Before we dive into the categories, we have a new list to unveil – and it’s probably the most important of the entire report.
Called Bartenders’ Favourites, here we widen the aperture to take in all categories, asking bartenders of the UK’s Best Bars to name their favourite brand. So not the bestselling, nor their favourite within a given category, but their desert island bottle.
We offer no prompts, so of the thousands of brands available in the UK, it must feel pretty special to be Tapatio. It tops this list – and also the tequila category’s bestselling. Bartenders just love the stuff and that’s because it does two things very well – it’s great liquid (all the artisanal production boxes are ticked) and it’s affordable. The iconic bottle may be a thing of the past (alas!), though the brand-bartender relationship is deeply rooted.
Across the Irish Sea, Boatyard is another that has forged a special relationship with the top end of the trade. Led by industry mentor and man of the people Declan McGurk, this product is as hand sold as it is handcrafted. It’s not cheap, but its triple-distilled vodka and classical, juniper-led gin both have the bone structure for champion Martinis.
Diageo’s Tanqueray is another go-to for the Dry Martini, balancing a classical profile with reputation and affordability – Tanqueray Ten is cherished by the high-end on-trade, but as budgets shrink, the classic Tanqueray gin is often the pick. It’s one of the best value propositions in the spirits industry.
Ocho too remains a legacy bartender brand so it’s no surprise to see it here. Produced at Destilería La Alteña alongside Tapatio, Ocho combines crafted credentials with speed rail-friendly prices.
Meanwhile, the first American whiskey on our list of favourites is Buffalo Trace – the classic brand offers category typicity, as a sipper or cocktail ingredient, and bang for buck.
Fortaleza is more of a luxury pick – prices jumping beyond what’s viable for most rails – but few would deny that the Tahona-produced tequila is top notch.
Belvedere – a rock-solid rye vodka – and Campari – which has no substitutes – are always in the bar world conversation. Del Maguey is the legacy mezcal brand and with Vida manages to retain affordability, while The Macallan is The Macallan – a beacon of the single malt category.