St. Louis, MOCocktails

Co-owner Ted Kilgore built a cocktail list across Planter's House and The Bullock Room with classics and his own compositions. The signature martini combines three gins, two vermouths, olive bitters and lemon oil. Order it with the house olives.

Tim Wiggins leads a cocktail program built around sustainable practice and a focused spirits selection. Try a raicilla flight with three pours of the agave spirit. Wiggins also co-owns Yellowbelly.

A red light above an unmarked door leads through a tunnel to this dimly lit bar beneath City Foundry. Bar manager Fionna Gemzon makes the Desert Flower with Armagnac, pineapple and a house biryani tincture; the Pg. 28 arrives under a smoke bubble. Order charred scallion dip with kettle chips alongside a drink.

This downtown members-only cocktail bar names drinks after songs. Be Good or Be Gone, named for a Fionn Regan song, is a savory bourbon cocktail finished with pumpkin seed oil and sea salt. Order that one.

Meredith Barry and Tony Saputo built this Grove bar around an evolving cocktail list. The Ciambella clarified milk punch combines VSOP cognac, Balvenie 12-year Scotch, oloroso sherry, milk, lemon juice and concentrated banana chai tea. Ask whether it is on the current list.