11 Unusual Drinks That Will Up Your Cocktail Game

Because there's more out there than just rum and coke.

If you're getting tired of vodka cranberries, no need to fear. These cocktails will show you how much more to life there is.

Be warned: you might have to repeat your order to a (kind of annoyed) bartender a few times, but it's totally worth it.

1. If you like mimosas, try the French 75.

Flickr: mookieluv

Major ingredients: Gin, sugar, lemon juice, champagne.

What the pros say: "Of all the many champagne-and-liquor combinations known to contemporary mixology, this one has the most élan."

Bottom line: It's got that citrus/champagne combo you love, but this will make you look like the much more serious brunch-time drinker that you are.

Get the full recipe.

2. If you like Long Island Iced Teas, try the Twelve Mile Limit.

Flickr: reeselloyd

Major ingredients: White rum, rye whiskey, brandy, grenadine, lemon juice.

What the pros say: "A forgotten cocktail from the era of Prohibition, the Twelve Mile Limit is one of the booziest cocktails you'll ever drink."

Bottom line: It's a much classier way to get totally wasted, if that's still your thing.

Get the full recipe.

3. If you like martinis, try the Vancouver.

Flickr: kchrist

Major ingredients: Gin, sweet vermouth, Benedictine, orange bitters.

What the pros say: "Its design is akin to the late 1800s cocktail scene—it’s elegant, cool and chic."

Bottom line: They've both got gin and vermouth, but the Vancouver is the way to go if you want to rep some Canadian pride.

Get the full recipe.

4. If you like Manhattans, try the Diamondback.

sloshed.hyperkinetic.org

Major ingredients: Rye whiskey, applejack, green Chartreuse.

What the pros say: "Bold, strong and deeply alluring, the Diamondback is a robust fortifier...."

Bottom line: This one's got a lot of...potent...components, so it's well suited to helping get over the pains of a rough week at work.

Get the full recipe.

5. If you like mojitos, try a caipirinha.

Flickr: upim

Major ingredients: Cachaça, sugar, lime.

What the pros say: "The Caipirinha is a down-to-earth, honest drink that requires no ostentation."

Bottom line: This is the national drink of Brazil, so you're still getting that Latin American flavor, just with a little more simplicity.

Get the full recipe.

6. If you like rum and Coke, try an El Presidente.

esquire.com

Major ingredients: Rum, lime juice, pineapple juice, grenadine.

What the pros say: "This classic rum cocktail is refreshing and full of flavor."

Bottom line: Coke may give you some fizz, but this rum cocktail ups the ante by providing a fruity sweetness.

Get the full recipe.

7. If you like vodka soda, try a Humble Pie.

vodkaonly.com

Major ingredients: Vodka, Aperol, lemon juice, club soda.

What the pros say: "It tastes a bit like a boozy Italian soda."

Bottom line: Instead of drinking flavored vodka straight, try one of these to get your fix of vodka and citrus.

Get the full recipe.

8. If you like margaritas, try a Copa Verde.

chow.com

Major ingredients: Tequila, lime juice, water, agave syrup, avocado.

What the pros say: "...this beverage can serve as an interesting amuse bouche in its own right or as an accompaniment to Spanish tapas or Mexican food."

Bottom line: Avocado in a cocktail might sound a little strange at first, but the smoothness really adds another layer to what could be a typical tequila drink.

Get the full recipe.

9. If you like whiskey sours, try the Bijou.

Flickr: la-oc-foodventures

Major ingredients: Dry gin, sweet vermouth, green Chartreuse, orange bitters.

What the pros say: "The cocktail has a big, rich flavor and an herbaceous style."

Bottom line: It gives you some of the sweetness you love in a whiskey sour but without being sickeningly candy-like.

Get the full recipe.

10. If you like the Dark and Stormy, try the Bermuda Black.

seriouseats.com

Major ingredients: Rum, ginger juice, lime juice, stout.

What the pros say: "Fresh ginger juice adds heat, rum adds richness, and lime juice keeps it bright."

Bottom line: If you've always wished the Dark and Stormy had a little more heat, the Bermuda Black ups the ante with extra ginger. The extra rum doesn't hurt, either.

Get the full recipe.

11. If you like gin and tonic, try a Green Ghost.

Jennifer Hess / Via seriouseats.com

Major ingredients: Gin, Green Chartreuse, lime juice.

What the pros say: "This tasty drink highlights the Chartreuse and will impress anyone who likes a pretty drink because unlike many pretty drinks, this one has flavor to match its beauty."

Bottom line: A little sweet, a little spicy, and a much better way to incorporate lime into your gin cocktail than just putting a small wedge along the rim.

Get the full recipe.