Making cocktails at home has been a beloved American pastime for decades, but the practice really took off in 2020 as Covid restrictions kept bars closed and folks stuck inside. Many amateur mixologists spent hours perfecting their old fashioneds, martinis, and daiquiris, and exploring the wide range of liqueurs and other ancillary spirits—often called modifiers—that go into more complex recipes.
Bars and restaurants have long since reopened but home cocktailing remains popular. And tastes are more adventurous than ever, with wild cards like the Aviation—made with crème de violette—and a complex tiki drink called the Zombie showing up on Drinks International’s list of the 50 most popular cocktails of 2025.
