Back in my day, a cocktail was a Screwdriver, a Grasshopper, or a Harvey Wallbanger; they had funny names and ingredients like orange juice, crème de menthe, or, uh, orange juice. Now it’s all (waves hand in a ranting way) elderberries and moonlight, smoked whiskey with charred bee stings, and fresh-squeezed blood orange juice. Psych! This isn’t actually a rant because you know what? Modern cocktails are awesome. Please fill my glass with moonlight and bee stings, bartender: I’ll take these flavorful, thoughtful, fancy cocktails over a Screwdriver any day. Lucky for you, we compiled a list of some must-try local cocktails—both classic and creative, and even booze-free—and I can say, with confidence, that I’d happily drink all of them. (Perhaps not all at once, though). 

Aperol Spritz

Aphrodite

A connoisseur of the maximalist spirit, Bacchus House Wine Bar & Bistro goes above and beyond when it comes to their décor, service, and culinary creations. The cocktail menu can’t be missed; it’s bursting with fresh, flavorful ingredients and creativity.

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: Aperol Spritz with Aperol, prosecco, sparkling water, and an orange slice; served in a wine glass on the rocks. If the Cosmopolitan was the drink of the ’90s, Aperol Spritzes are the drink of the 2020s. Come join the cool kids. 

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: Aphrodite with raspberry-flavored vodka, Chambord, lemon juice, and a half-sugar rim. Nothing says “best night ever” more than a pink drink in a martini glass. 

1004 East Bidwell Street, Suite 100, Folsom, 916-984-7500, bacchushousebistro.com

Located on Folsom’s Sutter Street, Gaslight Co. offers vibes that are both historic and classy, including an old-school hidden speakeasy lounge called The Backroom (open Thursday-Saturday from 6 p.m.). The cocktail menu is thoughtful, highly creative, and bursting with fresh local ingredients and house-made syrups. 

Vesper

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: Vesper, a martini made with London dry gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc. Popularized by Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel Casino Royale and as timeless as James Bond himself. 

21st Century

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: 21st Century with gin, cucumber, fresh grapefruit juice, fresh lime juice, Gaslight’s own basil syrup, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto, peach bitters, and an edible flower. A boozy springtime sipper that’ll put a pep in your step.

The Winnie

MOCKTAIL: The Winnie (named after Winnie, the Sutter Street mini pig) with muddled strawberries, pineapple juice, fresh lemon and lime juice, Gaslight’s house-made basil syrup, and soda water; though the ingredients slightly shift with the seasons, “The Winnie” (and the pig herself) are always around.

718 Sutter Street, Suite 200, Folsom, 916-358-9447, gaslightcofolsom.com

Sienna offers a creative cocktail menu that will perfectly complement your next fine dining meal or vastly improve your next happy hour session.

Barrel-Aged Manhattan

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: The aptly named Barrel-Aged Manhattan with George Dickel Bottled in Bond, Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth, and Angostura bitters is aged in an oak cask for 30 days. A slow-sipping classic you’ll want to savor every sip of! 

Wake-Up Tini

 Must-Try Creative Cocktail: Wake-Up Tini with Absolut Vanilla Vodka, Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, locally roasted Vaneli’s espresso, and house-infused vanilla simple syrup. It’ll see you well through the wee hours. 

MOCKTAIL: Spicy Mango Margarita made with Ritual Zero Proof Tequila, fresh lime juice, mango purée, and house-infused habanero agave nectar. It brings the spice without the spirits!

1006 White Rock Road, Suite 200, El Dorado Hills, 916-941-9694; 1480 Eureka Road, Roseville, 916-771-4700, siennarestaurants.com

Milestone is the bar with a view, right in the heart of the El Dorado Hills Town Center. Soak up the scenery on their expansive patio while enjoying a creative cocktail crafted from a deep bench of spirits (check out that top shelf!). 

Gin & Tonic and Beach Bonfire (Short glass)

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: Gin & Tonic with Fords Gin and Milestone’s house-made tonic. As far as we know, they don’t frown on Nick and Nora Charles’ cosplay in this establishment (kids, ask your grandparents to tell you about The Thin Man movies). 

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: Beach Bonfire with Herradura Silver Tequila and habanero-infused Aperol with grapefruit and lime juice. It’s sure to put a fire in your belly! 

