Strong Cocktails
Explore 136 Strong cocktail recipes.
Strong cocktails make no apology for their alcohol — they're built around it rather than around it. The Long Island Iced Tea is the obvious anchor: vodka, gin, rum, tequila and triple sec stacked together with lemon and a splash of cola, the only thing keeping the proof from being obvious. The Earthquake puts cognac and absinthe in equal parts and lets the absinthe do the texture work.
The BVD pulls brandy, vermouth and Dubonnet together for a higher-proof aperitif that still reads as drink-shaped rather than shot-shaped. Across the list you'll see both flavours of strong — the multi-spirit stack like the Long Island, and the high-proof stir-down where two or three potent ingredients sit honestly together. Spirit-forward Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, Vespers and Boulevardiers tend to land on this list as well, even though they're not advertised as boozy in the same loud way.
What ties them together is structure rather than mixer — these drinks don't lean on soda or juice to do their work. Most are stirred or shaken short, most are best served in smaller glassware than the long-format equivalents, most reward the better spirits because there's nowhere for cheap booze to hide, and most are not session drinks. One properly built strong cocktail is usually enough; two is sometimes too many.
They reward sipping rather than chugging — the heat is part of the drink, not a side effect.
More top Strong cocktails
Aunt Roberta
Brandy, Vodka, Absinthe, Gin, Blackberry liqueur
Venom
Vodka, Whiskey, Orange, WKD blue
Zombie Punch
Absinthe, Dark rum, Gold rum, Rhum overproof, Grapefruit juice, Bitters aromatiques, Grenadine, Jus de citron vert
Vieux Carré
Cognac, Bourbon, DOM Benedictine, Vermouth rouge, Peychaud's Aromatic Bitters, Bitters aromatiques
Kamikaze Shot
Vodka, Triple sec, Jus de citron vert
Frisky Witch
Sambuca (noir), Vodka
Extra strong Whisky sour
Bourbon, Lemon juice, Sirop de gomme, Œuf
Anaconda Shooter
Whiskey, Sambuca
BVD
Brandy, Vermouth blanc, Dubonnet
Earthquake
Bourbon, Absinthe, Gin
Uncle Neil
Brandy, Bourbon, Campari, Vermouth rouge, Vermouth blanc, Orange bitters, Bitters aromatiques
KGB
Gin, Apricot brandy, Liqueur de cerise
Aunt Roberta
Brandy, Vodka, Absinthe, Gin, Blackberry liqueur
Venom
Vodka, Whiskey, Orange, WKD blue
Zombie Punch
Absinthe, Dark rum, Gold rum, Rhum overproof, Grapefruit juice, Bitters aromatiques, Grenadine, Jus de citron vert
Vieux Carré
Cognac, Bourbon, DOM Benedictine, Vermouth rouge, Peychaud's Aromatic Bitters, Bitters aromatiques
Kamikaze Shot
Vodka, Triple sec, Jus de citron vert
Frisky Witch
Sambuca (noir), Vodka
Extra strong Whisky sour
Bourbon, Lemon juice, Sirop de gomme, Œuf
Anaconda Shooter
Whiskey, Sambuca
BVD
Brandy, Vermouth blanc, Dubonnet
Earthquake
Bourbon, Absinthe, Gin
Uncle Neil
Brandy, Bourbon, Campari, Vermouth rouge, Vermouth blanc, Orange bitters, Bitters aromatiques
KGB
Gin, Apricot brandy, Liqueur de cerise
More top Strong cocktails
Aunt Roberta
Brandy, Vodka, Absinthe, Gin, Blackberry liqueur
Venom
Vodka, Whiskey, Orange, WKD blue
Zombie Punch
Absinthe, Dark rum, Gold rum, Rhum overproof, Grapefruit juice, Bitters aromatiques, Grenadine, Jus de citron vert
Vieux Carré
Cognac, Bourbon, DOM Benedictine, Vermouth rouge, Peychaud's Aromatic Bitters, Bitters aromatiques
Kamikaze Shot
Vodka, Triple sec, Jus de citron vert
Frisky Witch
Sambuca (noir), Vodka
Extra strong Whisky sour
Bourbon, Lemon juice, Sirop de gomme, Œuf
Anaconda Shooter
Whiskey, Sambuca
BVD
Brandy, Vermouth blanc, Dubonnet
Earthquake
Bourbon, Absinthe, Gin
Uncle Neil
Brandy, Bourbon, Campari, Vermouth rouge, Vermouth blanc, Orange bitters, Bitters aromatiques
KGB
Gin, Apricot brandy, Liqueur de cerise
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