Cocktail

An herbaceous, refreshing—and alcoholic—take on Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray soda.

Jason Cobler, the lead bartender of Harvest in Louisville, Kentucky, shared this recipe with Epicurious. Inspired by the Mint Julep, this is a lighter cocktail that will get you going the day after the Kentucky Derby.

Amaro and sweet vermouth are relatively low in alcohol, making for a quaffable, refreshing drink (go ahead, have two).

An incredibly simple cocktail that, odds are, you've never had before.

Cans of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce are available in the Mexican food section of most grocery stores. You'll need to puree some for this recipe.

Jack McGarry, the bar manager of the Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog in Lower Manhattan, shared this recipe with Epicurious. The orgeat syrup gives this potent cocktail an unexpectedly creamy consistency, while the Scotch lends a hint of smokiness. For more on McGarry and his cocktail, see The Fighting Irish.

This variation on the Shamrock Shake is a boozy take on the classic St. Patrick's Day milkshake.

For a sophisticated spin on the classic St. Patrick's Day milkshake, we've added Bailey's Irish Cream and matcha, which is made from finely ground green tea and has an herbaceous and earthy flavor. If you can't find matcha powder, use green tea ice cream in place of the vanilla.

There are multiple stories around about who created the original bacon Bloody Mary. The battles about who was first or what drink is best have been contentious and slightly sordid. This version is a total bacon bust that includes bacon vodka, Bacon Salt™, and a bacon twist garnish. IT is so flavorful, you theoretically don't even need to add the booze—but in all honesty, the booze-less variety has yet to be tested. J&D's Bacon Salt is available online or at specialty food stores. If necessary, bacon flavored vodka, such as Bakon™ can be special ordered at your local liquor store.

Abigail Gullo, the head bar chef at SoBou in New Orleans, shared this recipe exclusively with Epicurious. In keeping with Mardi Gras tradition, Gullo occasionally sneaks a plastic baby (like those found in actual King Cakes) into the glass when she makes this drink at Sobou. "I tell people if you get the baby, you have to buy the next round." At home, another option is to freeze the baby into the large ice cube that chills the cocktail. For more on Gullo and her King Cake Old Fashioned, see A Cake Cocktail That's King.

This julep riff from Bobby Flay tastes fresh and not too sweet.

The addition of an anise-flavored liqueur turns this hot cocoa into the liquid version of chocolate-covered licorice.

The spicy and perfectly tart shrub (flavored drinking vinegar) gives this pitcher-friendly cocktail a refreshing quality.

Hard liquor, served hot. In times past, hot toddies were often prescribed as a head-cold remedy. Today, liquor as medication is generally frowned upon because of its dehydrating effects. However, if you're one of those people who can't tolerate over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, this beverage may offer the relief you need—just drink an extra glass of water to replenish your body.

A sparkling drink made blush with a tart beet granita. Ruby-skinned beets are an unexpected but welcome ingredient in cocktails: their high sugar content and bright hue make them an excellent, all-natural way to add a pop of color and flavor. Here, the beets are pureed into a granita, with spicy star anise and allspice to complement their earthy undertones, and then topped with a refreshing dose of prosecco.

Rompope is served chilled, often over ice, but it can be served warm, which is how I prefer it when cold weather sets in. Either way, it's rich, velvety, fragrant, and certainly full of cheer.

I love grapefruit cocktails year-round, but the rye and sage make this one especially wintry.

To faithfully re-create this cocktail, do as Nostrana does and seek out blue plum brandy from Oregon's Clear Creek Distillery.