5 Savory Cocktails You Need to Try

Sweet cocktails have their place, but sometimes you want something with a little more depth. Savory cocktails bring together herbs, spices, citrus, salt, vegetables, and bitters to create drinks that are complex, balanced, and surprisingly food-friendly. If you're ready to move beyond the usual sweet-and-sour cocktail, these five are a great place to start.

The Savory Old Fashioned

Give the classic Old Fashioned a more savory edge with aromatic bitters and a touch of rosemary.

• 2 oz bourbon or rye

• ¼ oz maple syrup

• 3 dashes Wildly Aromatic Bitters

• 1 small rosemary sprig

• Orange peel

• Ice

Gently slap the rosemary between your palms to release its aroma. Add bourbon, maple syrup and bitters to a mixing glass with ice. Stir until chilled and strain over a large cube of ice. Express an orange peel over the drink and garnish with the rosemary. Flavor: Rich, smoky, herbal and slightly sweet.

The Garden Martini

Think of this as a Martini taking a walk through the herb garden. Fresh cucumber, dill and English Lavender Bitters bring an earthy, botanical character to the classic combination of gin and vermouth.

• 2 oz gin

• ½ oz dry vermouth

• 3 thin cucumber slices

• 2 dashes English Lavender Bitters

• Small sprig of dill

• Lemon peel

Muddle the cucumber gently in a mixing glass. Add gin, vermouth and bitters with ice. Stir well and strain into a chilled Martini glass. Garnish with a cucumber ribbon, dill and lemon peel. Flavor: Crisp, refreshing, herbal and subtly floral.

The Spicy Bloody Maria

The Bloody Mary gets a tequila-powered makeover. Savory, spicy and packed with fresh flavor, the Bloody Maria is practically a meal in a glass.

• 2 oz blanco tequila

• 4 oz tomato juice

• ½ oz fresh lime juice

• 2 dashes Moroccan Orange Bitters

• 2 dashes hot sauce

• 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce

• Pinch of celery salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and roll gently between two glasses rather than vigorously shaking. Pour into an ice-filled highball glass. Garnish with lime, celery, olives or your favorite savory toppings. Flavor: Spicy, tangy, savory and citrusy.

The Tiki Garden

Savory doesn't have to mean serious. This tropical cocktail combines pineapple and lime with earthy bitters and a hint of salt for a surprisingly complex tiki-inspired drink.

• 1½ oz aged rum

• ¾ oz pineapple juice

• ½ oz fresh lime juice

• ½ oz dry curaçao

• 2 dashes South Seas Bitters

• Pinch of sea salt

Shake all ingredients vigorously with ice. Strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with pineapple leaves and a lime wheel. Flavor: Tropical, tart, lightly salty and aromatic.

The Citrus & Sage Sour

A classic Whiskey Sour becomes something entirely different with fresh sage and bright citrus bitters. It's an excellent example of how a few dashes of bitters can completely reshape a familiar cocktail.

• 2 oz bourbon

• ¾ oz fresh lemon juice

• ½ oz honey syrup

• 2 dashes Citrus Grove Bitters

• 2 fresh sage leaves

• Lemon wheel

Gently muddle one sage leaf with the honey syrup in a shaker. Add bourbon, lemon juice and bitters. Shake vigorously with ice and strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a lemon wheel and sage leaf. Flavor: Bright, herbal, tart and warmly aromatic.

Turn Up the Savory Side

The secret to a great savory cocktail is balance. Salt, herbs, citrus and bitters can add layers of flavor without overwhelming the base spirit. Start with a few dashes of bitters, taste, and adjust. Whether you're making a brunch-worthy Bloody Maria or putting a savory spin on an Old Fashioned, a little experimentation can take your cocktail in an entirely new direction.