10 cocktail recipes that would fit on any fancy bar and restaurant menus

I’ve been a little remiss in writing articles about mixology lately. As you may recall, I took up cocktail creations as a hobby a couple of years ago and got really into it in 2023 and 2024 but I’ve pulled back a little in 2025 because, let’s face it, making mixed drinks can be a dangerous path if you do too much sampling!

But it’s still really fun to see which concoctions work well together. I can’t believe I went so long in life simply drinking such-as-such on the rocks or bourbon and soda. Not to knock some of the basics, but I discovered a world of multi-faceted-tasting drinks. After a ton of sampling, here are some of my “greatest hits” that I believe would fit in nicely on any fancy bar and restaurant cocktail menus.

Want an easy hot toddy with an Italian twist? = Amaro Caldo

• 1.75 parts Braulio

• 3 parts boiling water

• Garnish with lemon zest in a toddy glass

Want milky tequila yum? = Bird of Paradise

• 1.25 parts reposado tequila

• .75 parts white creme de cacao

• .5 parts Disaronno amaretto

• 1.5 parts half and half

• Shaken, with nutmeg garnish in a coupe glass

Want Boston’s boozy sweet cherry-tinted rye? = Fort Point (pictured)

• 2 parts rye

• .5 parts sweet vermouth

• .25 parts DOM Benedictine

• Skewer with a cherry atop a Nick & Nora glass

Want Kansas City’s signature spicy and breezy rye? This one was perfect for my Super Bowl party, since the Chiefs were one of the teams playing this year (I also made a Philadelphia-themed drink, but it didn’t make the cut for this list) = Horsefeather

• 1.5 parts rye

• 4 parts ginger beer

• 4 dashes of angostura bitters

• A lemon or lime wedge in a highball glass

When a milkshake is the only thing that will do. I know, this one seems a little like amateur hour, and I already included a toddy here, but this is sooo good = The Hummer

• 1.5 parts white rum

• 1.5 parts Kahlua

• 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream

• Blend with 2-3 ice cubes

Want a snappy Scotch amaretto? = Loch Almond

• 1 part scotch

• 1 part amaretto

• Top amaretto then scotch with however much ginger ale you prefer and garnish with an orange spiral in a highball glass

Want a classic ginger tequila? = Mexican Mule

• 2 parts tequila

• 4 to 6 parts ginger beer

• Can also use a little agave syrup

• .5 parts lime juice

• Garnish with lots of ice and jalapeño and cilantro in a mule cup

Want a licorice and chocolate twist on an Old Fashioned? = Old Roma

• 2 parts bourbon

• .75 parts amaro (or chartreuse)

• .5 parts creme de cacao liqueur

• 2 dashes of black walnut bitters

• Garnish with a caramelized walnut in a highball glass

Want a refreshing ginger breeze? = Roman Highball

• 1 1/2 parts averna amaro

• .75 parts ginger liqueur

• .5 parts lime juice

• Garnish with candied ginger in a tall highball glass

Want a lemony-refreshing drink that crackles quietly while you drink it? = Acapulco No. 2

• 1 part reposado tequila

• 1 part Strega (or DOM Benedictine)

• 1 part fresh lemon juice

• .5 part egg whites (or 3 dashes of Fee Brothers Fee Foam cocktail foamer)

• Garnish with a lemon wheel in an old fashioned glass

If that’s not enough for you, take a look at the Pop Culture Lunch Box cocktail archive. Now, which one can I make for you?