Raleigh Magazine Reveals Cocktail Classic Drink & Liquor Pairings

Raleigh Magazine reveals the classic cocktail and liquor pairings for its Cocktail Classic.

You, cocktail in hand… concocted by Raleigh’s Best Bartender in tandem with a top tier liquor label. Nope—not a boozy fantasy, but your very spirited reality when you join us at the inaugural The Cocktail Classic, Nov. 18, where our 10 Best Bartender nominees will be mixing up 10 riffs on classics (think Old-Fashioned, Negroni, martini) in tandem with a top-shelf liquor brand against a backdrop of eats and beats. It’s sure to be the event of the season.

Now, to get us all in the, ahem, spirit, we reveal the 10 classic cocktails and premium liquors these master mixologists will be shaking up. Scoop the pairings below, and, if you haven’t yet, grab your tickets before they’re gone—then rock the vote and stay tuned for our February Best Bars Issue. Pro tip: Early bird ticket prices end Oct. 20. cocktailclassicraleigh.com

2023 RALEIGH MAGAZINE

BARTENDER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Reese Hailey | AUNTY BETTY’S | @auntybettysbar

Classic Cocktail: Tom Collins
Liquor: Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka

Connor Cooke | CLOCKWORK | @clockwork919

Classic Cocktail: Old-Fashioned
Liquor: Southern Star Bourbon

Christian Gibbs | THE HAYMAKER | @haymakerraleigh

Classic Cocktail: Daiquiri
Liquor: Outer Banks Distillery Silver Rum

Serena Thurston | DRAM & DRAUGHT | @dramanddraughtraleigh

Classic Cocktail: Mint Julep
Liquor: Woodford Reserve

Ian Murray | FOUNDATION | @foundation_bar

Classic Cocktail: Gold Rush
Liquor: Cook’s Mill Whiskey