Little Maverick

MOCKTAIL: Little Maverick contains no actual alcohol but is full of flavor, thanks to Lyre’s White Cane Spirit (non-alcoholic white rum), orgeat syrup, orange and lime juice, cream, and nutmeg. 

4359 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 116, El Dorado Hills, 916-934-0790, milestoneedh.com

Visconti’s Ristorante is well-known for their excellent Italian fare, but they’ve also got an extensive cocktail menu—and the bar and patio recently underwent a major glow up, aka expansion—boasting everything from drinkable desserts (hello) to bona fide classics and creative sips.

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: Old Fashioned with Booker’s Small Batch Bourbon, simple syrup, a dash of Regan’s Orange Bitters, splash of soda, lemon, orange slice, and Luxardo cherry. A notorious favorite of Jon Hamm's character in Mad Men; despite Don Draper's flaws, he had great taste in cocktails.

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: Prosecco Cucumber with Ketel One Oranje Vodka, fresh-squeezed lime juice, fresh cucumbers, and orange-flavored liqueur; shaken and served in a cucumber-lined flute topped with Ruffino Italian Prosecco. If this refreshingly sweet and altogether delightful cocktail doesn’t restore your faith in humanity, well, order another. 

MOCKTAIL: Muddled raspberries, blackberries, and mint leaves, fresh-squeezed lime, simple syrup, and orange-flavored liqueur are topped with soda water and Sprite in the Merry Berry Virgin Mojito. And, yes, it’s merry good.

2700 East Bidwell Street, Suite 700, Folsom, 916-983-5181, viscontisristorante.com

Auburn’s Restaurant Josephine already has a die-hard following for their exquisite cuisine, but their cocktail menu really puts them over the top with thoughtful spins on many classics, as well as rotating seasonal cocktails. And the bar itself is a whole mood, straight out of 1920’s Paris via Auburn’s Gold Rush. 

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: Negroni “en Blanc” with tarragon-infused Hayman’s Old Tom Gin, Salers Aperitif, Cocchi Americano, and grapefruit bitters. It’s Josephine’s play on a White Negroni and delivers all the refreshing bitterness, and more, of this classic cocktail.

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: Tom Kha 3.0 features gin, coconut, lemongrass, ginger, Thai basil, lime, and chili oil; a unique, playful take on Thai coconut soup. Who says you can’t drink your dinner? 

MOCKTAIL: Blood Orange Nagarita includes Free Spirits reposado-style tequila, blood orange juice, cinnamon, lime, and a salted rim; trust me: this one’s a mocktail keeper. 

1226 Lincoln Way, Auburn, 530-820-3523, josephineauburn.com

The Independent Restaurant and Bar prides themselves on their handcrafted specialty cocktails, including both innovative creations and thoughtfully crafted classics, all made with an array of infused liquors, fresh juices, and house-made mixers. 

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: Paper Plane, with straight bourbon, Ramazzotti Amaro, Aperol, and fresh lemon, is a modern, Bourbon-forward take on the classic Last Word cocktail. 

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: Ruby Seas, featuring Ron de El Salvador Cihuatán 12-Year Aged Rum, fresh lime, muddled raspberries, Campari, Luxardo Cherry Syrup, Angostura orange bitters, and a house-made ginger beer float. This one isn’t so much a cocktail as a vacation for your taste buds. 

MOCKTAIL: T-N-T, aka tonic “no” tequila, includes house-made tonic syrup, fresh lime juice, and soda water. A simple and simply satisfying sipper. 

629 Main Street, Placerville, 530-344-7645, independentplacerville.com

Folsom’s Back Bistro is the perfect spot to unwind with a cocktail made using the freshest ingredients. Relax next to the fire pit on their cozy patio or belly up to their huge wraparound bar.  

Must Try Classic Cocktail: Sazerac with Milam & Greene Port Cask Finished Rye, Peychaud’s bitters, absinthe rinse, cane sugar syrup, and a lemon expression. One of the oldest cocktails and the official cocktail of New Orleans; take a swig and laissez les bons temps rouler! 

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: Smoked Old Fashioned includes bourbon, alongside smoked maple syrup, an orange expression, black walnut bitters, and house-made brandied cherry. With your pick of bourbon from their extensive menu, this cocktail becomes a real smoke show. 

