Best Cocktails in America: Meet the 2014 winners

MULTIMEDIA
• Gallery: A look at the 2014 Best Cocktails in America

WINNERS
• Ponchatoula Punch
• I Feel Pretty
• The Dutch Oven
• What What
• Gone to Carolina
• Moulin Rouge
• Without Fear
• Charbonneau Way
• Anthym Spirit
• Duality
• Smoked Duck Manhattan
• Perfect Thyming
• Nirvana
• Ebb & Flo
• Malaguena-Hibiscus Margarita
• A Walk in the Park
• Witching Hour
• Smokey Tomahawk
• Blaise's Basil
• Tequila Mockingbird
• Berry-Thyme Shrubtail
• Guyaba Arabica
• Grilled Pineapple Daiquiri
• Cocoa Branca
• How the West Was Won
• No BS Nitrogen Banana Split
• Chocolate Waffle Cone Tini
• Brewberry
• Cocktails Sur Lie

“We were not a hugging people. In terms of emotional comfort, it was our belief that no amount of physical contact could match the healing powers of a well-made cocktail.” –humorist David Sedaris

Smart man, that David Sedaris. A beautiful cocktail is a powerful thing. And as much as we appreciate that power, we here at RH seek out perfectly made cocktails simply to celebrate the joys of life. If others choose to consume for healing purposes, who are we to judge? Yet judge we did, but not those who enjoy a fine cocktail, but rather those who create them for our pleasure. Thankfully, not only has America’s love for cocktails grown tremendously in recent years, so has the skill of those who prepare them. That was clearly evident from the hundreds of terrific entries we received in this, our first cocktails competition. Creativity was our guide. What often separated a winning cocktail from a losing one was the addition of a precise single ingredient, or the subtraction of an unnecessary one. In this game of inches, taste, balance and eye appeal guided us home. We got hundreds of great entries and not-so-great entries so you’ll find several winners in one category and fewer in another. Without further ado, here are this year’s winners of the Best Cocktail in America Contest.

—The Editors