When you're at a bar, do you have a go-to drink? Do you always start with a beer or go straight to a shot? Maybe you're a cocktail-lover -- do you always gravitate to a reliable favorite or are you always looking for something new?
Finding your match in a drink is important. A go-to drink is a trusty companion, an easy conversation starter, a comforting refreshment and a cue to unwind.
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If choosing a favorite drink is lost on you, fear not -- just look to the experts. We've rounded up 17 go-to drinks from some awesome bartenders, so that you can take a professional's lead. Because who would know better what to order at a bar than a bartender?
When these bartenders aren't behind their own bars, they're drinking lots of daiquiris and martinis. They'll also reach for an Old Fashioned, a Sidecar or a Michelada. The favorite, however, seems to be a Negroni -- so if all else fails, remember that cocktail.
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When in doubt, do as the bartenders do and order these drinks.
A Martini
CWP via Getty Images
Martinis were a popular choice among the bartenders we asked. Here's one advocate:
Bartender: Sean Sullivan
Bar: Forthcoming Straight Law bar in Boston
Go-to drink: A dry martini
Bartender: Sean Sullivan
Bar: Forthcoming Straight Law bar in Boston
Go-to drink: A dry martini
A Greenpoint
Bartender: Abraham Hawkins
Bar:Dutch Kills in Long Island City, NY
Go-to drinks: A Greenpoint (Manhattan variation) on the rocks, and daiquiris
Bar:Dutch Kills in Long Island City, NY
Go-to drinks: A Greenpoint (Manhattan variation) on the rocks, and daiquiris
Gin & Tonic
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Bartender: Laura Lashley
Bar:The Breslin in NYC
Go-to drinks: Fifty-fifty gin martini with a twist or a nice tall Gin & Tonic
Bar:The Breslin in NYC
Go-to drinks: Fifty-fifty gin martini with a twist or a nice tall Gin & Tonic
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Michelada
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Rosé
Annabelle Breakey via Getty Images
Bartender: Brett MacDonald
Bar:Dutch Kills in Long Island City, NY
Go-to drinks: Rosé
MacDonald also goes for rum and cokes, hard cider, or shots of Pama or Fernet.
Bar:Dutch Kills in Long Island City, NY
Go-to drinks: Rosé
MacDonald also goes for rum and cokes, hard cider, or shots of Pama or Fernet.
Whiskey
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Lime Daiquiri
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Daiquiris were also a popular choice among the bartenders we asked.
Bartender: Thomas Waugh,Major Food Group (Torrisi, Parm, Carbone, ZZ's Clam Shack and the forthcoming Dirty French)
Go-to drink: A classic lime daiquiri
"Just a clean, young or white rum (Cana Brava has been my rum of choice for a daiquiri lately), fresh lime juice, and sugar. Very simple, light, tart, refreshing, and easy to drink about 8 of them." In light of the recent lime shortage, Waugh says "drinking drinks with heavy doses of lime juice makes me feel like I'm doing something bad. Like I'm really living on the edge. Not-so cheap thrills."
Bartender: Natalie Czech
Bar:Huertas in NYC
Go-to drink: While Czech loves a shot and a beer (see below) a daiquiri is her go-to cocktail: "I love that its a simple drink, three ingredients, but takes on its own personality from bar to bar. Its always over-proof and garnished with a disco ball when I drop in on the boys at Golden Cadillac, Jess at Cienfuegos always makes me one with an aged rum, and its always fun to judge a "Daiquiri Off" at Pouring Ribbons."
Bartender: Thomas Waugh,Major Food Group (Torrisi, Parm, Carbone, ZZ's Clam Shack and the forthcoming Dirty French)
Go-to drink: A classic lime daiquiri
"Just a clean, young or white rum (Cana Brava has been my rum of choice for a daiquiri lately), fresh lime juice, and sugar. Very simple, light, tart, refreshing, and easy to drink about 8 of them." In light of the recent lime shortage, Waugh says "drinking drinks with heavy doses of lime juice makes me feel like I'm doing something bad. Like I'm really living on the edge. Not-so cheap thrills."
