Whiskey is the core of the cocktail program at this newish Milwaukee bar, but what makes it unique is the program's quest to use ingredients—like Schlitz-Elderflower foam or Wisconsin Nueske bacon-infused bourbon—that make for drinks that have a sense of place. [Photo: Distil]

This is another Midwest bar that can claim Toby Maloney (of Alchemy Consulting and formerly of Pegu Club) as a consultant. The arrival of Bradstreet in the Graves Hotel has instantly raised the bar for the Minneapolis cocktail scene. The menu focuses on twists on the classics and organizes drinks by approachability. [Photo: Bradstreet Craftshouse]

Chris Hannah is one of the premier bartenders in the city, and Arnaud's French 75 has been named one of the best bars in the country by a handful of publications. Hannah is driven by a passion for the cocktails of the past, both the classics and the forgotten ones. – Gwendolyn Knapp [Photo: Arnaud's]

Cure is considered by many to be the best bar in NOLA. Bartenders Neal Bodenheimer and Kirk Estopinal helped kick start a new era for craft cocktails in the city when they opened Cure; its beacon status endures. Their other two bars, Bellocq, which focuses on punches and cobblers and the newly-acquired Perestroika at Pravda are also among NOLA's best. [Photo: Cure]

At the forefront of Dallas' cocktail revival is the Cedars Social and cocktail mastermind Michael Martensen, who's teaching a new generation of Dallas bartenders how to make some very old drinks. – Andrea Grimes, Eater Dallas [Photo: Cedars Social]