10 Most Profitable Mixed Drinks For Restaurants and Bars

For restaurants with a liquor license, mixed drinks can be very profitable. In fact, alcoholic drinks usually account for 20 to 25% of restaurant revenue, if not more. If you’re not sure which cocktails both please customers and boost earnings, this list of the 10 most profitable mixed drinks for restaurants and bars identifies which cocktails will make you the most money.

Old Fashioned

Made of whiskey, water, sugar, bitters and a garnish of a cherry and orange peel, the old fashioned has simple and inexpensive ingredients. It’s usually served in a small glass with ice, so the amount of each ingredient is minimal. Considering the great margins, there’s no surprise the drink tops SculptureHospitality.com’s list of the most profitable bourbon and whiskey drinks.

Moscow Mule

Even though the Moscow mule was supposedly created as a way to use up excess spirits, it’s now one of the most popular cocktails. With just vodka, ginger beer and lime juice, this 3-ingredient mixed drink is both inexpensive and easy to make. Since customers are sure to order this drink often, the Moscow mule will definitely be a cash cow for your restaurant or bar.

Daiquiri

Another 3-ingredient mixed drink, the Daiquiri has a low pour cost, or cost of ingredients as a percentage of sale price, at just under 14%. Combined with the fact that all bartenders have to do is shake rum, lime juice, and sugar together, strain and then serve, it makes sense that Provi.com names the daiquiri as one of the most profitable rum-based cocktails.

Margarita

If you have a Mexican-themed restaurant or bar, you should definitely put margaritas on your menu. Even if you offer non-traditional versions that require additional ingredients, the basic recipe of tequila, triple sec and lime juice is very cost-effective. Since demand for margaritas is high, your establishment is sure to sell a lot of these cocktails and make very good money.

Margaritas are inexpensive to make and also very popular, so they’re one of the most profitable mixed drinks.

Martini

Whether they’re shaken or stirred, martinis are great moneymakers. These simple drinks are seen as classy cocktails, so you can charge more for them to help balance out the cost of expensive gin or vodka. To make martinis even more profitable, use less expensive house brands of gin and vodka if customers don’t specify; if they do, charge them accordingly.

Mimosa

A common sight on brunch tables, mimosas are some of the most profitable mixed drinks. Made by combining 2 ingredients, they have a low pour cost and can be made quickly. Although there’s money to be made off them on a per-drink basis, offering bottomless mimosas as part of a Mother’s Day restaurant promotion is a good way to bring in people who will buy other items.

Piña Colada

Another fruity cocktail, the piña colada is not just popular in Caribbean-themed restaurants. According to data discussed in a VineRepair.com article, piña coladas jumped from the 17th to 9th most popular cocktail in the US in the second half of 2022. With piña coladas surging in popularity, you’re sure to sell a lot of these cocktails, especially in the summer months.

Piña Coladas are increasing in popularity, so you should definitely consider putting them on the menu of your restaurant or bar.

Vodka & Juice

From orange to cranberry, vodka and juice cocktails are lucrative. Classified as highballs, drinks made with only a few ounces of alcohol and a larger quantity of a mix-in, these cocktails are inexpensive and quick to make. Encourage customers to order screwdrivers and cape cods by using the principles of menu design psychology and listing them at the top of your menu.

Rum & Coke

An often overlooked yet profitable highball cocktail is rum and coke. In addition to being easy to make, rum and coke is a great example of a well drink, a cocktail that can be made with lower-cost liquor since most customers don’t specify a brand. Since you can keep the pour cost low, rum and cokes are great to serve if you want to make money.

Long Island Iced Tea

Another well/rail drink, long island iced tea should be on your menu. Although it’s a bit more expensive to make since it has 5 types of alcohol, Binwise.com states it’s the 2nd most ordered cocktail in the US among nighttime bar and restaurant goers. Considering its popularity, and the fact that people are used to paying more for it, long island iced teas can bring in the money.