Secret Ingredient: NYC Bars Using Unexpected Flavors in Cocktails
From Mushroom-Infused Negronis to Miso Old Fashioneds
New York City has long been a playground for cocktail innovation, but today’s top mixologists are going beyond classic spirits and bitters—experimenting with ingredients that push the boundaries of flavor. From savory miso to earthy mushrooms and even Parmesan cheese, bars across NYC are infusing their drinks with unexpected elements that challenge and delight the palate.
Whether you’re looking for a drink that tastes like a slice of pizza, a sip of the forest, or a briny bite of the ocean, these cocktail bars have embraced unconventional ingredients to create something truly extraordinary.
Where to Find NYC’s Most Unexpected Cocktails
1. Double Chicken Please – Turning Dishes into Drinks
📍 115 Allen St, Lower East Side
At Double Chicken Please, the concept is simple yet revolutionary: cocktails inspired by famous dishes. This bar reimagines food as liquid, using ingredients that you’d never expect to find in a drink.
Signature Cocktail: The Cold Pizza
A blend of tomato water, Parmesan cheese, burnt toast, and basil
Delivers the flavors of a fresh slice of pizza in cocktail form
Salty, umami-rich, and shockingly delicious
Other Unusual Ingredients You’ll Find Here:
Japanese rice porridge-infused gin
French toast flavors in an old fashioned
Mango sticky rice reinterpreted as a cocktail
More Info
2. Superbueno – Where Mexican Spirits Meet Unexpected Twists
📍 13 1st Ave, East Village
Superbueno takes Mexican-inspired cocktails to new heights, blending agave spirits with unconventional ingredients that enhance their complexity.
Signature Cocktail: The Truffle Margarita
A mix of tequila, mezcal, black truffle, lime, and honey
A smoky, earthy, and deeply aromatic twist on a classic Margarita
Other Unusual Ingredients You’ll Find Here:
Corn husk-infused mezcal
Savory mole bitters
Hibiscus-infused tequila with pink peppercorn syrup
More Info
3. Patent Pending – A Speakeasy with Electrifying Ingredients
📍 49 W 27th St, NoMad
Tucked inside an old Tesla laboratory, Patent Pending specializes in cocktails that incorporate science-driven techniques and unexpected infusions.
Signature Cocktail: The Static Age
A bold mix of Japanese whisky, seaweed, black sesame, and banana
Sweet, nutty, and deeply umami, with a hint of ocean salinity
Other Unusual Ingredients You’ll Find Here:
Matcha-infused gin
Lavender and Sichuan peppercorn syrups
Shiitake mushroom-infused rye whiskey
4. Sunken Harbor Club – The Nautical Cocktail Experiment
📍 372 Fulton St, Downtown Brooklyn
Hidden inside Gage & Tollner, Sunken Harbor Club takes tropical cocktails in a different direction by incorporating marine-inspired ingredients for a briny, oceanic twist.
Signature Cocktail: The Umami Punch
A blend of rum, wakame seaweed, miso, and salted pineapple
A unique balance of tropical sweetness and deep, savory umami
Other Unusual Ingredients You’ll Find Here:
Dashi (Japanese fish broth) in a Bloody Mary variation
Sea salt foam-topped tiki drinks
Charcoal-infused gin for an earthy, smoky profile
5. Dante – Italian Flavors with Unexpected Depth
📍 79-81 MacDougal St, West Village
Dante is best known for its world-famous Negronis, but its mixologists are also experimenting with savory and herbal flavors in ways that make classic Italian ingredients shine.
Signature Cocktail: The Black Truffle Negroni
A luxurious mix of gin, vermouth, Campari, and black truffle oil
Rich, aromatic, and deeply layered in flavor
Other Unusual Ingredients You’ll Find Here:
Mushroom-infused vermouth
Artichoke liqueur-based cocktails
A rosemary and olive oil gin martini
How NYC Mixologists Are Changing the Cocktail Game
Many of NYC’s best bars are embracing unexpected ingredients to redefine what a cocktail can be. Here are some of the innovative techniques they’re using:
1. Savory Elements in Cocktails
Miso in an Old Fashioned – Adds a deep, salty umami flavor
Parmesan-washed gin – Creates a creamy texture and sharp bite
Mushroom-infused whiskey – Adds an earthy complexity
2. Umami and Oceanic Flavors
Dashi (Japanese broth) in Bloody Mary variations
Seaweed-infused tequila for a salty, mineral-rich twist
Smoked salt and anchovy bitters in martinis
3. Unexpected Sweet and Spicy Twists
Charcoal-infused rum for an earthy, slightly smoky cocktail
Pink peppercorn syrup for a floral-meets-spicy contrast
Carrot and turmeric bitters for a vibrant, spiced depth
Final Thoughts: A City of Cocktail Creativity
NYC’s cocktail scene has always been about pushing the boundaries, but today’s mixologists are taking things to another level. Whether it’s a pizza-inspired cocktail at Double Chicken Please, a truffle-infused Negroni at Dante, or a seaweed-laced Margarita at Sunken Harbor Club, these unexpected flavors are creating entirely new drinking experiences.
For those looking to explore these unique flavor profiles at home, Art of the Cocktail offers:
Private mixology classes featuring experimental ingredients
Curated cocktail tasting events with unexpected flavors
Custom cocktail menus for private events that showcase the art of avant-garde mixology
Because in New York, the best cocktails aren’t just drinks—they’re works of art.
