Craft Cocktail Renaissance

Beginning in the early 2000s, a new generation of bartenders began rediscovering forgotten cocktail recipes and techniques. Influenced by the farm-to-table movement and artisanal food culture, these bartenders emphasized quality ingredients, historical accuracy, and the craft of cocktail making as a legitimate culinary art form.

The craft cocktail movement elevated bartending to a respected profession and cocktails to culinary art. It sparked global interest in cocktail culture and influenced everything from restaurant design to home entertaining.

This era established cocktails as legitimate cuisine and created the infrastructure for modern cocktail culture including specialized bars, professional competitions, and cocktail education programs.