Drinks International’s annual ranking of the world’s best-selling cocktails marks a turning point: the Negroni moves from second place to claim the top spot, overtaking the Old Fashioned. With more than a century of history, the Italian classic stands as the most ordered cocktail globally, shaping drinking trends throughout 2022 and adding another milestone to Italy’s bar culture.
The Negroni Takes the Lead
“The king is dead, long live the Negroni.” With this line, Drinks International announced a historic shift on January 7, 2022. After eight consecutive years at the top, the Old Fashioned steps aside for Italy’s most celebrated cocktail, born in Florence from a noble twist on a classic.
The story traces back to Count Camillo Negroni, a well-traveled enthusiast of mixed drinks who moved between the United States and England. His idea was simple: modify the Americano by replacing soda water with gin. The result—equal parts vermouth, bitter and gin—gave rise to the Negroni in 1919. Over time, its appeal grew steadily, leading to its current status as the most ordered cocktail worldwide.
How the Ranking Works
Published each January, Drinks International’s list is based on a survey of 100 of the world’s leading cocktail bars, asked to report on the preferences of their guests. The responses are analyzed to produce a ranking of the most popular classic cocktails, functioning as a benchmark for industry trends in the year ahead.
For eight consecutive editions, the Old Fashioned led the chart, its enduring appeal rooted in simplicity and structure. This year, however, it falls just short of the top, with nominations from 20 percent of the bars surveyed—insufficient to secure another win.
Historically traced by drinks historian David Wondrich to as early as 1833, the Old Fashioned was originally made with genever, rum or brandy. Today, it stands as a cornerstone for whiskey drinkers, typically prepared with bourbon, a sugar cube, a splash of soda, a few dashes of Angostura bitters and an orange twist.
Across bars worldwide, the bitter, unmistakable profile of the Negroni now takes precedence—a drink that continues to define the aperitivo moment.
