The Beverage Information Group has come out with a report on what bar customers wanted most in 2011.

--According to their survey of bar managers, the most popular mixed drink in America is . . . the margarita.  It was also the favorite drink the year before, although other drinks are narrowing the gap.

--In second place is the martini, followed by rum and Coke.  And for the first time since 2008, the Cosmopolitan cracked the top five.

--The most popular vodka is Absolut, which won by a narrow margin over Grey Goose.

--Chardonnay repeated as the most popular wine to order in a bar.  In hotels and clubs, drinkers prefer Merlot.

--The most popular craft beer was Sam Adams, and for imported beer, Corona got the nod over Heineken.

--And if you want to impress people at the bar with how trendy you are, ask about their "culinary cocktails" or "artisanal spirits".  Supposedly they're the next big thing. 

--Culinary cocktails use weird, fresh ingredients like basil, mushrooms, and cilantro.  Artisanal spirits are smaller-scale, higher quality, and usually have a higher price.