Many of our most popular drinks of the past year are familiar classics that were given a fresh turn in the spotlight thanks to the exacting attention of a devoted bartender. Ned King’s New York Sour, for instance, is the result of years of tinkering with the Whiskey Sour rendition. Jelani Johnson’s Rum Old-Fashioned, meanwhile, goes the extra mile to infuse aromatics into the drink with a subtle “regal stir” and a perfectly positioned lime coin. Others on this list made sense right out of the gate. After all, who doesn’t want a frothy aperitivo sour or a smoky-spicy Margarita?