Bartender: Natalie Czech
Bar:Huertas in NYC
Go-to drink: While Czech loves a shot and a beer (see below) a daiquiri is her go-to cocktail: "I love that its a simple drink, three ingredients, but takes on its own personality from bar to bar. Its always over-proof and garnished with a disco ball when I drop in on the boys at Golden Cadillac, Jess at Cienfuegos always makes me one with an aged rum, and its always fun to judge a "Daiquiri Off" at Pouring Ribbons."
A shot and a beer
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Bartneder: Natalie Czech
Bar:Huertas in NYC
Go-to drink: A shot and a beer
"I'm sure most bartenders agree, after a long shift slinging cocktails nothing is more satisfying than a shot and a beer. I can roll into any dive bar and get a pilsner and an neat pour of Old Overholt to take the edge off. However, if I plan on visiting friend's establishments around the neighborhood and I want to grab a cocktail my go-to is a Daiquiri."
Bar:Huertas in NYC
Go-to drink: A shot and a beer
"I'm sure most bartenders agree, after a long shift slinging cocktails nothing is more satisfying than a shot and a beer. I can roll into any dive bar and get a pilsner and an neat pour of Old Overholt to take the edge off. However, if I plan on visiting friend's establishments around the neighborhood and I want to grab a cocktail my go-to is a Daiquiri."
A sidecar
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Bartender: Chad Walsh
Bar:The Dutch in NYC (Beverage Manager)
Go-to drinks: A Sidecar or a Wet Martini
Bar:The Dutch in NYC (Beverage Manager)
Go-to drinks: A Sidecar or a Wet Martini
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An old fashioned
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Bartender: Josh NadelBeverage Director for NoHo Hospitality Group
Go-to drinks: Old Fashioned: "real brandy-soaked cherry, no maraschino BS," or a Sazerac: "6yr / Whistle Pig 10yr / Van Winkle 13yr Rye all preferred."
Go-to drinks: Old Fashioned: "real brandy-soaked cherry, no maraschino BS," or a Sazerac: "6yr / Whistle Pig 10yr / Van Winkle 13yr Rye all preferred."
Manzanilla
Fareham Wine/Flickr
Bartender: Will Thompson
Bar:Drink in Boston and the forthcoming NYC bar The Roof At Park South
Go-to drink: A bottle of manzanilla -- a type of sherry made exclusively from a coastal Spanish town called Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
Bar:Drink in Boston and the forthcoming NYC bar The Roof At Park South
Go-to drink: A bottle of manzanilla -- a type of sherry made exclusively from a coastal Spanish town called Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
Iced water with lemon & a touch of maple syrup
Jonathan Kantor via Getty Images
Bartender: Jan Warren
Bar:Dutch Kills in Long Island City, NY
Go-to drinks: Iced lemon water with a touch of maple syrup. "I'm a teetotaler in my private life..."
Bar:Dutch Kills in Long Island City, NY
Go-to drinks: Iced lemon water with a touch of maple syrup. "I'm a teetotaler in my private life..."
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Lambrusco
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Bartender:John McCarthy
Bar:Bathtub Gin in NYC
Go-to drink: Lambrusco
"Honestly, I'm Southern, so I like everything cold, and I like to unwind with some red wine at dinner. And who doesn't like bubbles? Put 'em all together, and you have Lambrusco, which I drink on the regular. If I happen to have a shot of aged Dominican rum (like Brugal 1888) to go with it, that's all good too."
Bar:Bathtub Gin in NYC
Go-to drink: Lambrusco
"Honestly, I'm Southern, so I like everything cold, and I like to unwind with some red wine at dinner. And who doesn't like bubbles? Put 'em all together, and you have Lambrusco, which I drink on the regular. If I happen to have a shot of aged Dominican rum (like Brugal 1888) to go with it, that's all good too."
