As our extensive archive might suggest, we try a lot of cocktails. We regularly return to the classics (and the modern classics), pick up new favorites from around the world and throw in the occasional bartending project here and there. But it takes something special—a novel ingredient, an unbeatable flavor combination, a recipe that’s truly more than the sum of its parts—to stand out. Only a select few can become obsessions.
Right now, one such standout is the Chupetini, which, even among the explosion of options out there, distinguishes itself from the pack of Martinis. Part of that, yes, is its snackable size (just 1 1/2 ounces), but the other part is its “umami bomb” infusion which steeps herbs, habanero pepper and garlic into vermouth. “The result is a dirty Martini with just the right amount of umami to leave you wanting another sip,” writes executive editor Chloe Frechette.
Others make an impression with their staying power. Created in 2008, the Rome With a View, a riff on the Americano, was ahead of its time. Seventeen years later, it remains a staple in general manager Talia Baiocchi’s drink rotation. “It has the smack of sour candy, the characteristic bite of Campari and the thirst-quenching refreshment of seltzer topped off with a squeeze of fresh lime,” she writes. “I’ll take one any day of the week.”
Finally, some drinks are exceptional because of their novelty. The Mad World, according to Punch contributor John deBary, exemplifies the creativity in the nonalcoholic drink space. Though it’s reminiscent of a Bloody Mary and a Garibaldi, the earthy, salty, spiced recipe is something entirely new. As deBary puts it, it “reinvent[s] what ‘cocktail’ means.”
