10 Craft cocktails we’re dying to try

There’s nothing like a quality craft cocktail. Taste your way across the U.S. with these amazing craft cocktails from top bartenders.

Craving a unique cocktail? We asked top mixologists to share standout drinks. Make them at home or visit a hot spot near you to have them poured by the best. Get ready to try new tastes with these 10 craft cocktails we’re dying to try.

Yields 1

Ingredients:

• 3/4 ounce Campari
• 1/4 ounce Republic blend — a mixture of equal parts Bowmore 12 year scotch, preserved lemon and fresh lemon juice

Directions:

1. Mix Campari and Republic blend.
2. Garnish with a blue cheese stuffed olive.

“I love trying new cocktails, however having multiple drinks in one night can be difficult considering the sheer size of cocktails these days,” says bar manager James Reis. “Couptails provide the perfect solution to this problem by offering great, innovative cocktails on a much smaller scale, thereby allowing you to taste more and drink less.”

Visit Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe to try The Republic >>

Yields 1

Ingredients:

•  1-1/2 ounces Hayman’s gin
• 1 ounce sweet potato puree
• 1/2 ounce real maple syrup
• 1/2 ounce heavy cream
• 2 dashes cinnamon bitters
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice

Directions:

1. To make sweet potato puree, bake sweet potato in 350 degree F oven for 20 minutes. Scoop potato meat and mash or puree in blender.
2. Place all ingredients in a shaker tin with ice and shake hard to incorporate. Double strain over ice in collins glass full of ice.
3. Grate cinnamon on top with lemon peel. Serve.

“The sweet potato in this drink is very subtle,” says the Publik Draft House team. “We suggest you use real maple syrup. This recipe also works great with vodka and bourbon.”

Visit Publik Draft House in Atlanta to try the Sweet Maple Bliss >>

Yields 1

Ingredients:

• 4 fresh shiso leaves
• 1-1/2 ounces vodka
• 1/4 ounce yellow chartreuse
• 3/4 ounce freshly pressed lime juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• 1 dash Regan’s No. 6 Orange Bitters
• 2 ounces cold green tea

Directions:

1. Build in a pint glass.
2. Add all the ingredients and muddle 3 times.
3. Add ice and shake for 8 seconds.
4. Strain over ice and garnish with shiso leaf.

Visit ‘s jade bar in Scottsdale to try the Shiso Sexy >>

Yields 1

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Jim Beam
• Juice of 1/4 lemon
• 2 ounce apple juice
• 1/2 ounce ginger simple syrup
• 1/2 ounce vanilla simple syrup
• 1 ounce Budweiser

Directions:

1. Squeeze and discard lemon.
2. Add Jim Beam, ginger and vanilla simple syrups, and apple juice. Stir.
3. Top with beer and garnish with dehydrated apple.

“Just the right amount of acidity makes it a great apertif, while the vanilla, ginger and apple make the cocktail interesting, light and crisp, yet bold enough to stand up against warm, winter comfort food,” says bartender Sarah Martin. “The cocktail is served in a Mason jar and dressed up with the unexpected garnish of dehydrated apple, making the old feel new again.”

Visit Bay Street Biergarten in Charleston to try the Gentleman’s Cocktail >>

Yields 1

Ingredients:

• 3/4 ounce orange vodka
• 1/2 ounce creme de fraise
• 3/4 ounce peach purée
• 1/4 ounce lemon juice
• 1/6 ounce cinnamon syrup
• 1 dash Jerry Thomas bitters
• Red wine of your choice

Directions:

1. Pour ingredients directly into a wine glass with an ice cube and stir.
2. Top with red wine of your choice.
3. Garnish with 1/2 strawberry, one blackberry, three blueberries, 1/2 slice of orange and grated nutmeg.

“The Clavigo’s Sangria is a perfect balance of peach, berries, orange and lemon with a hint of cinnamon and few other spices, topped with red wine,” says bartender Adrien Lefort.

Visit Beaumarchais in New York to try Clavigo’s Sangria >>

Up next: 5 More cocktails to try >>