The world of cocktail culture is ever-changing. Each year brings about different consumer desires and tastes and, with them, new trends. For one of the best snapshots of cocktail culture, trade publication Drinks International publishes its annual list of the 50 Most Popular Cocktails in the World.
To create the ranking, the publication surveys the world’s top bars and asks each to name its best-selling drinks for the year. The responses are then weighted and ranked to create a roundup of the year’s most in-demand cocktails.
This year, the top 10 didn’t budge — despite some shuffling around — showing the staying power of the classics. Five new entries hit the list for the first time this year, and seven cocktails made a comeback after dropping off in previous years. Of all the cocktails that jumped up spots, gin was the most common base spirit, with rum right behind it. Welcoming new drinks means saying goodbye to some old favorites, so for now we bid adieu to the Carajillio, Corpse Reviver #2, Cosmopolitan, Dark & Stormy, Fitzgerald, Hanky-Panky, Long Island Iced Tea, Oaxaca Old Fashioned, Old Cuban, Painkiller, Ramos Gin Fizz, and Sazerac.
So grab your favorite bar spoon and mixing glass, and dive into the list of the 50 most popular cocktails of 2026.
50. Naked & Famous
Of the cocktails that remained on the list, the Naked & Famous saw the most drastic fall, moving down 23 spots from No. 27. The cocktail — invented by Joaquín Simó at Death & Co. — is an equal-parts mixture of mezcal, lime juice, Chartreuse, and Aperol. This masterpiece is at once piquant, boozy, herbal, and refreshing.
49. Southside
After re-entering the list in 2025, the Southside dropped two spots to 49. The cocktail remains a favorite, albeit a confounding one. Is it a cousin of the Gimlet? An offshoot of the Mojito? It’s something in-between: This quaffable concoction brings refreshing notes of mint, lime, and gin.
48. Sidecar
The Sidecar fell by seven spots from last year, but it’s still keeping brandy alive on this list, despite being one of its most underrepresented spirits. The Sidecar is a good place to start for those not familiar with the distilled wine, mixing brandy, lemon, and triple sec for a tart, refreshing sipper. Don’t forget the sugar rim!
47. Bellini
First crafted by Giuseppe Cipriani at Harry’s Bar in Venice, the Bellini is a peachy, effervescent cocktail popular for brunch and aperitivo. Just peach purée and Prosecco meet in a flute for a fruity and fun sipper.
46. Vieux Carré
The Vieux Carré was invented in 1938 in New Orleans. Translating to “old square” in French, the drink is named after its hometown’s French Quarter neighborhood. This boozy drink is a combination of rye, cognac, sweet vermouth, and bitters.
45. East 8 Hold-Up
A new entry this year, the East 8 Hold-Up is a modern classic invented by Kevin Armstrong at London’s Milk & Honey in the early 2010s. It brings together vodka, Aperol, passion fruit, lime juice, and sugar. While it certainly doesn’t have the same degree of name recognition as its peers on this list, the drink’s popularity is on the rise.
44. Piña Colada
The Piña Colada’s fall from grace continues: After a 15-spot plunge in 2025, it slipped by another four this year. Still, the ’70s-era favorite made with white rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice remains a stalwart among drinkers worldwide. The Piña Colada may not be riding the same wave as other tropical cocktails, but this beachy drink will always be a classic.
43. Cuba Libre
The Cuba Libre is a citrus-spiked twist on the Rum and Coke. Another re-entry to the list, this cocktail is a simple mix of rum, Coca-Cola, and lime juice. The sweetness of both rum and coke blend together, while the citrus juice livens it up.
42. Champagne Cocktail
The origins of the Champagne Cocktail are unknown, but the drink is a timeless classic. Mixing Champagne, Angostura bitters, and a sugar cube, the drink delivers a simple, elegant experience.
41. Garibaldi
This year marks the Garibaldi’s first appearance on this list. The refreshing aperitivo drink, named after Italian revolutionary leader Giuseppe Garibaldi, combines orange juice and Campari. Though it first gained recognition in the mid-20th century, the Garibaldi was more recently popularized by New York City’s acclaimed cocktail bar Dante, where the addition of fluffy juice froths up the drink to achieve a velvety texture.
