Most Popular Cocktail Recipes of 2016

Story: Emma Janzen

December 24, 2016

gin cocktail — Green Eyes Cocktail | Photo by Greta Rybus

Cold-Brew Coffee Negroni. | Photo by Edd Siu.

black manhattan recipe — 4. Black Manhattan | Photo by Max Kelly

rye-and-pine-crdt-emily-han — Rye and Pine Old Fashioned | Photo by Emily Han

bennett-cocktail-horizontal-crdt-alan-gastelum — The Bennett Cocktail. | Photo by Alan Gastelum.

mezcal cocktail — Red Brick Mezcal Cocktail. | Photo courtesy of Red Brick Kitchen.

Spicy Dead Lady | Photo by Vanessa Granda

The Basil Daisy features an easygoing mix of vodka, Aperol, lemon and fresh basil. | Photo by Andrew Cebulka.

Churchill Manhattan | Photo by Max Kelly

Backsliding Presbyterian. | Photo by Eric Medsker.

pearl diver — Pearl Diver. | Photo by Jochen Hirschfeld.

whiskey sour riff — Cold Comfort. | Photo by Andrew Cebulka.

gin basil smash — Gin Basil Smash. | Photo by Lara Ferroni.

old tom cocktail — Casino Cocktail | Photo by Lara Ferroni

watermelon cocktail — Sandia Watermelon Cocktail. | Photo by Ron Carey.

Lost Lake Cocktail. | Photo by Matthew Gilson.

gin old fashioned — First it Giveth. | Photo by Sydney Cummiskey.

whiskey cocktail — Dare I Say. | Photo by Lara Ferroni.

tipperary — Dead Rabbit Tipperary Recipe. | Photo by Stuart Mullenberg.

2016 was a great year for cocktail drinking. Fresh, bright fruits, herbs and vibrant tiki cocktails were some of the flavors du jour, alongside boozy gin drinks and some brooding numbers featuring whiskey and mezcal. Here are the top 20 recipes that Imbibe readers loved the most from our daily coverage this year.

Backsliding Presbyterian
A modern whiskey highball combining Campari, ginger syrup and lime.

Basil Daisy
A little basil brightens this cooling cocktail from Charleston.

The Bennett
A simple twist on the classic Gimlet.

Black Manhattan
This Manhattan riff uses Averna in place of sweet vermouth.

Casino Old Tom
Originally published in the 1930 edition of the Savoy Cocktail Book, the Casino is a cocktail worth revisiting.

Churchill Manhattan
Named after Winston Churchill, this smoky cocktail stretches the boundaries of the classic Manhattan.

Cold-Brew Negroni
Cold-brew coffee gives this Negroni riff a caffeinated boost.

Cold Comfort Cocktail
Featuring Cynar, rye whiskey and a DIY orgeat, this cocktail is a nutty, earthy reward for fans of pistachios.

Dare I Say
If you like your cocktails brown, bitter and stirred, give this cocktail a spin.

Dead Rabbit’s Tipperary
Irish whiskey shines in this update on the classic.

First it Giveth
Bar manager Jason King calls the drink “a ‘nip of gin’ in the ‘old fashioned way.’ ”

Gin Basil Smash
Four simple ingredients make this refreshing cocktail a must-try for springtime sipping.

Green Eyes
If you’re a fan of the Last Word, this citrusy cocktail will hit the spot.

Lost Lake Cocktail
Gin and rum share a shell at the Chicago tiki hub.

Red Brick Kitchen’s Mezcal Cocktail
A blend of smoky mezcal with earthy, bittersweet Cynar.

Rye and Pine Old Fashioned
Homemade pine syrup creates a bouquet of big, wintry aromatics in this Old Fashioned riff.

Spicy Dead Lady
This equal-parts cocktail couldn’t be easier to make—or enjoy.

Pearl Diver
Beachbum Berry reveals the secret recipe for this 1950s-era tiki classic.

Sandia Watermelon Cocktail
A summer sipper primed for poolside parties.

Strawberries and Old Tom Gin & Tonic
There’s no forgetting this gorgeous G&T from Sable in Chicago.

Emma Janzen

Emma Janzen is a journalist, photographer, and book author. Her first book, Mezcal: The History, Craft and Cocktails of the World's Ultimate Artisanal Spirit, was nominated for a James Beard Foundation award in 2018; She co-authored The Way of the Cocktail with Kumiko owner Julia Momosé (2021), contributed to David Wondrich's The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails (2021), and is currently working on The Bartender's Manifesto with Toby Maloney of The Violet Hour (2022). Writing and editing from her home base in the Midwest, she prefers her mezcal neat, her martinis made with gin, and her champagne served in a coupe.