New Survey Reveals Over 50% Agree On The Fanciest Alcoholic Beverage

Our beverage choices are often influenced by circumstance or occasion. This is to say that one's alcoholic drink of choice while watching a sporting event on television might not be the same as the drink chosen for a dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant or a celebratory party. The latter examples might indicate a more sophisticated libation; and indeed, when it comes to matching the drink to the occasion, so-called fancy drinks comprise a category all their own. Whether it's wedding receptions, elegant dinner parties, or romantic dinners for two, some occasions simply cry out for elevated refreshments.

What's the fanciest alcoholic beverage of them all? That's the question we asked in our most recent Tasting Table survey, which polled 615 readers. To be clear, our survey did not equate fanciness with factors like price or availability. A bottle of the most legendary 20th-century vintage of the most famous Burgundy — 1945 Romanée-Conti — currently sells for about $558,000, according to Yahoo Finance, and would no doubt be wonderful on any occasion (assuming no faults have appeared over the years). But our intention was not to exclude anyone; rather, to determine the most fancy of drinks that are readily available in virtually any bar or restaurant.

Champagne, not surprisingly, was the winner of our survey, garnering the support of 54.47% of our respondents. As Classic British Hotels notes: "Champagne is synonymous with celebrations. From 18th birthday parties through to golden anniversaries, our happy milestones are usually accompanied by a bottle of fizz ... This is especially true of romantic occasions — be it a weekend for two or a wedding breakfast for 200, there's usually a bottle of France's finest on ice." Rosé, another classic wine sipper, either of the sparkling or still variety, also did well in our survey, finishing in third place with 10.24% of the votes.

Finishing in second place, meanwhile, was that most classic of all cocktails, the martini. The favorite of 17.24% of those polled, the martini led the way among several cocktails deemed fancy enough for inclusion. This list included the old fashioned, a whiskey-based drink preferred by 6.99% of our respondents; the mojito, a stylish, tropical sipper favored by 6.50%; and the Negroni, a cocktail comprised of equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, whose last place finish with only 4.55% of votes surely speaks to a lack of familiarity rather than actual dislike. Then again, perhaps readers simply took issue with the Negroni's "fancy" bona fides.