40. Bramble
Invented by the same bartender who first mixed up the Espresso Martini, the late Dick Bradsell, the Bramble is a quintessentially British cocktail. Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and blackberry liqueur combine over a mountain of crushed ice to create a refreshing, fruit-forward drink. The Bramble fell a bit short this year, dropping five spots from its No. 35 spot in 2025.
39. Milano Torino
The Milano Torino is the origin of a whole class of drinks: the Negroni, Americano, Boulevardier, and others. What do these classic aperitivo cocktails have in common? A base of Campari and sweet vermouth. The Milano Torino, first served at Gaspare Campari’s eponymous bar in the 1860s, was the first to bring those two ingredients together. It seems like drinkers are into the basics this year, as the Milano Torino is a new entry to this list.
38. Brandy Custa
The Brandy Crusta — believed to have been invented in New Orleans in the 1850s — is making its grand comeback after falling off of the list in 2022. The mix of brandy, Maraschino liqueur, triple sec, lemon, and bitters is at once boozy and quaffable.
37. Scotch Sour
The Scotch Sour — a new entry to this list — is an offshoot of the Whiskey Sour. It’s a mixture of Scotch, lemon juice, and sugar, and just like its sibling, can include egg whites. The result is silky and a bit sweet, with peaty, malty notes coming through.
36. Negroni Sbagliato
The Negroni Sbagliato is the highest-ranking new entry, likely riding the coattails of its ultra-popular predecessor. Using Prosecco or Champagne — though we believe the Italian sparkling wine is more apt here — instead of gin, this bubbly rendition gives the classic Negroni a fizzy twist.
35. Aviation
Served up in a Martini glass, this gorgeous lavender-colored cocktail is made with crème de violette or crème Yvette, Maraschino liqueur, gin, and lemon juice. That said, many Aviation interpretations have emerged over the years, so there’s a fair amount of wiggle room in this cocktail’s spec. This year, the Aviation slid by nine spots to No. 35.
34. Mezcal Margarita
A smoky spin on the original Margarita, this riff employs the popular Oaxacan spirit in place of traditional tequila. Depending on the spirit of choice, a Mezcal Margarita’s flavor profile can fall anywhere from smoky and vegetal to tropical and fruity. While agave-based spirits, including mezcal, are experiencing a boom, the cocktail fell from No. 28 to 34.
33. Caipirinha
Brazil’s national cocktail, the Caipirinha is made with a base of the country’s local spirit, cachaça, mixed with sugar and lime. But it can be a choose-your-own-adventure drink, so feel free to tweak the spec to your personal taste.
32. Paper Plane
Sam Ross’s modern classics know no bounds. Joining fellow list-maker the Penicillin, we find his equal-parts bourbon cocktail the Paper Plane. Named after M.I.A.’s hit track “Paper Planes,” the drink brings together equal parts bourbon, amaro, Aperol, and lemon juice. It slid by just two spots this year, landing at No. 32.
31. Last Word
The Last Word — which combines gin, green Chartreuse, Maraschino liqueur, and lime juice — was invented at the Detroit Athletic Club around 1915, but fell into relative obscurity by the mid-1900s. Its modern revival has been credited to late bartender Murray Stenson, who came across the drink in an old bar manual while working at Seattle’s Zig Zag Café in 2004. This tart, sweet, herbal, and absolutely delicious cocktail climbed five spots this year to No. 31.
30. Vesper
Created by Ian Fleming in his 1953 book “Casino Royale,” the Vesper has broken out from the world of “James Bond” as a popular Martini variation. Gin, vodka, and Lillet come together in the classic boozy cocktail. Recently, the drink has been riding the ’tini tidal wave, re-entering this list after disappearing last year.
29. Bee’s Knees
The Bee’s Knees is a Prohibition-era cocktail, with the warm, sweet notes of honey headlining its flavor. The combination of gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup makes for a remarkably quaffable drink, one that’s also easy to batch for parties. This year, it jumped by four spots to No. 29.
28. Vodka Martini
Martinis are having a moment — but the Gin Martini is outpacing the vodka variety. After moving up 21 spots in 2025, the Vodka Martini backslid to No. 28 this year. Still, the drink is in high demand across the world’s best cocktail bars.
27. Gin Basil Smash
The Gin Basil Smash saw the biggest jump in 2026, up 42 spots from last year. A riff on Dale DeGroff’s take on the Whiskey Smash, German bartender Jörg Meyer invented the Gin Basil Smash (a.k.a. the Gin Pesto) in 2008. The herbaceous qualities of gin and muddled basil together create an aromatic bouquet reminiscent of summer flowers and fresh Caprese salad.
