15 Strongest Drinks To Order At A Bar (2023 Updated)
Last Updated on May 15, 2023 by Lydia Martin
Strong drinks are the way to go if you’re feeling a bit experimental or want to try something that packs a punch.
Strong doesn’t necessarily mean harsh, though — you’d be surprised that some of these mixed drinks are very easy sippers, and if you’re not careful, you can get carried away.
Here are the strongest drinks to order at a bar for that effect you’re looking for. Enjoy!
Top 15 Strongest Drinks You Should Order Today
15. Long Island Iced Tea
The Long Island Iced Tea is one of the strongest mixed drinks on the menu, but it would certainly seem like all you’re drinking is a tall glass of iced tea.
This cocktail drink combines equal measures of triple sec, gin, tequila, vodka, and rum, all of which have 40 percent ABV. The drink is then topped off with cola.
Depending on the type of glass used, you could end up with very little cola — meaning most of your drink is pure alcohol.
14. Hand Grenade
The Hand Grenade sounds like it’ll cause an explosion in your system.
This specialty cocktail is known as New Orleans’ Most Powerful Drink, served in the French Quarter of the state.
It’s made by combining vodka, rum, gin, and melon liqueur, but you’ll find that some locations use a different type of fruit liqueur, add another spirit to the mix, or both. [1]
It can be served either blended or on the rocks.
13. Liquid Cocaine
With a name like Liquid Cocaine, you know you’re in for a unique flavor and effect.
This strong drink is often served in shots and is made by mixing equal measures of Bacardi, Jagermeister, and tequila.
12. Bone Dry Martini
Think of the Bone Dry Martini as the driest relative of the already-Dry Martini.
Since Martinis are usually made with vermouth, gin, and vodka, a Bone Dry Martini is made by omitting the vermouth, a low alcohol fortified wine. Therefore, this cocktail drink is made with 100 percent alcohol.
It’s also dressed like a regular Martini, with olives and a lemon peel inside a martini glass.
11. Aunt Roberta
Aunt Roberta is much like Long Island as it contains numerous spirits.
You have gin, vodka, brandy, blackberry liquor, and absinthe within one of the strongest mixed drinks on the menu.
All ingredients used to build this drink have at least 40 percent ABV, with absinthe playing in the 45-ish percent ABV mark.
10. Negroni
The Negroni is a classic cocktail you probably didn’t know had a high amount of alcohol.
It’s made with gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, all at 40, 25, and 15 percent ABV, respectively, and garnished with an orange twist.
This tastes pretty amazing, so it can be easy to drink too much if you’re enjoying yourself.
9. Martini
The Martini is made with gin, vodka, and vermouth, all mixed into a potent alcoholic drink.
It’s not as alcoholic as the Bone Dry version, but it’s one of the most alcoholic drinks on the cocktail menu, especially if you order Extra Dry (more vodka and gin than vermouth). [2]
8. Corpse Reviver
The Corpse Reviver was made in the 1930s to cure hangovers (hence its name), but you don’t need to be hungover to enjoy this strong drink.
It uses four alcoholic drinks: gin, Cointreau, absinthe, and Lillet Blanc (a French white wine infused with botanicals), with the tiniest bit of lemon juice.
Gin, Cointreau, and absinthe all have at least 40 percent ABV. On the other hand, Lillet Blanc has an average of 17 percent ABV.
7. Black Russian
Coffee lovers swear by the Black Russian cocktail, but you probably didn’t know it has a high alcohol content.
It’s made by mixing two parts vodka with one part coffee liqueur, served on the rocks.
This drink can be more potent by using a 100-proof vodka instead, like Absolut 100.
6. Jungle Juice
You won’t be able to get Jungle Juice from a bar, but it’s fairly easy to make this drink at home.
If you do it correctly, the only thing you’ll be able to taste from one of the strongest mixed drinks is juice.
To make Jungle Juice, you need an entire bottle of grain alcohol (vodka is best) and some fresh fruits, like berries, chopped apples, and cherries.
