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Restaurant Hospitality’s editorial staff narrowed down a huge field to select 14 finalists for this year’s Best Cocktails in America contest. Many other creations came very close. Take a look at the runners-up.
See more:
• Full report
• Meet the winners
Category: Whiskey
Ingredients: Old Overholt rye whisky, Spanish brandy, sherry, sweet vermouth, leather
Restaurant: Bazaar Meat by José Andrés
Location: Las Vegas
Category: Whiskey
Ingredients: Ellicherry Pepperorn-infused Old Overholt Rye; Cardamaro; house-blended Picon Amaro; Aperol; lemon/grapefruit juice; grapefruit bitters
Restaurant: Craigie on Main
Location: Cambridge, Mass.
Category: Whiskey
Ingredients: Scotch, cream Sherry, Averna, homemade cherry cordial, bitters
Restaurant: Q39 BBQ
Location: Kansas City, Mo.
Category: Whiskey
Ingredients: Johnnie Walker Black, Grahams 10 Year Tawny Port, fresh lemon and blueberries, housemade lavender simple syrup
Restaurant: Velvet Bar and Lounge
Location: Orlando, Fla.
Category: Whiskey
Ingredients: Ritten House Rye, rose white, lemon juice, simple syrup, Peychaud's Bitters, 18.21 Grapefruit Lavender Bitters
Restaurant: The Southern Gentleman
Location: Atlanta
Category: Gin
Ingredients: Bluecoat Barrel Aged Gin, Cappelletti, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, coffee simple syrup, orange
Restaurant: Plenty Café
Location: Philadelphia
Category: Gin
Ingredients: Gin, peach honey syrup, lemon juice, curaçao, orgeat, bitter liquor, dehydrated peach, peach powder, red sorrel
Restaurant: Bin 707 Foodbar
Location: Grand Junction, Colo.
Category: Gin
Ingredients: Fresh basil leaves, Fragoli, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, Hendrick's Gin
Restaurant: Quartino Ristorante & Wine Bar
Location: Chicago
Category: Gin
Ingredients: 3/4 dry gin, 3/4 fresh lime juice, a heavy 1/2 Strega, 1/2 fresh ginger syrup
Restaurant: Umi
Location: Atlanta
Category: Gin
Ingredients: Tanqueray, Quinta Do Noval Black Port, fresh lime, orange bitters, housemade pecan simple syrup
Restaurant: Commander’s Palace
Location: New Orleans
Category: Rum, Pisco and Cachaça
Ingredients: Leblon cachaça, blueberry & spicy pepper shrub, Fino sherry, lime, sparkling wine
Restaurant: Acme Food & Beverage
Location: Carrboro, N.C.
Category: Rum, Pisco and Cachaça
Ingredients: Lemon and beet shrub, simple syrup, lemon juice, and Carolina Muddy River Rum
Restaurant: Cameron Bar and Grill
Location: Raleigh, N.C.
Category: Rum, Pisco and Cachaça
Ingredients: Selvarey white rum, lime juice, housemade kaffir lime, lemongrass and coconut syrup, toasted coconut rim
Restaurant: Lahaina Grill
Location: Lahaina, Hawaii
Category: Rum, Pisco and Cachaça
Ingredients: Flor de CaÌa Extra Seco 4 rum, pineapple juice, coconut water, Ancho Reyes ancho chile liqueur, lime juice, salt, cumin, paprika
Restaurant: Edison: Food & Drink Lab
Location: Tampa
Category: Rum, Pisco and Cachaça
Ingredients: Pusser's Gunpowder Proof Rum, Galliano Ristretto, Espresso Porter Reduction, Hoodoo Chicory, allspice dram, cream
Restaurant: The Refuge
Location: Isle of Palms, S.C.
Category: Vodka
Ingredients: Vodka, Byrrh, fresh mint, blackberries, lemon juice
Restaurant: The Roof
Location: New York City
Category: Vodka
Ingredients: Hangar One Kaffir Lime Vodka, strawberry-ginger shrub, rhubarb, jalapeño, white crème de cacao
Restaurant: Gram & Dun
Location: Kansas City, Mo.