MOCKTAIL: Thanks to cold brew, Lyre's Coffee Originale, simple syrup, half and half, and dark chocolate, this spirit-free Espresso Martini will have you buzzing—but not from the booze.

230 Palladio Parkway, Suite 1201, Folsom, 916-986-9100, backbistro.com

A big, beautiful dining room, complete with richly stained mahogany doors, limestone counters, custom light fixtures, and 22-foot palms make Fat’s Asia Bistro one of our area’s most popular, and prettiest, eateries. Their Asian fusion fare and craft cocktails are equally impressive.

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: Mai Tai, a combo of light rum, Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, and a float of Lahaina Special Dark Rum is poured into an ice-filled glass with a float of grenadine; their menu says it best: “No doubt about it, the best Mai Tai in town.”

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: Your taste buds will bloom after one taste of the Cherry Blossom, which includes equal parts Smirnoff Cherry Vodka, Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka, sweet and sour mix, and simple syrup—shaken with ice and poured up into a martini glass filled with grenadine. Spring has sprung.

2585 Iron Point Road, Folsom, 916-983-1133; 1500 Eureka Road, Roseville, 916-787-3287, fatsasiabistro.com

Middle-siblings welcome. (Get it? Mules? Stubborn? This is a joke for eldest siblings.) House of Mules Cocktails & Kitchen is a sophisticated craft kitchen and elevated sports bar all rolled into one. In addition to their dizzying variety of mules (as advertised), they’ve got an exciting selection of craft cocktails.

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: Rose Linen with Aviation Gin, rose syrup, lemon juice, and lemon-lime soda. A rose by any other name: House of Mules’ fragrant take on the classic Pink Linen cocktail. 

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: Guava Mojito with Bacardi, guava purée, lime juice, fresh mint, and lemon-lime soda. If you have a soft spot for tangy fruit cocktails, they've guava just the thing to satisfy your craving.  

MOCKTAIL: Gin-Go (the spirit-free version) with muddled ginger, ginger syrup, lemon juice, and mango purée. Refreshingly fruity with a snap of sweet heat from the ginger, this zero-proof pour is a serious winner. 

13385 Folsom Boulevard, Suite 900, Folsom, 916-293-9606 houseofmules

Don Quixote's Mexican Grill has been serving great Mexican cuisine since 2006, and they truly flex their creativity with an exciting cocktail menu. From thoughtful re-creations of classics to unexpected originals, there’s no such thing as a wrong choice here! 

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: The Dirty Martini, made using Tanqueray Gin and dry vermouth with a colossal, blue cheese-stuffed green olive. Honestly, you had us at colossal green olive. The olive is 50% of the reason I order martinis: Don Quixote’s understands the assignment. 

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: Oro Verde mixes traditional blanco house tequila (infused with poblano chiles) with a muddled Hass avocado, lime juice, and agave. Much like this unexpected cocktail, my astrological traits are spicy, smooth, and tangy.

MOCKTAIL: Mangonada with fresh mango, Tajin purée, agave nectar, lime juice, and a swirl of house-made chamoy. Whether you want to call it a dessert, a beverage, or both, one thing is certain: it’s delicious!

2164 Sunset Boulevard, Rocklin, 916-773-1800, therocklindon.com

It’s impossible to talk about Poor Red's Bar-B-Que without talking about cocktails (they’re also known for great barbecue, though). This is the home of the famous Gold Cadillac, created in 1952 at Poor Red’s in a bar that looked a lot like the one still standing today. Where else can you experience cocktail history? 

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: Gold Cadillac, a blend of Galliano, white crème de cacao, and cream. Creamy deliciousness in a fancy glass—and it comes with a bonus sidecar. No notes.

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: Pink Squirrel, a blend of Crème de Noyaux, white crème de cacao, and cream. Yes, it’s a Cherry Garcia version of the Gold Cadillac, but it’s cocktail heaven. Let us praise creamy drinks with sidecars! 

6221 Pleasant Valley Road, El Dorado, 530-622-2901, poorreds.com

SMALL BATCH, BIG FLAVOR

7 Local Distilleries

There’s an abundance of locally made liquor right here in this region, thanks to these close-to-home distilleries!

