by Anthony Dias Blue

Top Cocktails
It's a funny thing, the way fashion dictates what we drink along with what we wear. In the fifties, a suburban house without a cocktail cart was as unthinkable as Ward Cleaver without Brylcreem. And in the sixties, even George Jason got a well deserved atomic highball after a hard day at Spacely Space Sprockets.

But mixed drinks fell on hard times in the seventies and eighties. They didn't make a comeback until the nineties, when a whole new generation of drinkers discovered ultra-premium brands and glitzy, Rat-pack-retro cocktails.

As we enter a new decade, things are still taking a familiar turn;. According to Bon Appetit most recent reder survey, today's favorite cocktails are:

The spirits that deliver the firepower behind these drinks-tequila, gin and vodka-continue to be among the most popular with our readers, as well.

So here's a quick look at our favorite drinks, washed down with brand-new takes on three classic cocktails.

Margarita
In our survey, the margarita was nearly twice as popular as its closest rival, the gin and tonic. That's no surprise: serving a Margarita has always signaled good times and festive fun.

There are several types of tequila, any of which can be used to make a Margarita: silver (plata), also called white (blanco); gold, also known as joven abocado ("young and smoothed"); reposado ("rested"); and anejo ("aged"). Silver and gold tequilas have a fresh agave taste that marries well with the flavors of lime and orange liqueur in Margaritas. The silky, rich CASA NOBLE CRYSTAL ($40) is magnificent and makes an ultra-smooth cocktail.