For drinks enthusiasts, 2023 was a year of turbulence and change—with a sprinkling of trendy innovation mixed in for good measure. There were climate-affected harvests, plunging spirits sales and changing beer recipes. There was the emergence of odd—and in some cases rather intriguing—products like a “Waffles & Syrup“-flavored cream liqueur and smoked-trout brandy. There were also plenty more classic liquors and liqueurs that were just as noteworthy, many of which snagged spots on this year’s Top 100 Spirits of 2023 list.
While some of those top bottles are prized as straight-up sippers, many can and have been incorporated into some of the year’s most popular mixed drink recipes. From a lavender-hued, Taylor Swift-inspired cocktail to the internet-famous Parmesan espresso martini, this year saw a diverse and dizzying array of trending cocktails. Given that the end of year is a time to pause and look back on all the happenings of the previous 300-something-odd days, we decided to run the numbers to see which of those concoctions reigned supreme.
The results are somewhat surprising. The list includes both repeat favorites from last year, such as timeless hot buttered rum and unexpected newcomers like the Hugo Spritz, the unofficial drink of this summer (no offense to Tay Tay).
Here, we’re counting down the creations readers couldn’t get enough of this year. Did your favorite make the cut? We can only wonder what drink trends will reign supreme in 2024.
Photography by Heidi’s Bridge 10. The Dark ‘n’ Stormy
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This Article was originally published on Wine Enthusiast