1> Amador & Dry Diggings Distillery

5050 Robert J Mathews Pkwy, El Dorado Hills, 530-350-9602, drydiggings.com

Espresso Nocino Martini

Ghost Pine Gin

2> Burning Barrel Spirits

640 Main Street, Placerville, 530-748-3673, burningbarrelspirits.com

>>>Belly up to their bar for a bite (options include everything from salads and wings to chicken sandwiches) alongside an Espresso Nocino Martini, crafted with their Western Slope Vodka, Nocino, and fresh cold brew topped with grated nutmeg; or Thai Me Up, made with their Ghost Pine Gin, lime, cucumber and ginger-topped sesame oil.

3> Georgetown Distillery and Restaurant

6101 State Highway 193, Georgetown, 530-334-7000, gtdistillery.com

4> DAO Distillery

11460 Sunrise Gold Circle, Suite C, Rancho Cordova, 916-831-8969

5> California Distilled Spirits

12205 Locksley Lane, Suite 11, Auburn, 916-599-6541, californiadistilledspirits.com

6> New Alchemy Distilling

5050 Robert J Mathews Pkwy, Suite 250, El Dorado Hills, 209-283-1382, newalchemydistilling.com

7> Nixtaco

1805 Cirby Way, Suite 12, Roseville, 916-771-4165, nixta.co

Bennett's has a quietly confident menu of handcrafted cocktails designed to make your extended stay on their huge outdoor patio an enjoyable one. Because you WILL stay. It’s rude not to. 

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: French 75 with Empress 1908 Indigo Gin, sparkling wine, cane syrup, and fresh-squeezed lemon juice. A cocktail so classic it even had a cameo in Casablanca (along with many, many other cocktails: a very boozy movie!). 

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: Raspberry Martini with house-infused raspberry vodka, fresh lemon juice, and sparkling water over a giant ice cube. Vibrant in color and taste, it’s sweet, tart, and bursting with the season’s juiciest fruit. 

6604 Lonetree Boulevard, Rocklin, 916-872-1020; 1595 Eureka Road, Roseville, 916-750-5150; 2232 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Sacramento, 916- 515-9680, bennettsrestaurants.com

Monkey Cat offers fine dining (and fine drinking!) and some eclectic handcrafted cocktails to boot—all in adorable Downtown Auburn.

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: Cadillac Margarita with silver tequila, Cointreau, fresh lemon and lime juice, organic agave, and Grand Marnier. Margaritas can get very silly, but they’re best when they’re serious (and boozy). 

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: Malibu Barbie is a fun mix of coconut rum, silver rum, passionfruit syrup, grenadine, lime juice, edible glitter (you read that right!), and soda water served with a cotton candy garnish. Hi, Barbie!

805 Lincoln Way, Suite 4806, Auburn, 530-888-8492, monkeycat.com

Crawdads on the Lake brings the views and vibes to Folsom—with lots of live music and an impressive array of craft cocktails, including several boozy, beach-inspired beverages.

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: Boujee Bayou Sour with Gentleman Jack, lemon and lime juice, simple syrup, aquafaba, and bitters; aka Crawdads’ (really good) rendition of a Whiskey Sour.

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: Froze with Line 39 Rosé, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, strawberry purée, and lime. This sipper goes down smooth and will put hair on your chest and gas in your tank—just don’t operate heavy machinery! 

9900 Greenback Lane, Folsom, 916-989-9243, crawdadsonthelake.com

The Copper Room, a below-street-level speakeasy at Hotel Sutter, is cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and ready to serve you something strong year-round. A historic long bar, cozy booths, communal tables, and a bevy of beverages (and good times!) await.

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: Bee’s Knees with Tanqueray Gin, fresh lemon juice, and honey syrup. Aptly named, it truly is the bee’s knees. Put this one in your regular cocktail rotation if you haven’t already.

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: Passion Star Martini with vanilla vodka, passionfruit purée, and lime juice with a sidecar of sparkling wine. Bold, boozy, and fruity, this one goes down easy like Sunday morning.

