These upscale drinks impress at any occasion, from 1920s classics to modern cocktails with fancy liqueurs. Here are my favorite fancy drinks to order at a bar or make at home!
Everyone knows the good old margarita and Moscow mule. But if you’re out at a bar or making homemade cocktails, how can you take it to another level? As an expert home mixologist, here are my top upscale drinks that look impressive and taste incredible!
My list includes everything from classic cocktails from that fly under the radar, to modern cocktails that mix in fancy liqueurs. Whether you prefer gin, whiskey, rum, vodka or tequila drinks, there’s a fancy drink for you.
15 Upscale Drinks to Try
The Boulevardier is a classic cocktail invented in the 1920’s. This upscale drink is the improved variation on a Negroni, swapping gin for whiskey. The sweetness of bourbon perfectly balances the flavor rich flavor.
Ingredients: Bourbon, sweet vermouth, Campari
When you're looking for an upscale drink, there’s really nothing like a Pisco Sour! The way the pisco melds with the lime makes it bright, mellow, and distinctly magical. Make a cocktail bitters design right on the cocktail foam.
Ingredients: Pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, egg white
The Corpse Reviver is a 1930's cocktail with a humorous name: the strength of the drink was enough to bring a body back from the grave! This one is a fancy drink that's simple to make, and it always impresses guests. It's tart and zingy, with a hint of licorice on the finish.
Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, Cointreau, dry vermouth or Lillet Blanc, absinthe
The French martini is an upscale spin on a vodka martini made with raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice. It might seem like a retro classic cocktail, but it was invented in the 1980’s by New York bartender Allen Katz.
Ingredients: vodka, pineapple juice, Chambord
This upscale drink that flies under the radar: the Pegu Club! It’s a classic 1920’s drink invented at, as the name suggests, the Pegu Club. This fancy drink is sophisticated and refreshing, with a citrus and herbal finish.
Ingredients: gin, Cointreau or triple sec, lime juice, Angostura and orange bitters
The Ramos Gin Fizz has an impossibly tall frothy topping and tangy burst of lime, lemon and orange blossom water makes it taste just like a lemon meringue pie. Invented in New Orleans in the 1880's, the drink took whole 12 minutes to shake up back in the day.
Ingredients: gin, lemon juice, lime juice, simple syrup, heavy cream, orange flower water, egg white, soda water
This drink is perfect for rum drinkers: the Hemingway daiquiri! This spin on the Classic Daiquiri was invented in honor of the famous writer himself, Ernest Hemingway. It features sweet grapefruit to balance the acidity of the lime, and maraschino liqueur brings notes of sour cherry and almond.
Ingredients: white rum, grapefruit juice, lime juice, Maraschino liqueur
Here’s a boozy upscale cocktail that’s one of the greats: the Sazerac! It sounds even more fancy than ordering up an Old Fashioned. Instead of just whiskey and sugar, this one’s got a surprise element: absinthe gives a black licorice finish to each sip.
Ingredients: Cognac, rye whiskey, absinthe, sugar cube, Peychaud’s bitters
Here's a fancy drink that's simple to make, but sounds impressive! The French 75 is a classic cocktail invented 1915 at the New York Bar in Paris It’s tangy, bubbly, and makes every occasion more festive.
Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, champagne
Here's an upscale drink with tequila that's not the margarita: meet the Siesta! This unexpected combination of tequila, Campari and fresh citrus juice is deliciously intriguing. Each sip is balanced and refreshing, with a sweet tart body and a hint of bitter on the finish.
Here’s an upscale drink invented by a fictional character! James Bond created this drink in the 1953 book Casino Royale, and it lives on today. The magic ingredient is Lillet Blanc, a lightly sweet, vaguely floral fortified wine that brings life and personality into this drink.
Ingredients: Gin, vodka, Lillet Blanc
Here’s an upscale drink for the adventurous home bartender: the Last Word! This pale green gin sour is a classic cocktail that was all but lost to history. But with the revival of cocktail culture, this one’s come back strong. It's equal parts formula makes it easy to make and perfectly balanced.
Ingredients: gin, Maraschino liqueur, Chartreuse liqueur, lime juice
This riff on the whiskey sour needs reviving, in my opinion. Where the whiskey sour can be on the sweet side, the Ward 8 is perfectly balanced and tart. It features rye whiskey, but it’s not overpowering: there’s just a hint of spice on the finish.
Ingredients: Rye whiskey, lemon juice, orange juice, grenadine
Ever tried a Golden Cadillac? This pale yellow after dinner drink has an intruiging creamy, complex flavor. The name sounds a bit 1950’s (and it is), but I think this retro cocktail deserves a place among the greats.
Ingredients: Galliano, creme de cacao, heavy cream
Here's a final upscale drink that’s classy and complex: the Martinez! This 1880's classic cocktail is in the spirit-forward cocktail family, a cousin of the Martini and the Manhattan. It’s balanced and just sweet enough, with notes of cherry and cinnamon, and a little spice at the finish.
Ingredients: Gin, sweet vermouth, Maraschino liqueur, Angostura bitters
Looking for craft cocktails? These 10 Craft Cocktails feature homemade syrups and unusual or niche liqueurs to make stunning homemade drinks.
Building Your Home Bar for Upscale Cocktails
To make most of these drinks, you’ll need some less common ingredients. Things like Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and Lillet Blanc don’t typically appear in basic home bars, but they’re worth the investment for the flavor! These bottles should last quite a while since you use them in small quantities.
I recommend starting with one or two of these drinks, buy the specific ingredients, and build from there. I didn’t stock my bar overnight: it’s taken years of gradually adding bottles!
More Easy Drink Ideas
Once you’re done with these upscale drinks, want to try the exact opposite? We’ve got some great lists of the best cheap and easy drinks for when you’re feeling laid back instead. Here’s what to try:
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