Recently, more and more port wine producers have started experimenting with pre-mixed port wine cocktails. These blends, tailored to create the best port wine cocktails, are gaining popularity among a younger and broader audience, introducing port wine to new customers who may be tasting it for the first time. These blended mix ports are similar to standard port varieties, such as Ruby, Tawny, White, or even Pink port, but some have slightly higher acidity, while others are made fruitier or sweeter. Most importantly, they are ready to serve as ideal ingredients for cocktails. (This doesn’t mean you can’t use other port wines to make great port cocktails—these blends are simply packaged, tailored, and marketed specifically for bars and gastronomy worldwide.)

Port wine, traditionally enjoyed as a rich dessert wine, is gaining fresh appeal in the world of cocktails. A growing number of top port wine brands are releasing specialized blends crafted specifically for mixology, making it easier for bartenders and enthusiasts to experiment with unique flavors and textures in their creations. Here’s a look at some of the brands leading this movement, producing port wines that add complexity and versatility to cocktails.

Cockburn’s: Tales of the Unexpected Series

Cockburn’s has joined the cocktail movement with its Tales of the Unexpected series, a line of port wines crafted for adventurous drinkers. This series includes ports with bold, fruit-forward flavors and intriguing spice undertones, designed to mix well with a range of cocktail ingredients. The unique profile of the Tales of the Unexpected ports makes them ideal for inventive cocktails like Port Margaritas, Port Sangrias, or even Port-infused Mojitos, allowing mixologists to explore unexpected flavor pairings.

The Tales of the Unexpected series appeals to a younger generation of port drinkers, bringing Cockburn’s heritage into the mixology world with a creative twist. The series’ fruity richness and complex finish stand up well to mixers and garnishes, offering a versatile foundation for cocktails that are both refreshing and full-bodied.

Sandeman: Beat Series (Rose and White)

Sandeman’s Beat Series is another great example of port wines made for cocktails, featuring Beat Rose and Beat White. Beat Rose is a rosé port with delicate fruity and floral notes, perfect for light, refreshing cocktails. Paired with sparkling mixers or fresh fruit, it creates a summer-inspired cocktail experience. Beat White, with its tropical and citrusy notes, works well in drinks that highlight light, aromatic flavors, such as a White Port and Tonic.

Sandeman’s Beat Series captures the attention of modern drinkers, bridging tradition with contemporary flavors and cocktails that are perfect for social gatherings or solo sipping.

Graham’s: Blended Series No. 5 and No. 12

Graham’s Blended Series brings two unique ports designed for cocktail lovers: Blended Series No. 5 and Blended Series No. 12. No. 5 is a white port with floral and citrus elements, making it a refreshing base for cocktails like a White Port Spritz or a Port Collins. It’s crisp and versatile, pairing effortlessly with tonic, lemon, or light herbs. Meanwhile, Blended Series No. 12, a rich ruby port, adds depth to cocktails with its ripe berry and spiced undertones, ideal for bolder recipes like the Port Old Fashioned or a Port Manhattan.

This series showcases Graham’s commitment to innovation, appealing to those who appreciate both the classic elegance of port and the excitement of mixology.

Taylor’s: Chip Dry & BIn 27

Taylor’s Chip Dry was one of the first dry white ports introduced for cocktail mixing, offering a crisp and refreshing profile with less sweetness than typical white ports. Its dry, clean finish pairs beautifully with tonic and citrus, providing an ideal base for light, summer-friendly cocktails like the White Port and Tonic. Taylor’s Chip Dry caters to fans of gin and tonic, presenting a unique twist with the same refreshing character and a distinct port flavor. Another port wine cocktail favorite is the dark berried, and fruity BIN 27. A product that has been around for a long time already (1972), but has found a new life by adding this as a base for cocktails (introducing this already since 2018).

Pink Port

Actually there are more than 30 producers now creating a pink port. Experts argue about the quality of this style of port, that was introduced to the port wine sector in 2007 by Croft, part of the Fladgate Partnership organization. The color alone already creates eyecandy for cocktail mixologists so it’s not strange this port style, no matter the producer, will mix perfectly in new and classic cocktail recipes, adding sweetness, flavor and color to your cocktails!

Quevedo

Quevedo embraces new products and loves to test brand new exciting products. With a team of young colleagues, both Oscar and his sister Cláudia Quevedo, are working with many different people from around the world to try out new products. They don’t shy away from experimental ingredients, products and markets. Currently, they hold the Easy-Get-Togethers line, that works very well in cocktail bars and homes, because it entails 5 port styles, that can be the perfect baseline for blending and mixing cocktails.

Martins de Sá Port

Owned buy Marco, son of Martins De Sá, this brand is fully focussed on selling port wines as cocktail blends. 4 Styles are currently marketed, including ruby, tawny, white and rose port. Mostly active in the UK but can be found elsewhere like in The Netherlands. This line of port is constantly proven to be a great succes in bars and speakeasy cocktail bars in the UK. Letting mixologists create tasty port wine cocktails and promoting the ports to a younger audience. Marco him self uses the hashtag #portforanewgeneration to create awareness for this rebellious movement. We love it!

golddrink - SEQUEIRINHA

lastly in this list of producers with cocktail ports, is the brand SEQUEIRINHA from the company Golddrink. they don’t make special blends for cocktails perse, but they do have created a line of port wine cocktails on their website, using their port’s as a base ingredient for making these cocktails, such as a PORTO RITA, PORTO CATARINA, PORTO MULE and a PORTO STRAWBERRY.

Start Crafting your Port Wine Cocktails

I hope this helps you to navigate your search in finding the perfect port wine for your next port wine cocktail.

If you need help in finding the best recipe for your next cocktail, then I suggest you take a look at our current kickstarter project - The Portologist. Crafting Port Wine Cocktails. Get your hands on a unique book about port wine cocktails and start crafting your own.

All Port Brands for Cocktail-Ready Blends (2024)