2010s – Present

The Modern Era

Cocktail culture went global. Mezcal stopped being a curiosity and became essential. The low-ABV movement (championed by Audrey Saunders' Old Cuban and a wave of vermouth-forward drinks) made it possible to have a great cocktail without getting drunk. Asian, Latin American, and African ingredients entered the canon. Drinks like the Naked and Famous, Division Bell, Kingston Negroni, and Smoked Margarita represent a cocktail world more cross-cultural and more confident than any previous era.

Common spirits:Mezcal, Low-proof aperitivi (Aperol, Cynar), Funky aged rums, Agricole rhum

Flavors:Smoke, Salt, Bitter-citrus, Novel pairings (fennel, basil, cardamom, miso)

Good for:Modern dinner parties, after-dinner contemplation, anyone interested in where cocktails are right now.

15 drinks from this era

Cynar TorontoThe Modern Era Death FlipThe Modern Era Division BellThe Modern Era Garden VarietyThe Modern Era Improved Mezcal ManhattanThe Modern Era Kentucky BuckThe Modern Era Kingston NegroniThe Modern Era La Paloma del SurThe Modern Era Mezcal Last WordThe Modern Era Mezcal MuleThe Modern Era Mezcal NegroniThe Modern Era Naked and FamousThe Modern Era Smoked MargaritaThe Modern Era Tia MiaThe Modern Era ToronadoThe Modern Era