If you spend as much time in bars as you should, you’ve probably noticed a change in what people are drinking. While everyone still loves a nice cold one and a shot of Jack, there’s been a resurgence in the cocktail. Classics like the Manhattan and martini will always be tipple-sipping stalwarts, but the new era of cocktails is being ushered in by never before- heard-of ingredients like cinnamon oil, honey syrup, and something called creole shrub. "Cocktails are regaining popularity because a larger number of bars are taking the craft of the cocktail more seriously and making more interesting drinks than there have been in years," says Lisa Hare, bartender at Elizabeth, a Manhattan cocktail mecca. But creating a magical mixture that’s greater than the sum of its parts isn’t just about tossing the oddest ingredients into a glass and serving with a lemon twist. It takes a combination of vision, skill, and creativity to create something you’ve never tasted before. "I don’t think exotic ingredients are responsible for the resurgence in cocktails," adds Hare. "Good bartenders find new uses for ingredients that have been around for centuries but no one ever thought to use in the same way, or even in a drink." So the next time you’re drinking a cocktail, don’t be afraid to tell the bartender to stick a creole shrub in it.