Category: Vodka
Ingredients: Absolut Elyx, Canton ginger, lemon, grapefruit bitters, Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc, cantaloupe
Restaurant: Luxbar
Location: Chicago
Category: Vodka
Ingredients: Fresh mint, blueberries, lemon juice, simple, St. Germain, organic Prairie Vodka, Prosecco
Restaurant: True Food Kitchen
Location: Phoenix
Category: Vodka
Ingredients: Vodka, amaro nonino, rosemary, angostura, smashed lime
Restaurant: North Italia
Location: Phoenix
Category: Agave (Tequila, Mezcal, Sotol, etc.)
Ingredients: Blue Nectar silver tequila, roasted Hatch pepper syrup, Texas apricot preserves, lime juice, lemon juice, agave nectar and Fee Brothers Plum Bitters
Restaurant: Blue Mesa Grill
Location: Addison, Texas
Category: Agave (Tequila, Mezcal, Sotol, etc.)
Ingredients: Mango-infused tequila (Cabo Wabo), triple sec, simple syrup, jalapeños, cilantro, lime juice, sour mix, fresh mango, Tajin
Restaurant: The Lone Wolf Bar and Grill
Location: Kansas City, Mo.
Category: Agave (Tequila, Mezcal, Sotol, etc.)
Ingredients: 1 oz. tequila, 0.75 oz. George Chili Vodka, 0.5 oz. Chareau, 0.5 oz. Dalmatian sage syrup, 0.5 oz. lime juice, 2 oz. watermelon basil shrub
Restaurant: Bar Mash
Location: Charleston, S.C.
Category: Agave (Tequila, Mezcal, Sotol, etc.)
Ingredients: Hacienda Sotol, Lo-Fi Amaro, housemade spiced agave, lime, Scrappy's Firewater Tincture, housemade garam masala air
Restaurant: Dosa
Location: San Francisco
Category: Agave (Tequila, Mezcal, Sotol, etc.)
Ingredients: Bruxo mezcal, pineapple, honey, basil oil, lemon, black pepper
Restaurant: Connie and Ted’s
Location: West Hollywood, Calif.
Category: Low-alcohol
Ingredients: Moscato D’asti, Colle dei Venti, Piemonte, Southern Comfort, Amaro Nonino, pineapple juice, orange juice, club soda, oranges, peaches, apple wedges, lime
Restaurant: Ristorante Brissago at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa
Location: Lake Geneva, Wis.
Category: Low-alcohol
Ingredients: Campari, Montenegro Amaro, fresh orange juice, fresh grapefruit juice, fresh lemon juice, housemae orange cardamom bitters, Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin
Restaurant: Cento
Location: Madison, Wash.
Category: Low-alcohol
Ingredients: Wine, fresh watermelon, lime, white cranberry
Restaurant: Trax Platform Lounge
Location: Scranton, Pa.
Category: Low-alcohol
Ingredients: Manzanilla sherry, soda, fresh squeezed lemon
Restaurant: Bar Frances
Location: New Orleans
Category: Low-alcohol
Ingredients: Hand-muddled raspberry, blackberry and strawberry, infused with the fresh flavors of Belleruche Rosé & St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, finished with fresh berries
Restaurant: Bonefish Grill
Location: Tampa
Category: Dessert
Ingredients: 360 Double Chocolate Vodka, strawberry, cream
Restaurant: Barley Creek Brewing Company
Location: Tannersville, Pa.
Category: Dessert
Ingredients: Smirnoff Salted Caramel Vodka, Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka, quail egg, sweet cream, espresso, vanilla bean extract
Restaurant: America’s Grille
Location: Houston
Category: Dessert
Ingredients: Vanilla vodka, Godiva dark chocolate liqueur, corms de cacao, half and half, dark chocolate, homemade graham crackers, homemade Disaronno-infused marshmallow
Restaurant: The Chocolate Sanctuary
Location: Gurnee, Ill.
Category: Dessert
Ingredients: 2 oz. cake vodka, 1 oz. amaretto, 1 teaspoon raspberry preserves, 1 oz. dark creme di cacao, 1 oz. cream, served with chocolate rim and rainbow cookie garnish
Restaurant: Double O Grill
Location: Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
Category: Dessert
Restaurant: FireFlies
Location: Alexandria, Va.