53 Main Street, Sutter Creek, 209-267-0242, hotelsutter.com

Folsom’s Cantina Pedregal (from the Michelin-recognized minds behind Nixtaco and Canon) highlights the cuisine and flavors of Northeastern Mexico with a mouthwatering menu that’s in a league of its own. The cocktail program is equally impressive, thanks to thoughtful, complex drinks—without any triple sec in sight. 

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: Margarita Classica with reposado tequila, lime juice, orange moonshine, agave nectar, and a salt rim, served on the rocks. Is there anything more classic than a margarita on the rocks? Is there a more dangerous combination than tequila and moonshine? Welcome to the Thunderdome. 

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: El Borracho with huitlacoche-infused Sierra Norte Whiskey, sotol nectar, and mole bitters. This exciting and unique creation is a one-way ticket out of your margarita-based comfort-zone and into the exciting regional flavors of Northeastern Mexico. Let’s go! 

MOCKTAIL: Hibiscus Agua Fresca with hibiscus flower, agave syrup, lime and orange peel extract, and cinnamon; it’s sweet, it’s tart, and, yes, you’re going to want another.

185 Placerville Road, Suite 150, Folsom, 916-790-8479, cantinapedregal.com 

Psst! From the creative brains behind Fourscore Coffee, House Divided is a speakeasy-style bar located in the heart of Roseville’s downtown district. Tucked in an alley, you’ll need a secret password to enter. Décor is English hunting-lodge-chic, the cocktails are creative (house-made simple syrups, don’t ya know), and the gin is mercifully not made in the bathtub. 

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: Mary Pickford, whose combination of white rum (Plantation 3 Stars, in this case), pineapple juice, lime, maraschino liqueur, and grenadine—shaken, chilled, and served up with a cherry—has been pleasing fans of sweet, punchy drinks since Prohibition.

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: Tea Thyme Fizz features Citadelle Gin, lemon, orange bitters, white tea, and thyme-infused simple syrup with an egg white and club soda. Nothing makes you feel more like you’re officially “out on the town” than a fizz, and this unique flavor combo comes with official “fancy” status. 

MOCKTAIL: Uncle Abe features Seedlip Grove 42, lemon, Sprite, cucumber, and mint; it looks like a cocktail and tastes like a cocktail minus the horrid hangover. 

323 Lincoln Street, Suite B, Roseville, 916-521-0204, fourscorecoffee.com/pagehd

Plank Craft Kitchen & Bar is located on Folsom’s Sutter Street and specializes in California comfort food. Their craft cocktails are designed to lure you to the patio fire pit for a cozy evening overlooking Lake Natoma. 

Must-Try Classic Cocktail: Plank-Hattan with Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon, sweet vermouth, Campari, and Aztec Chocolate Bitters; served up with a Luxardo cherry. Who doesn’t love a boozy chocolate and cherry combo? I know I do—send me two and keep them coming!

Must-Try Creative Cocktail: Prickly Passion Mojito featuring Saltwater Woody Rum, passionfruit purée, and prickly pear syrup; topped with soda water and mint. This tropical rum cocktail will have you singing old sea shanties in no time. Don’t get shanghaied! 

MOCKTAIL: Hibiscus Margarita with Almave Ámbar (non-alcoholic blue agave spirit), hibiscus-infused agave nectar, and fresh-squeezed lime and lemon juice, with a Tajin/sugar rim; garnished with an edible candied hibiscus flower and dried lime wheel. Who needs booze when you have ingredients this good?

608 Sutter Street, Folsom, 916-260-5333, plankfolsom.com

by Sharon Penny
Bacchus House Wine Bar & Bistro photos by Jyo Bhamidipati ©stylereadersmedia. Photos courtesy of their respective companies or organizations. The Independent (Paper Plane and Ruby Seas) photos and Back Bistro Sazerac photo by Jyo Bhamidipati ©stylereadersmedia. The Independent (T-N-T) photo by Marielle Thoma. Don Quixote's Mexican Grill photos by Jyo Bhamidipati ©stylereadersmedia. Poor Red's Bar-B-Que photos by Taylor Allred ©stylereadersmedia. Amador & Dry Diggings Distillery photo by Taylor Allred ©stylereadersmedia. Crawdads on the Lake photos by Jyo Bhamidipati ©stylereadersmeida. House Divided photos by Wesley Scott @wslysctt. Other photos courtesy of their respective companies or organizations.