An aviation
quinn.anya/Flickr
Bartender: Amy Trioano
Bar:Locanda Verde in NYC (Beverage Manager)
Go-to drinks: Aviation, Negroni or a Mezcal
Bar:Locanda Verde in NYC (Beverage Manager)
Go-to drinks: Aviation, Negroni or a Mezcal
A Manhattan
Bill Boch via Getty Images
Bartender: Tiffany Short
Bar:The Library & Joe's Pub at The Public in NYC (Head Bartender)
Go-to drinks: A Rye Manhattan or a 50/50 Gin Martini
Bar:The Library & Joe's Pub at The Public in NYC (Head Bartender)
Go-to drinks: A Rye Manhattan or a 50/50 Gin Martini
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Guinness
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Bartender: Jack McGarry
Bar:The Dead Rabbit in NYC (Partner, The Best Bar In The World)
Go-to: Guinness and also Redbreast 12yo
Bar:The Dead Rabbit in NYC (Partner, The Best Bar In The World)
Go-to: Guinness and also Redbreast 12yo
A Negroni
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The negroni was by far the most popular cocktail from the bartenders we polled. Here are three strong advocates for this slightly bitter, very refreshing cocktail.
Bartender: Adam Fortuna
Bar:Artusi/Spinasse in Seattle, WA
Go-to drink: Negroni
"Nothing beats a Negroni on the rocks."
Bartender: Roland Meyer
Bar:Cookshop
Go-to drinks: Negroni
"If I'm going out to dinner to a restaurant with a well stocked bar I almost always start out with a Negroni. I tend to judge a place based on their Negroni (right after I check out the bathrooms)... Besides the drink tasting fantastic, not being a complicated order, and a great aperitif, it's strong enough to end a rough day and start a great night. Otherwise when I'm stumbling from place to place I need my Jameson-rocks."
Bartender: Laura Maniec
Bar:Corkbuzz (Master Sommelier)
Go-to drinks: A Negroni -- or a slight variation
"After a long night at work, I like drinking a Negroni because it wakes my palate up. It's somewhat sweet/bitter balance makes it easy to sip on and you can make variations on it depending on your mood. Substitute rum for gin, leave off the gin and just use the sweet vermouth and Campari, use different types of vermouth like carpano Antica or white vermouth for a totally different drink"
Bartender: Adam Fortuna
Bar:Artusi/Spinasse in Seattle, WA
Go-to drink: Negroni
"Nothing beats a Negroni on the rocks."
Bartender: Roland Meyer
Bar:Cookshop
Go-to drinks: Negroni
"If I'm going out to dinner to a restaurant with a well stocked bar I almost always start out with a Negroni. I tend to judge a place based on their Negroni (right after I check out the bathrooms)... Besides the drink tasting fantastic, not being a complicated order, and a great aperitif, it's strong enough to end a rough day and start a great night. Otherwise when I'm stumbling from place to place I need my Jameson-rocks."
Bartender: Laura Maniec
Bar:Corkbuzz (Master Sommelier)
Go-to drinks: A Negroni -- or a slight variation
"After a long night at work, I like drinking a Negroni because it wakes my palate up. It's somewhat sweet/bitter balance makes it easy to sip on and you can make variations on it depending on your mood. Substitute rum for gin, leave off the gin and just use the sweet vermouth and Campari, use different types of vermouth like carpano Antica or white vermouth for a totally different drink"
And if you can't decide... have two!
/CWP via Getty Images
Bartender: Nathan O'neill
Bar:Milk & Honey in London
Go-to drinks: Gin Martini or a Negroni
O'neill loves the simultaneous simplicity and complexity of the gin martini -- a two ingredient drink -- and the garnish, be it an olive or lemon twist, that "offers a simple yet very subtle change to the balance of the overall drink." He like a negroni "using gin, Campari and changing sweet vermouth for Punt E Mes. With its bold flavors, I find the beautiful aroma set from spraying grapefruit oils just lifts the drink and balances the bitterness perfectly. This is one for after a long day."
Bar:Milk & Honey in London
Go-to drinks: Gin Martini or a Negroni
O'neill loves the simultaneous simplicity and complexity of the gin martini -- a two ingredient drink -- and the garnish, be it an olive or lemon twist, that "offers a simple yet very subtle change to the balance of the overall drink." He like a negroni "using gin, Campari and changing sweet vermouth for Punt E Mes. With its bold flavors, I find the beautiful aroma set from spraying grapefruit oils just lifts the drink and balances the bitterness perfectly. This is one for after a long day."
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