Paul Kushner
For those seeking a solid kick, the strongest cocktails offer a potent blend. These drinks, like the Zombie and Vesper Martini, stand out for their strength and complexity. The Zombie delivers an unforgettable impact, while the Vesper Martini combines elegance with power. If you’re drawn to the boldness of a Death in the Afternoon or the timeless appeal of an Old Fashioned, this roundup is for you. Each selection brings its own distinct flair and intensity, perfect for adventurers in taste. Check out this list for a bold sip.
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Zombie Cocktail
The Zombie is a potent cocktail featuring a whole bunch of rum. It includes three types of rum, lime, grapefruit, bitters, Pernod, and grenadine, meaning it has a rich and unapologetic flavor. With over four ounces of hard alcohol, this drink is not for the faint of heart but has a fruity and juicy taste that masks the rum well.
Death in the Afternoon
Don’t worry, this drink won’t actually kill you, probably. This is one of the easiest and strongest cocktails you can make at the end of a tough day. It features absinthe and champagne, so you can fix yourself one in seconds. It has a bubbly and syrupy mouthfeel with an herby and pungent flavor that is fascinating.
Negroni
The Negroni is a classic cocktail that packs a punch. It’s made with equal parts of gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari, which gives it a unique, strong flavor. The gin brings a kick of alcohol, while the sweet vermouth adds a hint of sweetness. Campari, a bitter liqueur, balances it all with a zesty twist. This mix makes the Negroni not just strong in alcohol but also rich and bold in taste, a favorite for those who love a powerful drink.
Dry Martini
The Dry Martini is a sophisticated cocktail known for its strength and simplicity. It’s mainly gin with just a splash of dry vermouth, making it quite strong in alcohol content. The less vermouth, the drier and stronger the drink. Often garnished with an olive or a lemon twist, this cocktail is clear, crisp, and packs a punch. Its strong flavor and high alcohol concentration make it a popular choice for those who appreciate a potent, no-frills drink.
Long Island Iced Tea
The Long Island Iced Tea is like a secret powerhouse of a drink. It looks innocent, almost like regular iced tea, but it’s actually a mix of five different spirits: vodka, rum, gin, tequila, and triple sec. Topped with a splash of cola and lemon juice, it has a sweet, refreshing taste. But don’t let that fool you; its combination of multiple alcohols makes it one of the strongest cocktails around, popular for its sneaky strength.
Sazerac
Sazerac is a classic cocktail featuring rye whiskey and absinthe. It has a savory and herbal flavor, different from the sweetness of many cocktails. With a single sugar cube and lemon twist, it’s a well-rounded drink with the warm burn of whiskey and the fragrant flavor of licorice.
Baltimore Zoo
The Baltimore Zoo cocktail has three kinds of hard liquor, three different liqueurs, and a splash of beer. This cocktail is relatively new and delivers a funky and distinct flavor that isn’t for everyone. The taste is a bit chaotic, with the sweet syrupy taste of liqueurs, the sharpness of hard liquor, and the malty taste of beer.
Adios Motherfucker
This cocktail is similar to a Long Island Iced Tea because of the insane combination of liquors, including tequila, vodka, rum, and gin. The hard liquors mix with blue curacao, sour mix, and lemon or lime soda to create a bold but balanced drink that is surprisingly easy to sip!
Manhattan
The Manhattan is a classic cocktail that’s been around since the 1800s, and it packs a real punch. Made with rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters, and a cocktail cherry, this drink is mostly alcohol. It’s stirred with ice but is typically served straight up, so it’s usually around 30% ABV or 60 proof. That being said, it’s a classic for good reason: the whiskey is balanced perfectly by the sweet vermouth and the addition of bitters rounds out a flavorful whiskey cocktail.
Nicolaschka
The Nicolaschka cocktail is not strong because it uses several liquors, but it’s strong because of its simplicity. It’s mostly a type of cognac with sugar, lemon, and coffee grounds. It’s an unmistakable drink that delivers a satisfying burn with bottom notes of sweetness and warmth.
Corpse Reviver No 2
This cocktail is called a Corpse Reviver for good reason – it’s so strong it could wake the dead! This pre-prohibition drink is made with an absinthe rinse, gin, lillet blanc, orange liqueur, and lemon juice. It’s shaken and served straight up with an orange twist. This is a great drink for anyone who likes an herbal and citrus flavor in their cocktails, but the sweet taste still packs a punch in terms of alcohol content.
Long Island Sunset
The Long Island Sunset is a colorful cocktail that combines vodka, rum, tequila, gin, and triple sec with orange and pineapple juices, finished with a splash of blue raspberry syrup. This vivid drink embodies the beauty of a stunning sunset, offering a strong and invigorating flavor experience with every sip.
Rusty Nail
The Rusty Nail is an old school drink from the 1960s. It’s a simple drink, made with only Scotch whiskey and Drambuie, a Scotch liqueur that’s made with Scotch whiskey, honey, herbs, and spices. With a base made of mostly Scotch served on ice, this drink is not for the faint hearted.
Dirty Martini
The Dirty Martini is a sophisticated choice, but keep in mind that this is a strong cocktail. The original was made with gin, but many people today prefer their dirty martini with vodka. After the base of gin or vodka, you add some dry vermouth and olive juice and garnish with olives. The result is a savory, salty cocktail thanks to the olive brine. If you like it extra salty, you can ask for it “extra dirty”.
Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned may be the most popular cocktail of all time, and it’s also one of the strongest. It’s made with bourbon or another whiskey of your choice, flavored with a bit of sugar and bitters, and that’s it. Since the only real liquid in the glass is whiskey, this is a high alcohol cocktail that’s best when it’s sipped and savored.
Vesper Martini
The Vesper is similar to a dry martini, and it’s famously James Bond’s cocktail of choice – shaken, not stirred, of course. The Vesper is made with gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc and is garnished with a lemon twist. Since it’s made with just liquor and liqueur with no non-alcoholic mixers, it’s a strong cocktail.
Aunt Roberta
This drink isn’t your mother’s cocktail, but maybe it’s your crazy aunt’s! It’s packed with hard liquor resulting in a robust and heavy flavor that lingers on the palate. The cocktail requires five ingredients, all of which contain alcohol.
Jungle Juice
Jungle Juice is perfect in large batches, so it’s a brilliant cocktail for a celebratory get-together! The recipe creates a juicy and delicious drink for a large crowd. With four types of juice and three kinds of alcohol, it’s a strong and flavorful drink for parties.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Pick your favorite recipe
- Gather all the needed ingredients
- Prep a strongest cocktail in less than 5 minutes
