Lustau Solera Standout 2026 Top 50
Words by Simon Difford
From bone-dry Fino to luscious Pedro Ximénez, Lustau's sherries offer bartenders an exceptional palette of flavours. Add the bodega's acclaimed brandies and vermouths, including category-defining Lustau Vermut Rosé, and the creative possibilities are vast. The judges' selection of the 50 best cocktails reflects that remarkable diversity.
Many thanks to all the bartenders who contributed recipes.
Travesía
The cocktail starts lightly sweet with floral/tropical notes and grapefruit aroma. It then shifts into the classic nutty notes typical of sherry, but with
(R&B) Rebujito Tonico
A crisp and aromatic highball designed for warm afternoons. This cocktail balances the bone-dry, coastal salinity of Lustau Manzanilla Sherry with the
Second Draw
A spirit-forward, elegantly dry cocktail showcasing Lustau Amontillado Los Arcos at its core. London Dry Gin adds structure, dry vermouth lifts the aromatics,
Thank you old friend
Before you drink it, it’s better to take a bite from the pitch
Cask & Cane
I created this cocktail at Death and Company Melbourne for the Lustau Solera Standout Competition. I pimped one of my favorite cocktail of all time, the
Old Seville
This spirit forward cocktail features notes of roasted nuts, bitter and sweet oranges, vanilla, and a hint of spice that dances on the palate. Designed
Hello, Old Friend
Hello, Old Friend is a spirit-forward shaken espresso cocktail built with Lustau Solera Reserva Brandy de Jerez, fresh espresso, Drambuie, brown sugar
Ione
This cocktail uses the bones of a French 75 style cocktail with manzanilla to showcase the fruity notes that cocktail tomatoes provide. The Mediterranean
Common Thread
Nose: bright lemon oils, walnut, gentle spice, subtle oak Palate: orchard fruit, orange peel, citrus, baking spices, walnut Finish: Long lingering dark
Cortaburma (Cutting Through the Mist)
A bright, low-ABV tropical cocktail where oxidative sherry, warm spice and fresh citrus meet rich orgeat. It opens vibrant and gently sweet before evolving
Red Flag
A delicate, fresh, sweet and sour cocktail with floral and fruity notes but also with a hint of bitterness on the back palate!
Late Shift
A sherry-forward stirred cocktail built around Lustau Los Arcos. Cognac adds texture and structure, rye whiskey brings subtle spice, and Bénédictine
Pura Raza Española
The drink is meant to be salty and juicy with acidity from vinegar, making everything bright and light
Blank page
Simple enough to belong to anyone, interesting enough to last. Salt and herbs up front, the cachaca emerging slowly underneath, a finish that’s dry and
Vernalis
Mahogany brown in color, Intense but light with saline and raspberry vinegar that add complexity to this. The drink come with notes of black raisin, orange,
Belétage Adonis
The Belétage Adonis evolves the classic into a three-part composition centred on Lustau Amontillado. Its biological and oxidative ageing shapes the cocktail's
