The Favorite Cocktails Of 9 Celebrity Chefs

Ina Garten: Whiskey Sour

Ina Garten enjoys crafting cocktails that are perfect for sharing with friends and family. Throughout the pandemic, her generous cosmopolitans provided comfort to many. Her viral Instagram video popularized the phrase, "During a crisis, you know, cocktail hour can be almost any hour," which resonated with countless people. However, the Barefoot Contessa also appreciates unwinding with a zesty Whiskey Sour. This timeless cocktail, with its delightful balance of sweet and sour, is ideal for garden gatherings at her East Hampton home or cozy evenings by the fireplace.

Garten's go-to summer cocktail features whiskey, lemon, lime, and simple syrup. As per the recipe on her Barefoot Contessa website, she opts for Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey and tops it off with Maraschino cherries. However, feel free to use your favorite bourbon and experiment with different flavors. Want a hint of vanilla? Prefer a richer, smokier taste? The choice is yours. Some variations of the Whiskey Sour even include a frothy egg white topping.

Gordon Ramsay: Wake Up, You Donkey

The lively Gordon Ramsay has a cocktail with an intriguing name: Wake Up, You Donkey. This drink draws inspiration from the vibrant language Ramsay often uses on his TV shows. In 2016, he revealed the name of this favorite cocktail during an appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." The title is fitting, as "donkey" is a term Ramsay frequently uses to scold contestants who falter in the kitchen.

This cocktail features "the most amazing tequila," combined with cider, honey, and elderflower, and is topped off with a lime garnish. One of the standout aspects of this drink is its striking green hue—who doesn't enjoy a colorful beverage? While it was once available at Ramsay's Pub & Grill in Atlantic City, as of 2024, the drink is no longer on the menu. So, why not try making your own version?

Giada De Laurentiis: Italian Amaro Cocktail

Giada De Laurentiis has a fondness for amaro cocktails, referring to them as "soda for adults." The renowned Italian chef is celebrated for her traditional Italian cuisine, which highlights fresh, seasonal herbs and flavors, and her cocktails reflect the same philosophy. On her Instagram and website, De Laurentiis shared her recipe for this delightful drink, which features bitter amaro liqueur, lime, and ginger ale. "Amaro, ginger ale, and lime blend together to create a flavor reminiscent of a sophisticated soda... this is one of my favorites!"

While De Laurentiis suggests using amaros like Cynar or St. Agrestis, feel free to select your own. There are numerous fantastic amaros available now that Americans have finally embraced what Italians have long appreciated. You can even craft your own! Amaro is created by infusing a high-proof clear spirit (such as Everclear) with herbs, flowers, sugar, spices, and other local ingredients, allowing it to steep for several weeks or more.

This cocktail is more robust and contains a greater amount of bitters compared to its counterpart, the Aperol Spritz—another delightful drink that incorporates amaro but lightens it up with Prosecco and sparkling water. Amaro aids digestion, and ginger ale is also known for its stomach-settling properties. The combination of amaro and ginger ale in this De Laurentiis cocktail makes it an ideal choice for after dinner.

Anthony Bourdain: Negroni

Anthony Bourdain's legacy of exploring diverse places and savoring various cuisines—truly believing in the unifying power of food and drink—continues to resonate today. Among his many preferences, his top choice was the Negroni, which he famously dubbed "the perfect drink." In a 2016 interview with Barron's, he remarked, "It's three liquors that I'm not particularly interested in... but when you combine them with a slice of orange, it works."

The classic Negroni is crafted from three key ingredients: gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari. The bitter notes of Campari complement the herbal qualities of gin and the sweetness of vermouth, while the addition of orange introduces a refreshing citrus element. Although it may not appeal to everyone, the Negroni remains a staple on cocktail menus worldwide. The origins of this iconic drink are reminiscent of many cocktail legends—born from a desire for something stronger. In this case, it was Count Camilo Negroni who, in 1919 in Florence, Italy, sought a bolder beverage. He asked his bartender friend to enhance his drink, leading to the substitution of soda water with gin, thus creating the Negroni we know today.

