This season once again requires some of Key West’s highly experienced bartenders to figure out and satisfy the whims of a heated market of drinkers. Here, we check-in with brand-new bars at landmark locations, late-night downtown hangs, and specialty drink ventures to find out the ingredients and tastes proving most popular.

Bartender Jovana Ostojic is used to seeing a range of requests at the historic La Concha Hotel. This year, she saw an uptick in requests for flavors associated with the island’s famed key lime pie. Key lime martinis and key lime mojitos fittingly saw an increase in demand around this summer’s Key Lime Festival. 

As La Concha’s Tropicado Mojito Bar offers daily demonstrations and tastings, its classic Cuban Tropicado Mojito unsurprisingly remains a favorite. The “light” drink is prepared with blonde rum, Demerara syrup, fresh limes and mint, and soda. Ostojic offers several versions of the mojito with another popular take being “The Conch Republic,” which includes vodka, orange-flavored triple sec Cointreau, lemon juice, and guava. 

Towards the top of Duval Street is another refreshing summer choice. The Lucky Limbo is served by Errin Harrelson at Rick’s. It contains coconut rum, fresh muddled lime, a splash of cranberry juice, mango purée and is topped with club soda. The bartender originally made it for herself before it became very popular with people who wanted something “tropical but not sweet.” Harrelson recommends trying it on the rocks or as the non-alcoholic version that replaces the rum with coconut club soda.

When Cassie McGee started her mobile bar Mile Zero Proof, she also knew alcohol-free options were becoming more prevalent. Still, she was surprised at just how receptive the public turned out to be. McGee felt that in the past, such options were more or less only available at certain restaurants with a full bar.

While something as straightforward as lemonade, for instance, might suffice, McGee is seeing a rise in customers getting into elevated, non-alcoholic options. These include both freshly mixed and pre-batched drinks.

One of her most popular requests this season is called Aquamarine by Moonlight. The dreamy-sounding mocktail contains butterfly pea tea, basil, local honey, fresh lime, white grape, bubbles, dehydrated dragon fruit, and edible glitter. The bartender usually comes up with popular menu ideas while daydreaming. 

“It was everything you want in an elevated beverage — fresh, herbaceous and well balanced. Not to mention, no booze, so it was something everyone could and did enjoy. It’s definitely trending.”