The Craziest Cocktails

It’s no secret that mixologists love to experiment with new flavor pairings to create something unique and delicious that will impress their customers. The result is a seemingly endless sea of cocktail options, each sounding crazier than the last. Of the many options out there, these 10 may be the craziest you’ll come across—though they may not be crazy for the reasons you expect!

1. Diamonds Are Forever

Pulling inspiration from the James Bond movie of the same name, the Diamonds Are Forever cocktail is a lavish experience available for the incredibly high price of $18,000. The drink consists of Absolut Elyx vodka and lime juice, which can be enjoyed shaken or stirred, but it also has a surprising, show-stopping ingredient: a one-carat diamond placed at the bottom of the glass.

Given its ingredients, this isn’t a drink you’ll find at just any bar. If you want to try this, you’ll have to visit the Ritz-Carlton in Tokyo—which might require saving up or a big win through the lottery or bonusfinder.com.

2. Menage a Trois

Another lavish, over-the-top cocktail is the Menage a Trois, which you can order at the Tryst Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas. With a $3,000 price tag, the drink is made with champagne, cognac, 150-year-old Grand Marnier, liquid gold syrup, and gold flakes. As if drinking gold weren’t luxurious enough, the cocktail is served with a diamond-encrusted, gold-plated straw.

3. Beer Float

Both beer and ice cream are summertime favorites, though we rarely think of pairing the two. The Beer Float aims to change this by combining the two in one drink. It isn’t as simple as grabbing a beer and a scoop of ice cream. You’ll want to be mindful of flavor pairings and even consider the sugar and fat content of the ice cream. With heavier beers, like a stout, you can opt for good old-fashioned vanilla ice cream, but you’ll likely be better off with a fruity sorbet for lighter beers.

If you want to skip the decision-making and flavor testing of making a beer float yourself, you can always visit a restaurant or bar that does the work for you—you’ll be surprised how many bars experiment with this drink.

4. Peanut Butter & Jealous

Consider the Peanut Butter and Jealous cocktail a grown-up, elevated version of the childhood favorite peanut butter and jelly sandwich. This drink has muddled raspberries, raspberry-flavored vodka, raspberry liqueur, and cranberry juice. To add the peanut flavor, the rim of the cocktail glass is coated in peanut butter and honey. When this cocktail debuted on the Cooking Channel, it was recommended to be garnished with a piece of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich—which sounds like the perfect addition.

5. Pop Rocks Rita

Another playful cocktail with a nod to a childhood favorite is the Pop Rocks Rita. This cocktail includes tequila, Grand Marnier, cranberry juice, lime juice, sour mix, and, of course, Pop Rocks. The Pop Rocks are added to the cocktail glass rim so that each sip delivers the popping sensation and sounds of the candy.

6. Liquid Steak

Liquid Steak is a savory cocktail that emulates the flavor profile of a perfectly seared steak without the presence of meat or a cooktop. Instead, the cocktail is made with two simple ingredients: rum and Worcestershire sauce. Variations of this cocktail have also used whiskey and are considered just as good. The drink is simply a shot of rum with a dash of Worcestershire sauce, though it can be taken up a level by adding a salt and pepper rim to the shot glass.

7. Anchovy Martini

Some may turn their noses up at anchovies, but those who love them will likely fall for this unique martini variation. This cocktail involves the traditional martini ingredients, gin, vermouth, and olives, and pairs them with anchovies for a salty addition to the classic drink. You can include an anchovy or two in the cocktail shaker to infuse the anchovy flavor in the entire drink, or you can simply add your anchovies and olives to a skewer to garnish your drink.

8. Bacon and Egg Martini

Another twist on a classic Martini is a breakfast-infused cocktail known as the Bacon and Egg Martini. An essential component in this drink is bacon-flavored Jack Daniel’s. Complementing this are ingredients like maple syrup, egg whites, lemon juice, and several bitters, adding depth of flavor. For breakfast lovers, this unique take on a cocktail is sure to impress.

9. Earl Grey Caviar Martini

First offered by Antonia Lai in Hong Kong, the Earl Grey Caviar Martini has become a famous cocktail known worldwide. The drink is topped with Earl Grey-infused foam that’s almost as tall as the glass it’s served in, Earl Grey beads (the “caviar”), lemon juice, lime juice, elderflower, cucumber, vodka, and Cointreau. The Earl Grey beads are said to pop in your mouth for a flavorful and novel cocktail experience. You can try the drink from the original creators at Quinary in Hong Kong.

10. Old Fashioned in the Rocks

This unique take on a classic cocktail never fails to impress or intrigue those who enjoy a finely crafted drink. All the classic elements of an Old Fashioned cocktail (bourbon, orange bitters, and demerara syrup) are still incorporated in the drink, but instead of being served over ice, they’re served inside a ball of ice. Once the cocktail is served, the drinker can break open the ice and sip their drink. If you’re curious about this experience, you can try it at a popular cocktail bar in Chicago called The Aviary.

Conclusion

Whether shocking people with their jaw-dropping price tags or challenging our ideas of what flavors we can indulge in in liquid form, these ten cocktails are, without a doubt, crazy options. Some you can attempt to create at home (cheers to that!), but others require venturing to different corners of the globe—and a massive financial windfall.