Put everything inside a large pitcher and leave it to stew overnight before serving it like a fruit punch.
5. Death in the Afternoon
The Death in the Afternoon cocktail is made by pouring one jigger of absinthe into a champagne glass and topping everything off with champagne.
It’s not the strongest drink on the menu, but it’s leagues above regular champagne.
It was named after Ernest Hemingway’s novel, with the writer suggesting drinking three to five of it in one sitting.
We don’t know about you, but that sounds like a trainwreck waiting to happen.
4. Zombie
The classic Zombie uses three different types of rum, grapefruit juice, lime juice, falernum, Pernod, Angostura bitters, and grenadine, so imagine how potent this is.
Bars that might not have these ingredients on hand could use rum, lime juice, pineapple juice, and grenadine instead. Of course, it isn’t as strong as the former.
3. Four Horsemen No. 3
The Four Horsemen No. 3 makes use of any four spirits, and some bars will have their own take on it.
Traditionally, it’s made with equal portions of Jagermeister, peppermint liqueur, cinnamon schnapps, and overproof rum, which means you’re getting around 51 percent ABV per shot.
It’s also pretty spicy and intense, flavor-wise — imagine cinnamon, peppermint, and Jagermeister sliding down your throat in one go.
As mentioned, some bars have their iterations of this cocktail drink. We’ve been to one that served a blend of Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, Johnnie Walker, and Jose Cuervo.
2. Caribou Lou
Caribou Lou was named after a famous song by Tech N9ne. This cocktail drink comprises pineapple juice, coconut rum, and high-proof rum (preferably Bacardi 151).
It isn’t the most popular cocktail drink, so let the bartender know exactly how to make it if you want to try it.
1. Sazerac
The Sazerac rye whiskey is a staple in most bars, and you’d be surprised to know it’s one of the strongest mixed drinks.
The classic iteration is made with bourbon or rye whiskey, cognac, Angostura bitters, and a sugar cube or simple syrup, but more modern versions forgo the cognac.
Rinsing the inside of the glass with a bit of absinthe will do wonders in making the flavors of the Sazerac pop, so take note that the bartender does this essential step.
The rye whiskey (at least 40 percent ABV) also makes this cocktail pack a punch.
FAQs
What’s a sweet but strong alcoholic drink to order at a bar?
The Long Island Iced Tea is a sweet but strong alcoholic drink to order at a bar. It looks and tastes like you’re just drinking Coke, so it can be pretty easy to forget that you have five different kinds of alcohol in the drink. But what are the best drinks to order at a bar for a man?
Is there a strong fruity drink to order at a bar?
Yes. The Zombie is a strong fruity drink to order at a bar. It uses a few fruit juices — pineapple, lime, and grapefruit — so you can already expect how fruity the result is. Of course, it’s still pretty potent, with three different kinds of rum in the mix.
Final Thoughts
Strong drinks are for those looking for something other than the usual, and best believe they have equally fantastic flavor notes.
Our favorite strong drink is the classic Sazerac, but that’s maybe because we’re partial to whiskey. We love how this perfect cocktail is uniquely spicy and strong, laced with an unmistakable depth from the bitters and cognac.
The Zombie, Caribou Lou, and Four Horsemen No. 3 are other potent drinks you can order for the effect you’re looking for.
But of course, we urge you to drink responsibly — it can be easy to get carried away with these potent cocktails if you’re not careful.
References:
- https://www.chron.com/culture/nola/article/How-the-hand-grenade-become-New-Orleans-most-17214880.php
- https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/oct/29/martini-recipe-classic-perfect
Lisa is a freelance lifestyle writer specializing in nightlife, leisure, and celebration. She has been in the field for eight years and has written articles featured in various local blogs and lifestyle magazines.
For Lisa, there’s nothing better than an ice-cold drink after a rough day (she’s not fussy). But she also likes to get a bit fancy every now and then. She believes you can never go wrong with a Moscow Mule or a classic Daiquiri anywhere you go. Contact at [email protected] or learn more about us here.
