appearing on most popular cocktail and trending cocktail lists. It has a neutral flavor that is clean and crisp. This leaves an almost blank palette for the garnish flavoring. 

• 1 liter vodka
• 4 oz vermouth
• 2 oz brine
• 2 oz water

Pour six ounces of the vodka bottle and save for another use. Add the vermouth, brine, and water to the vodka bottle. Place in the freezer until cold. You can leave it in your freezer for up to two months, making it the perfect go-to for last-minute entertaining. To serve, provide chilled glasses and a selection of garnishes. Olive is the traditional garnish, but you could also add a lemon twist, pickled onion, orange peel, bitters, oysters, or garlic. 

Paloma 

This light and refreshing drink is perfect for summer with a delightful blend of salty, sour, and bittersweet flavors. Consider it a margarita alternative. Traditional Paloma recipes use grapefruit soda. However, when mixing up a large batch in advance, grapefruit juice holds better and gives more flavor. 

• 2 ⅔ cups tequila
• 2 ⅔ cups grapefruit juice
• 1 cup lime juice
• 1 cup water
• 5 tbsp agave nectar (Or to taste)
• ½ tsp salt
• 10 oz Sparkling water (More or less, to top off individual servings)

Stir all chilled ingredients together (except the sparkling water) and place in the fridge until you are ready to serve. To serve, salt rim the glasses. Fill glasses ¾ full with ice and then to the same ¾ full with the Paloma mixture. Fill the rest of the glass with sparkling water and garnish with a lime wheel. 

5. Low Alcohol and Popular Cocktails

Americans recognize that not everything is black and white. With this, more and more people are embracing the damp lifestyle. They don’t want to commit to a “dry lifestyle” where they never drink alcohol. However, they also don’t want to go the other way of being a lush. The damp lifestyle allows them to drink without over-imbibing. They may not drink often, or when they do drink, it is a low alcohol content option. 

Americano

If you enjoy the flavor of a negroni, then give its predecessor a try, the Americano. It is a bittersweet drink that dates back to the 1860s. 

• 1 ½ oz Campari
• 1 ½ oz sweet vermouth
• Soda water, chilled, to top

The key is to use equal parts Campari and sweet vermouth. Fill the glass you intend to use with ice, typically a highball glass, and add the liquor. Top it off with soda water and gently stir. Garnish the drink with an orange twist. 

Garibaldi

The garibaldi embraces the two-ingredient trend by using Campari and orange juice. Drink it at brunch or as a fruity alternative at happy hour. 

• 1 ½ oz Campari
• 4 oz Orange juice

Start with a highball glass, add ice, then Campari and orange juice. Stir to gently combine and garnish with an orange wedge. 

6. Canned Popular Cocktails

Ready-to-drink canned cocktails are having their moment as the fasts growing spirits category. They are perfect for bringing along, as you only need the cans. There is no need to buy all of the individual ingredients and bar tools. While there are multiple selections of trending and popular cocktails from well-known brands, there is also a rising craft market of specialty canned cocktails. 

• Cutwater Cocktails 
• Bacardi Real Rum Cocktails 
• Hornitos Spiked Seltzer 
• Jim Beam Canned Highballs 
• Kahlua Espresso Style Martini 

7. Frosé 

Admittedly, frosé hit its peak and is on the downslope as a trending cocktail. However, it is still in demand and among the ranks of popular cocktails. That demand will likely increase as the cold winter months melt away and the heat of summer hits us all. This cool and refreshing drink is a delicious new take on wine. 

• 1 750 ml bottle of rosé (choose a darker and more robust variety)
• ½ cup sugar
• 8 oz strawberries, hulled and quartered
• 2½ oz fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup ice

Pour the wine into a 13×9″ pan. Place in the freezer until it’s frozen. The alcohol will prevent it from becoming frozen solid. In a pan, heat ½ cup of water with the sugar to dissolve and make a syrup, and then add the strawberries. Remove from the heat and let sit and cool until the strawberries infuse the syrup with flavor. Strain, cover the filtered sugar, and chill for at least 30 minutes. Add the frozen wine, 3 ½ oz of strawberry syrup, and ice to a blender and puree until smooth. Place into the freezer for 20-30 minutes until thick, like a milkshake. Blender again before serving and pour into wine glasses. 

8. Spicy Drinks

People are looking for more of a kick or bite with their cocktails in 2023. Because of this, we will see the most popular cocktails get some spice or heat added. This brings a fresh take on old favorites. You may see peppers, hot sauce, or herbs added to drinks to give them a bit of spice. 

Margaritas Are Still Popular Cocktails

The margarita is a classic favorite from Mexico, so it is a perfect cocktail choice for adding some spice. Try this spicy margarita recipe, as you can easily control the amount of heat that gets added to the drink. 

• 1 lime wedge
• 2 jalapeno coins, seeds removed
• 2 oz blanco tequila
• ½ oz orange liqueur
• 1 oz lime juice, freshly squeezed
• ½ oz agave syrup

Prepare the margarita as you would a traditional version. Add the jalapenos to the shaker before mixing. The sweetness of the additional syrup helps balance the pepper’s bite. You can use either plain salt for the glass rim or add some extra heat with a spice-infused salt. Garnish your drink with a lime and jalapeno slice. 

Bloody Marys Are Among the Top Popular Cocktails

Another drink that lends itself well to some additional heat is the bloody mary. Because the drink is already savory, it can support the addition of spice and heat. How much heat you add will depend on the amount of hot sauce, horseradish, and pepper you add. Be careful; sometimes the heat hits you after you swallow the drink. 

• 2 1/2 oz vodka 
• 3/4 cup tomato juice
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 dashes of hot sauce (optional)
• 1 pinch of celery salt
• 1/4 tsp prepared horseradish
• 1 pinch of black pepper

Add all of the chilled ingredients to a glass and stir well to combine. Then garnish with a celery stalk, lime wedge, green olive, bacon, parsley sprig, pickle spear, or shrimp. 

Consider these popular cocktails and insights. And let Distillery Nearby be your guide to all the best spirit tours!