The people have spoken: these are our best cocktails of 2024. Based on what received the most page views this year, we’ve concocted a list as varied as the ingredients in these drinks. Some of the year’s cocktail trends were the continual rise of the spritz, unconventional ingredients, savory drinks, and of course, drinks in line with this year’s hottest topics—pop culture releases in music, television, and film.
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TABLE Magazine’s Best Cocktails of 2024
A Presidential Debate Cocktail: The He Said/She Said
Though the 2024 presidential election was contentious, this cocktail is the undebated winner for our most popular of the year. One version has Campari, the other has Blue Curaçao…otherwise, they’re identical. We’re all the same inside at the end of the day.
Sands of Arrakis Dune Cocktail
“The spice” from Dune, the addictive psychedelic substance that fuels Frank Herbert’s fictional universe, may not be real, but this cocktail is. Whiskey, blood orange coulis, fino sherry, and bay leaf bitters combined with a glass dusted with Spice Melange, make for an out-of-this-world drink.
Dance of the Dragons, A House of the Dragon Cocktail
HBO’s House of the Dragon, a spinoff of Game of Thrones, lit up the television world this year. You can also try our Aemond at the Brothel cocktail for a risqué take on the House of the Dragon theme honoring one of the most, er, memorable scenes in the show.
Our 2024 Presidential Election Cocktail, The Margin of Error
This year’s election projections were universally within a statistical margin of error, so we made a loosey-goosey cocktail. It’s hard to mess up, with relaxed proportions. It’s a drink that you can make quickly, without worrying much about mistakes or miscalculations that might ruin your cocktail.
Shake Up the Lover Cocktail
Almost no one was a bigger star in 2024 than Taylor Swift. Our Shake Up The Lover cocktail made a splash this year, the same time as Taylor’s The Tortured Poets Department dropped, as well as the release of the Eras tour film.
Espresso Negroni
Nobody can say no to a negroni, and espresso is always a crowd-pleaser. Get both your booze and caffeine fix to cap off a hell of a year with this cocktail. This recipe is easy to make, classy, and also lines up with a trending hit from 2024: Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso.”
Absinthe Spritz
We tried an unconventional ingredient in a classic favorite. This Absinthe Spritz using 1129 Ridge Avenue Absinthe Traditionelle was a fun way to kick off spritz season. Drink responsibly, though, because absinthe is not for the faint of heart. Or at least that’s what the 19th century French urban legend of the “fou d’absinthe” warned all drinkers.
The Gold Medal
Another of 2024’s top events was the summer Olympics in Paris, France. Our custom-made celebratory cocktail with champagne and cognac is great for a toast, no matter which place your country got this year.
Earl Grey Negroni
Caffeine in a negroni wins again! This negroni uses gin infused with earl grey to get the rich bergamot notes of the tea into the refreshing quality of the cocktail. Tyler Lewis of Pittsburgh’s Blue Sky brought us this recipe, guaranteed to become a favorite in your home bar.
Banana Walnut Old-Fashioned
This Old-Fashioned is warm and satisfying while still feeling upscale with banane de Brazil, rum and Demerara syrup. The garnish of banana bread gives it that extra fall coziness and sweetness, making it perfect to end a meal with.
