The Cocktail Lovers

Rather fittingly for 2026 The 50 Best Bars which took place in Milan last week, featured bars from 26 countries. Which is not only neat as far as numbers go but also makes us think just how global this whole cocktail malarkey has become.We remember when the list was dominated by bars from two cities: namely London and New York. These days it’s exciting to see representation from all kinds of venues – from fancy five-star hotels to unapologetic dive bars – from all corners of the globe – we’re talking from Buenos Aires to Bratislava and Sao Paulo to Seoul as well as Tirana, Lima, Guangzhou and Medellin.So on to the meat and potatoes of this year’s newly branded, The 50…In total, there were 14 new entries on this year’s list, all of which deserve a huge shout outAngelia from Madrid at number 50Bar Snack from New York at no 49Gokan, Hong Kong at 41Barro Negro, Athens 40Bar Carmen, Medellin, no 39Montana, no 36Waltz, London 32Victor Audio Bar, Buenos Aires, no 31Schmuck, New York, no. 11Dry Wave Cocktail Studio, Bangkok, no 27De Vie, Paris 23Mamba Negra, Medellin, 22Eximia, Sao Paulo, no 20schmuck, New York, 11Bar Mauro, Mexico City, 10And just as worthy of a mention are the re-entries:Martiny’s at no 46Argo, Hong Kong 25We also have to highlight this year’s Special awards which went to some of our favourite people in some of our favourite bars. Congratulations toShingo Gokan, Roku Industry IconTakuma Watanabe, Altos Bartenders’ BartenderPanda & Sons, EdinburghSiete Misterios Best Cocktail MenuAlquimico, Cartegna, Michter’s Art of HospitalityLine, Athens, Ketel One Sustainable BarSeven rooms Best Bar Design, Saikindo, Abu DhabiThree Horse, Melbourne Campari One to WatchThe 50 Best Bars Scholarship, Isa MejiaParadiso, Remy Martin Legend of the list awardFor the full list, see thecocktaillovers.com but if you haven’t already heard who made the top 10the rundown goes as follows:10. Bar Mauro, Mexico City9. Lady Bee, Lima8, Connaught Bar, London7. Zest, Seoul6. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City5. Line, Athens4. Bar US, Bangkok3 Alquimico, Cartegna2. Moebius Milano 1.Bar Leone, Hong KongWe caught up with the winners, good friends Lorenzo Antinori and Paola Mariotti from Bar Leone Hong Kong; brothers Ricardo and Eduardo Nava, and their proud mum, of Bar Mauro, winners of the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award, and husband and wife team Giacomo Gianotti and wife Margarita Sader, owners of Paradiso, Barcelona, recipients of the Remy Martin Legend of the List award. Which goes to prove: work with people you know, love and trust, and ideallyFor more, see The 50 Best Bars 2026

We make no secret of the fact that the Martini is our favourite cocktail. It’s a classic that been around and enjoyed for well over 100 years. But, right now, it seems that everyone is getting in on the Martini action with all kinds of variations taking star billing on cocktail menus around the world. So rather than wait for World Martini Day to roll around in June, we couldn't think of a better time to celebrate this truly iconic drink.We open the episode by highlighting some of our favourite gins and vodkas for making our Martinis at home. Then, as well as our bar review, which sees us heading to the recently opened Brutes of Mayfair, we highlight some of our top spots for enjoying a Martini in London. One of which is Hawksmoor St Pancras & Martini Bar, where we meet this week's guest, Liam Davy. As Beverage Director of the Hawksmoor Group he's the man behind the dedicated Martini menus across all of the sites in the UK, Ireland and US and one of the nicest people to share our favourite cocktail with.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:Liam's Ultimate Home Martini Batch (for a 700ml Bottle)450ml Good Quality Gin or Vodka (we love Fords or Finlandia)100ml Vermouth (Dolin Dry is our house pick)150ml Filtered Water (unless you live somewhere with great tap water!)Optional extra: replace 50ml of the water with preserved lemon brine.Beefeater Crown JewelBeluga Gold Line VodkaBrutes of MayfairConnaught BarClaridge's BarDonovan BarDukes BarGordon's Export Strength GinFords GinHawksmoor GroupHawksmoor St Pancras & Martini BarJo VodkaStolichnaya Elit VodkaRulesSacred GinSipsmith GinTanqueray GinTwenty8 NoMadX Muse VodkaThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