Julia Child: Upside-Down Martini

Julia Child transformed perceptions of women in the kitchen. A true pioneer, her favorite cocktail was a twist on a classic. Child relished an Upside-Down Martini (also referred to as a Reverse Martini), which features reversed proportions. Instead of the typical five parts vodka or gin to one part vermouth, this version uses five parts vermouth to one part gin or vodka, resulting in a sweeter drink. Julia preferred hers with gin, extra dry vermouth, and a twist of lemon peel.

Child played a pivotal role in demystifying what many considered an intimidating style of cooking for the American audience. She provided accessible recipes for French cuisine in a cookbook that remains influential and widely referenced in homes and restaurants today. So, when it comes to cocktails, trust Julia Child and give this martini a try—it just might become your new favorite.

David Chang: Bud Light

Let’s be honest: some chefs can be quite particular about their drink preferences. It doesn’t quite sit well for a celebrity chef to admit that their favorite beverage is something often ridiculed, both in culinary circles and among the general public. Sure, people enjoy light beer, and yes, there are plenty of jokes about it. However, David Chang, the founder of the Momofuku restaurant group, isn’t bothered by the humor; he has a genuine passion for what some might call low-brow beer.

In a piece for "GQ," Chang declared Bud Light as his favorite drink: "There’s no beverage I’ve consumed more in my life than Bud Light... And there’s no drink I cherish more." He goes on to extol Bud Light and other light beers like Singha, Tecate, and Miller High Life, asserting, "Cheap beer is, no joke, the champagne of beers. And cheap beer pairs perfectly with spicy food like nothing else."

Bobby Flay: Sbagliato

On the podcast "Always Hungry with Bobby Flay and Sophie Flay," Bobby Flay and his daughter discussed their favorite cocktails, with Flay revealing his fondness for a sbagliato. Essentially, this drink is a Negroni made with Prosecco instead of gin. The sbagliato was said to have been invented in the 1980s in Milan by Mirko Stocchetti, who accidentally added sparkling wine to a customer's Negroni instead of gin. The term "sbagliato" translates to "mistaken" or "messed up," but this bubbly cocktail turned out to be a delightful mistake and has since gained popularity.

The sbagliato even became a meme sensation following a memorable interview with "House of the Dragon" stars Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke. D'Arcy mentioned their preferred drink as "a Negroni," then playfully added "sbagliato ... with Prosecco." The way D'Arcy delivered the line was so entertaining that it sparked a wave of memes online, leading a new generation to rush to bars to order Negroni sbagliatos.

Rachael Ray: Gin Martini

Rachael Ray has a fondness for gin martinis, particularly her husband John Cusamano's unique take on the drink, which features Castelvetrano olives and orange bitters. "He crafts an incredible martini," she shared in an interview with Tasting Table. The inclusion of the olives adds a briny touch reminiscent of a dirty martini, while the orange bitters provide a refreshing brightness.

Castelvetrano olives, hailing from Sicily's Belice Valley, are known for their nutty, mild, and buttery flavor, and they have a firmer texture compared to other olives. Typically, martinis are made with Spanish queen olives, which are often accompanied by a delightful red pimento. Giada De Laurentiis also adores Castelvetrano olives, incorporating them into many of her dishes. With the combination of orange bitters and these Sicilian olives, this gin martini transports you to the Mediterranean, perfect for those who prefer it over a Negroni or Aperol spritz.

Martha Stewart: Lemon Drop

Martha Stewart, the reigning queen of thirst traps, enjoys sipping on a lemon drop martini to satisfy her cravings. This timeless cocktail is her go-to choice, which she enhances with unique ingredients: a Meyer lemon and Polish Belvedere vodka. During her appearance on Today, Stewart revealed her preferences for lemon drops, mentioning her fondness for orange-flavored Cointreau and the addition of lemon-infused simple syrup.

Citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges can provide a refreshing and tangy touch to a variety of spirits, whether used as a garnish or an ingredient. Meyer lemons, in particular, offer a sweeter flavor compared to other lemon varieties. This is due to their classification as a hybrid, resulting from a cross between a citron and a mandarin orange. With their lower acidity, Meyer lemons are ideal for both cocktails and desserts. In fact, Stewart often incorporates Meyer lemons into many of her dessert recipes, including coffee cake, pound cake, tarts, and cupcakes.