(Photo: Michael Macor/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)Drinks International recently released its annual Brands Report detailing the best-selling spirits among bartenders worldwide. In addition to broad categories like whiskey, tequila and rum, the list broke down the most popular spirits mixed into particular cocktails at the world's best bars.
Leading the pack was the red-tinged Negroni, an equal parts mix of gin, sweet vermouth and Campari that has picked up enormous traction within the mixology world over the past few years. According to the Drinks International Cocktail Report, it's currently the single most popular drink at leading bars, beating out heavy hitters like the margarita and the old fashioned.
But what exactly is your favorite bartender mixing into this iconic recipe?
Data for the ranking was sourced from a diverse sample of venues that featured in recent editions of The World’s 50 Best Bars, Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Award and other regional awards including North America and Asia’s 50 Best Bars. Bar owners were asked to check their spreadsheets and rank the top three best-selling products in each category.
3. Bombay Sapphire
[caption id="attachment_98936" align="aligncenter" width="600"] (Photo: Bombay Sapphire)[/caption]
Founded in 1986, Bombay Sapphire is by far the youngest brand in the top three. This flagship gin of spirits conglomerate Bacardi is made with a blend of sustainability-sourced botanicals including juniper from Tuscany, coriander from Morocco and lemon peel from Spain.
Like all distillers on this list, Bombay Sapphire has worked hard to establish its presence in bars. Over the past few years, we've seen the brand release a cocktail-inspired couture capsule, a bevy of mixology kits keeping up with TikTok trends and collaborations with celebrities like Baz Luhrmann, the director of "Elvis" and "Moulin Rouge!"
2. Beefeater
[caption id="attachment_98940" align="aligncenter" width="600"] (Photo: Beefeater)[/caption]
Beefeater is one of a handful of gins owned by French spirits firm Pernod Ricard, the same company behind Plymouth, Seagram's and Monkey 47. The brand is immediately recognizable behind the bar thanks to its iconic Yeomen of the Guard logo, a holdover from the days when warders of the Tower of London were nicknamed "Beefeaters." (According to legend, they ate a lot of beef.)
In addition to its London Dry, the brand produces a bottle dubbed Beefeater 24 that adds Chinese green tea and Japanese sencha into the botanical mix. Both expressions are fairly well regarded by critics, especially those who appreciate a heavy serving of juniper in their spirits.
1. Tanqueray
[caption id="attachment_98939" align="aligncenter" width="600"] (Photo: Tanqueray)[/caption]
Tanqueray Gin has done much to cement its position atop the mixology world. Brand ambassador Stanley Tucci regularly appears in ads touting it as the definitive gin for martinis, while a steady stream of seasonal releases has introduced flavors like Brazilian guava and Sevilla orange into the fray. When Gucci debuted its first pre-mixed cocktail a few years back, it came as no surprise that the fashion house chose Tanqueray No. Ten for its main ingredient.
The brand dates back to 1830 when the original recipe was conceived by the titular Charles Tanqueray. Its botanical blend — which the brand claims is a “closely guarded trade secret” — is only confirmed to contain juniper, coriander, angelica root and licorice. Critics have heaped praise on its flagship expression over the years, often noting its lemony aroma and strong pop of coriander on the palate.
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(Photo: Bombay Sapphire)[/caption]
Founded in 1986, Bombay Sapphire is by far the youngest brand in the top three. This flagship gin of spirits conglomerate Bacardi is made with a blend of sustainability-sourced botanicals including juniper from Tuscany, coriander from Morocco and lemon peel from Spain.
Like all distillers on this list, Bombay Sapphire has worked hard to establish its presence in bars. Over the past few years, we've seen the brand release a cocktail-inspired couture capsule, a bevy of mixology kits keeping up with TikTok trends and collaborations with celebrities like Baz Luhrmann, the director of "Elvis" and "Moulin Rouge!"
(Photo: Beefeater)[/caption]
Beefeater is one of a handful of gins owned by French spirits firm Pernod Ricard, the same company behind Plymouth, Seagram's and Monkey 47. The brand is immediately recognizable behind the bar thanks to its iconic Yeomen of the Guard logo, a holdover from the days when warders of the Tower of London were nicknamed "Beefeaters." (According to legend, they ate a lot of beef.)
In addition to its London Dry, the brand produces a bottle dubbed Beefeater 24 that adds Chinese green tea and Japanese sencha into the botanical mix. Both expressions are fairly well regarded by critics, especially those who appreciate a heavy serving of juniper in their spirits.
(Photo: Tanqueray)[/caption]
Tanqueray Gin has done much to cement its position atop the mixology world. Brand ambassador Stanley Tucci regularly appears in ads touting it as the definitive gin for martinis, while a steady stream of seasonal releases has introduced flavors like Brazilian guava and Sevilla orange into the fray. When Gucci debuted its first pre-mixed cocktail a few years back, it came as no surprise that the fashion house chose Tanqueray No. Ten for its main ingredient.
The brand dates back to 1830 when the original recipe was conceived by the titular Charles Tanqueray. Its botanical blend — which the brand claims is a “closely guarded trade secret” — is only confirmed to contain juniper, coriander, angelica root and licorice. Critics have heaped praise on its flagship expression over the years, often noting its lemony aroma and strong pop of coriander on the palate.
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