Other than Negronis, there is an ever-so slight connection to the featured items in this week's episode and it's cities beginning with the letter 'c'… First there's our recent visit to Copenhagen where we went specifically to visit Victory, a bar that’s as cosy as it is creative and one that we think you'll be hearing much more about in the future.We’ve also got something of an Irish angle or two, thanks to a recent visit to Cork for the Jameson Hosts Global Summit. We start by opening up a bottle of the rich and oh-so-smooth Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey and continue with a chat with three of the global champions of this year's Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series Competition .What we're drinking:Old Pal30ml Rye Whiskey30ml dry vermouth30ml CampariOrange or lemon twist to garnishMethod:Stir ingredients over ice. Pour into chilled cocktail glasses and garnish with an orange or lemon twist.Jameson Black LabelJameson Black Bartender Barrel Series Victory, CopenhagenDiary dates:25 & 26 Sep: Drink Japan (London)drinkjapan.uk For trade tickets, register here (accreditation required)25-27 Sep: Kolkata Cocktail Weekend (Kolkata)@30bestbarsinUntil 27 Sep: Barcelona Hotel Bar Week (Barcelona)barcelonahotelbarweek.comUntil 27 Sep: Negroni Week (Global)negroniweek.comUntil 18th Oct: Artesian x Seventy One GinArtesian Bar at The Langham (London)@artesianbarlondonUntil 30 Sep: House of Negroni at Brooklands Bar, The Peninsula (London)houseofnegroni.comThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

Nothing is new, not really. Things are simply reimagined, refined – given a reboot if you will, all with the aim of making our lives just that little bit easier. Or a tastier, as is the case with everything we’re talking about this week.We start by looking at two hotels that have jooshed up their cocktail cabinets with own-label products – not novel granted, but purposely created to elevate the guest experience. We have a tasting of The Krasnapolsky Thai Blend Geneva from Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam, and explore the range of bespoke products on offer at Virtú at Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi. Eve Bar in London’s Covent Garden has done much the same by focusing on three classics: Champagne, Caviar and Cocktails – each of which they showcase in a fabulous selection of in-house products and an array of clever servesAnd last but by no means least, on to this week’s guests: Maura Lawrence Milia and Liana Oster. We talk to them about how what was the old American Embassy has taken on a new lease of life as the luxury five-star Chancery Rosewood and their respective roles as the dream team heading up two very distinct spaces at Eagle Bar.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:What we're drinking:Apple Blossom45ml calvados45ml sweet vermouth3 dashes Orange BittersDehydrated apple or slice of apple to garnish (optional)Method:Stir ingredients over ice. Garnish with the dehydrated apple or apple slice and pour into chilled cocktail glass.Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky AmsterdamEagle Bar Upper East at Chancery RosewoodEagle Bar Upper West at Chancery RosewoodEve BarVirtù at Four Seasons OtemachiDiary dates:3 Sep-30 Oct: A Man Under The Influence: 63 Days of Steven Soderbergh’s Selects at Everyman at The Whiteley6-8 Sep: The Cambridge Global Series at the Cambridge Public House, ParisGuest shifts at Cambridge Public House(from 5.30-8.30pm)6 Sep: True Laurel, Donna NYC and Smoke & Bitters7 Sep: Bar Gabriel, Mius and Tres Monos 8 Sep: Mirror Bar, Alquímico and AngelitaSeminars at Bonnie Club7 Sep: (from 12- 4pm)On Education: Bar Gabriel, Mius and Tres Monos.On Environment: True Laurel, Angelita and Smoke & Bitters,On Community : Mirror Bar, Alquímico and Donna NYC. 14-20 Sep: Aperitivo Week21-22 Sep: Tales on Tour at the Square Washington. For tickets and detailsThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

There’s more than a dash of elegance in the mix in this episode, and we make no apologies for that. In fact, we positively applaud ourselves that we've made a feature of it.We start by opening up a very distinctive bottle to unveil the unique taste of Bitter Cedrino – a very special Italian liqueur, blended from Mediterranean herbs with a touch of Sardinian sea water.Then we head off to Ma/Na, an ever-so stylish, incredibly hot new spot in London’s Mayfair - to experience Japanese inspired precision, rhythm and heat in an exceptionally aesthetic space, serving equally exceptional cocktails.We’ve also news of cocktail glassware innovations, which are as chic as they are functional. Hardly surprising when one is the creation of Giorgio Bargiani, of the Connaught Bar. While the other comes from Lorenzo Antinori of Bar Leone, with another two from bartenders creating barware in gorgeous ceramics.And our guest is elegance personified, it's Minakshi Singh who shares her story from the challenges she faced as a young, female bartender in India 20 years ago, up to the present day, where she’s now one of the driving forces on the country’s bar scene, as the co-founder of five venues.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:What we're drinking:Lillet Rose Spritz50ml Lillet Rose100ml tonic waterGrapefruit wedge to garnishMethod:Add the Lillet Rose to an ice-filled wine glass. Top with tonic water and gently combine. Garnish with the grapefruit wedge.Amar The MakerAriane Fine Porcelain x Whyte Tales BarwareBar/Giani x NudeBar Leone x BOBO GlasswareBar StormyBitter CedrinoMa/NaNine LivesSidecar The Standard, LondonDiary dates:20th August, 5pm-9pm: Sprout Sessions x A for Athens, Templeton Garden, 1-15 Templeton Place, London SW5 9NB1st September, 5.30pm-11pm: Equal Measures Charity Auction, Nancy's Cocktail Bar, Coelchurch House, Bridge Walk, London SE1 2SXTickets and more info available hereOnline auction opens 23rd AugustThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

