Beverages

This drink’s single deviation from the typical dry Martini is a couple of dashes of the liqueur kümmel, which tastes of caraway and cumin, in place of the usual orange bitters.

The Puritan, another old variation, lies somewhere between the Martini and the Alaska, using both dry vermouth and a bit of yellow Chartreuse. 

Tuxedo No. 2 mixes gin, maraschino liqueur, vermouth, and absinthe, and is lightly luscious.

Basically, this is a Martini made intriguing by a splash of absinthe. If this ends up being your deathbed drink, you didn’t do too badly.

This tequila-infused carnitas recipe is perfect for festive occasions—or any weeknight you want to party.

This cube of crustless milk bread is encased in a shiny, shatteringly thin caramel shell, then filled with an enormous dollop of chamomile-infused vanilla bean custard.

It’s a vodka martini—properly called the Kangaroo—gone savory with peaty Scotch and olives four ways.

Pairing the tangy fruit with Scotch—plus oolong tea that’s been steeped forever—gives a whisper of smoke and a bitter, malty edge to the drink.

It couldn’t be simpler to combine honey, grapefruit, lemon, and seltzer, but the mixture is surprisingly complex in flavor, both tangy and rich.

This is a fine Christmas Day vegetarian dish, a serious centerpiece packed with rich flavor. The recipe may look a bit epic upon first glance, but the sauce and caramelized onions can be made in advance.

While brandy is the traditional partner for fruit cake, you could also try using a dessert sherry such as Pedro Ximénez. It’s an intensely sweet, dark sherry made from the Spanish grape variety of the same name. Perfect in festive cakes, puddings and custards, you can find it in liquor stores.

Applejack and maple syrup take the classic whiskey sour in a decidedly fall direction.

Meet the Negroni’s wintery cousin—a combination of rye whiskey and Scotch in place of gin makes it peppery, dry, and wonderfully savory.

This make-ahead cocktail is lightly smoky and wonderful with dessert. Adding water along with the ingredients, then freezing the batched drink, means you won’t need to shake it over ice.