26. Pornstar Martini
The Pornstar Martini is a fruit-forward cocktail served alongside a shot of sparkling wine, either to be dumped in the drink or sipped separately. The wine’s dry, acidic qualities provide some restraint to the cocktail’s velvety, vanilla sweetness. After jumping up in the rankings last year, the Pornstar Martini fell slightly out of favor with a 15-spot drop in 2026.
25. Gin Fizz
The Gin Fizz came about in the 1800s and has since inspired a suite of offshoots, including the Scotch-based Morning Glory Fizz and the notoriously labor-intensive Ramos Gin Fizz. The simple drink — which maintained its top-25 placement this year — is a mix of gin, lemon, sugar, soda, and often an egg white.
24. Mai Tai
The Mai Tai, perhaps the tiki-est of tiki cocktails, is clearly hard to resist among the world’s drinkers. Trader Vic’s original recipe called for Wray and Nephew 17 as its base rum, but that expression is no longer available. In light of that, modern specs typically include a few varieties of rum, orange juice, triple sec, and several sweeteners to achieve a similar tropical profile. The Mai Tai leapfrogged 14 spots this year, finishing in No. 24.
23. French 75
The French 75 calls for gin, lemon juice, sugar, and Champagne. Though allegedly named after the French 75mm field gun, the cocktail is a classy affair, and works just as well for celebrations as it does for your Friday nights in. The bubbly cocktail lost some steam this year, landing just short of the top 20.
22. Clover Club
The Clover Club is a pre-Prohibition cocktail named after a Philadelphia men’s club. After the American dry spell, it largely fell out of popularity, but was given a breath of new life in the late aughts by industry veteran Julie Reiner at her Brooklyn bar of the same name. The bright pink drink contains gin, lemon juice, raspberry syrup, and an egg white. Garnish with a few raspberries or a lemon twist, and you’re in for a treat. This easy-sipper hiked nine spots this year, landing at No. 22.
21. Pisco Sour
Starring the Peruvian and Chilean national spirit, the Pisco Sour was ironically invented by an American bartender. This blend of pisco, lime, simple syrup, and an optional egg white is bright, herbal, and quaffable. For those on the prowl for other pisco-based cocktails, we recommend checking out the Pisco Punch and El Capitán.
20. Penicillin
Few modern classics are as ubiquitous as the almighty Penicillin. Created by Sam Ross of New York’s Attaboy, this cocktail is a smoky-sweet combo of Islay Scotch, blended Scotch, lemon juice, and honey-ginger simple syrup. Though the drink isn’t as medicinal as its name suggests, the Penicillin might help clear your sinuses and warm your soul.
19. Boulevardier
The Boulevardier is a broad-shouldered take on the classic Negroni: The substitution of whiskey for gin gives Campari and sweet vermouth a rounder, warmer kick. A classic Boulevardier should be garnished with an orange twist. After jumping nine spots last year to No. 13, the Boulevardier backstepped to No. 19 in 2026.
18. Zombie
Fruity, bright, and crushable, this tiki cocktail was first invented in Hollywood by bartender Don the Beachcomber in 1934. It consists of a juice trio (lime, lemon, and pineapple), Don’s Mix, Angostura bitters, brown sugar, and three different types of rum (light, dark, and 151-proof). Infamous for its two-per-customer limit implemented by Don himself, the drink is as potent as it is refreshing.
17. Bamboo
The Bamboo is this year’s highest-ranking re-entry cocktail. It’s an understandable placement, as the low-ABV cocktail made its comeback as many drinkers look for low or no booze options. The mix of dry sherry, vermouth, Angostura and orange bitters, and an orange twist makes for a drink that nails the balance between silky, sweet, and bright.
16. Moscow Mule
This famous workhorse drink contains ginger, vodka, lime, and soda. It’s famously served in a copper mug, which helps to keep it ice cold down to the very last sip. Nowadays, there’s a whole family of Mule cocktails out there, but it’s hard to top the one that started it all.
15. Americano
Not to be confused with the espresso drink — in fact, it has nothing to do with coffee at all — this Italian cocktail was created by Gaspare Campari, who served it in his bar Caffè Campari in the 1860s. Consider the Americano a Negroni Lite, as its build contains Campari, vermouth, and soda water.