We’re zoning in on flavour in this episode – that’s flavour with ‘ou’ as in the taste of our featured product which is the super lush Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch Whisky, and the Indian ingredients highlighted at newly-opened bar Tryst. It’s also found in the veritable smorgasbord of goodies we’re highlighting in our new news section. Then there’s the flava with an 'a', used in hip-hop and informal speech, the kind of flavour that describes the style, vibe and distinct effervescence of our very special guest – the force of nature that is Kapri Robinson, bartender, educator, mentor and all-round bringer of good vibes. We're thrilledFor more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:What we're drinking:Lagerita45ml blanco tequila20ml triple sec25ml fresh lime juiceMexican Modelo Especial beerLime wheel to garnishMethod:Shake first three ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Pour into chilled tall glasses rimmed with salt (optional). Top with a light Mexican lager beer (about 100ml). Stir gently and garnish with a lime wheel.AllegoryArchive & MythAvra at the Four Seasons Astir Palace, AthensBar StormyBar Visconti at Castello di CasoleChocolate City's BestEmory Rooftop Bar Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch WhiskyMonkey Shoulder SelectsTales of the CocktailTrystGuest shift:From 6pm, 26th August: Sip & Guzzle at Scarfe's BarThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

After a rather prolonged break, we’re back! Having completed season 10 with a very special 100th episode (check it out if you haven’t already), we’ve decided to shake things up – just a little mind – going forward.We’ll still be sharing our experiences of the bars we visit, at home and further afield, starting with a venue which describes its offering as 'New York style, British spirit', the recently-opened Cato in London’s Covent Garden. And we'll continue to share our views on an array of wonderful products, such as our pick this week which is the ever-so luxe L’Époque Cognac Baroque XO.We'll occasionally be reviewing books but we've added a new section which focuses on just that: news. That includes openings, menus, guests shifts and more from across the globe.And as ever, we’ll be welcoming some incredible guests from the international drinks world. And who better to get the season started with than the person who recently took the No.1 spot as the most influential bar industry figure on the Drinks International’s Bar World 100, and is soon to be recipient of The Tales Visionary Award? It's everybody's role model, Jean Trinh founder of Alquímico in Columbia.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:What we're drinking:Spicy Watermelon Margarita50ml blanco tequilaKazimo Spicy Watermelon MixerLime wedge to garnishMethod:Pour tequila into a rocks glass over ice. Top with Kazimo Spicy Watermelon Mixer. Pull through and garnish with lime wedge.1986 SteakhouseCasual By TayerCatoDokidokiKazimo MixersL'Epoque Cognac Grande Champagne XOSampleThe Museum Bar & Gift ShopTres Monos Hotel Bar at Dua Miami HotelThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

15 competitors, four judges, four mentors, seven brands, three winners – that’s the global final of SIP Supernova in numbers; in words, the stats are just as impressive. In the true ethos of Share, Inspire, Pioneer, aka SIP, the global advocacy platform powered by Pernod Ricard, SIP Supernova is about celebrating and empowering hospitality professionals at every level, be they wait staff, managers or bartenders. The only stipulation is that they’ve been working in the industry for less than 6 years.Over four days, from May 9th to 13th, the 15 finalists from around the world will be in Tokyo and Kyoto where they’ll be tested across a variety of disciplines. In this bonus episode we hear from from Cloé Auger, Global Trade Advocacy Leader at Pernod Ricard; Hedda Bruce, one of the judges and Danil Nevsky one of the mentors to hear more about SIP Supernova from their unique perspectives.Follow SIP at join-sip.comFind out more about SIP Supernova here