The 10 Best Cocktails at independent restaurants across America

The pandemic’s dark cloud continues to leave a shadow, and to-go cocktails are legal in many jurisdictions. But restaurants across the country have returned their focus to the drink-in bar experience, creating innovative cocktails worth celebrating.

In this year’s Best Cocktail submissions, we saw the continuation of a number of trends. There was plenty of smoke and spice, along with healthful ingredients designed to give a nutritional boost. We saw clarified juices and fat-washed spirits; drinks with complex back stories and others that oozed simple elegance. And we saw some terrific presentation.

All of these winners are as beautiful as they are delicious. Here are the 10 Best Cocktails of 2022, as described by their creators.