14. Bloody Mary
The Bloody Mary is as much an experience as it is a drink. The brunch-time staple is best enjoyed with a house mix of tomato juice, vodka, and various spices. If going maximalist is your thing, many modern, on-menu versions are now served with an array of savory (and sometimes overwrought) garnishes, from celery and olives to bacon or an entire lobster.
13. Gimlet
Originally created by British sailors to fend off scurvy, the Gimlet hits like a gin-based Daiquiri. It typically contains two parts gin, one part lime juice, and one-half part sweetener, but this timeless drink has many flavor iterations. Though the classic has maintained a place in the top 25 for seven years running, it seems to be gaining steam among drinkers, moving up four spots this year.
12. Mojito
The Mojito might be Cuba’s most popular contribution to cocktail culture. The mix of white rum, lime juice, cane sugar, soda, and muddled mint is fresh and tropical. It’s a certified classic that we don’t expect to disappear any time soon.
11. Amaretto Sour
The Amaretto Sour enjoyed a slight surge in popularity this year, jumping four spots to No. 11. With its tangy, sour-sweet flavors, the drink plays like a liquid Sour Patch Kid. Though its base is an Italian liqueur, many believe that the Amaretto Sour emerged from the U.S. cocktail scene’s disco era. The nutty amaretto brings a richness and lemon juice adds a zippy, acidic component, while egg whites add a smooth texture.
10. Manhattan
The Manhattan remains a go-to on cocktail menus worldwide. Rye, sweet vermouth, and two dashes of Angostura are simply stirred, strained, and garnished with a brandied cherry for a drink that makes you feel like a true class act. For a slightly drier rendition, try out the Perfect Manhattan.
9. Whiskey Sour
This dependable drink is an easy fit for whiskey lovers as well as those who are typically wary of the brown spirit with its lemony lift and slight sweetness. The simple recipe calls for whiskey, lemon juice, and sugar, though many insist an egg white is an essential component.
8. Paloma
The Paloma entered this list for the first time in 2017, and not only has it stuck around, but consistently risen in the ranks. The refreshing highball highlights tequila and grapefruit with blanco, grapefruit soda, and a squeeze of fresh lime. You can also switch it up with other seasonal ingredients or swap out the tequila for some slightly smoky mezcal.
7. Aperol Spritz
The Aperol Spritz is as tasty as it is visually pleasing: This bright-orange aperitif has become an icon on both happy hour tables and Instagram feeds. It’s easy to make with its three-two-one ratio of Prosecco, Aperol, and soda. The Aperol Spritz’s popularity is still on the rise: The drink climbed one spot this year.
6. Daiquiri
The Daiquiri is one of the most misunderstood classic cocktails: Many drinkers think of Daiquiris as blended, fruity concoctions. In its purest form, the drink consists of white rum, lime juice, and simple syrup — a tart and satisfying drink for any occasion.
5. Espresso Martini
Created by Dick Bradsell in the 1980s as part of London’s cocktail renaissance, the Espresso Martini is considered a modern classic. The caffeinated combination of vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso, and simple syrup has enjoyed a spike in popularity in recent years. Despite its slip from No. 4 this year, its continued placement in the top five suggests its popularity shows little signs of stopping.
4. Dry Martini
Despite the drink’s simple build, Martini specs are one of the biggest points of contention in the drinks world — a testament to how truly personal this cocktail is. Garnish the classic mix of gin and dry vermouth with a lemon twist or a few olives and make it your own. The iconic drink has experienced an unstoppable rise in recent years, and continued its ascent in 2026, jumping up three spots.
3. Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is timeless. While it fell by one spot this year, it maintains its status as one of the most popular cocktails in the world. This simple classic is made with whiskey, a sugar cube, Angostura bitters, a thick block of ice, and an orange twist. Its boozy, subtle sweetness delivers every time.
2. Margarita
The Margarita remains one of the most popular cocktails in the world — and the most popular cocktail in America. With its tart and tangy simplicity, it’s the most globally recognized tequila drink, hopping one spot to second place this year.
1. Negroni
The Negroni continues its reign at the top of this list, clinching the No. 1 spot for the fifth year in a row. Gin, Campari, and vermouth come together in this equal-parts build for a strong yet refined cocktail. Whether sitting at a beach club in Italy or nestled next to a fireplace in the winter, the Negroni is just as versatile as it is beloved by drinkers worldwide.
