Vodka

Kate keeps the cocktail local by using Teton Glacier Potato Vodka, which is produced in Rigby, Idaho. Store the vodka in the freezer so it's icy cold

Start preparing the liqueur at least three weeks ahead.

One cute cocktail contains only 7 grams of sugar—including the candy cane. Sip and stay sleek!

Kick is the right word to describe this golden cocktail, which underscores the shot of ginger liqueur with ginger syrup and lemon.

Both ginger plants and tamarind trees grow in tropical spots around the world, including India, Asia, and Latin America, where the two seasonings are regularly used in marinades, sauces, and drinks. So it was only natural for Feniger to take some of the spicy ginger syrup she had developed for the Canton Ginger Kick and mix it with tart tamarind. The result is very fresh and very quaffable. Feniger says that when they make it at Street, they often save the tamarind pulp that's left in the sieve and add more water; that tamarind liquid will be thinner than the first batch, but it will still have enough of its signature fruity sharpness for another round.

Coming right up: an elegant concoction designed for warm-weather happy hour. It's pale pink in color, floral but not too sweet, and completely refreshing.

These tender, potent little orbs make a splendid Bloody Mary—esque addition to a beach-blanket picnic or a fancy cocktail party, and they tend to disappear in no time flat. Blanching them makes quick work of slipping off their skins.

This recipe is from Eben Freeman, bartender of Tailor Restaurant in New York City.

A perfect summertime cocktail. Because it's a combination of iced tea, lemonade, and booze, we've dubbed it the Tipsy Arnold Palmer.

For the kids, simply serve the cocktail base over ice—hold the vodka, naturally.

Pucker up with this refreshing sweet-sour spin on the classic gimlet. Ruby Red grapefruit vodka from Napa Valley stands in for gin, and fresh lime juice adds just the right amount of tartness.

Aromatic sprigs of rosemary smooth out vodka-spiked lemonade, providing a bracing counterpoint to the lusty flavors of the many antipasti dishes. It's a great addition to anyone's cocktail canon. To make a kid-friendly quaff, simply omit the vodka.

You might rub elbows with Reese Witherspoon or Molly Sims at this sushi spot on L.A.'s famed Sunset Strip. Besides raw-fish delicacies, innovative beverages are served up at the loungelike space. Hipster tipplers can sip the restaurant's Pomegranate Cocktail, which is rich in polyphenols, antioxidants that help protect your ticker.

(Pineapple Punch) Though this was considered a "frozen" drink back in the '50s, it's nothing like the stiff, icy, machine-made variety you get today. Finely crushed ice is blended into the cocktail to give it some body; then the concoction is poured over more ice to give it the proper chill. If you want to stick with tradition, fill the glasses with cracked ice rather than regular cubes. To make cracked ice, simply wrap the cubes in a kitchen towel and lightly tap with a rolling pin. 1 1/4 hr (includes cooling syrup)

Soju, a favored alcoholic beverage in Korea, is generally served chilled, straight from the fridge. Soju's neutral flavor also makes it a great mixer. It's especially delicious—some might say dangerously drinkable—with tart grapefruit juice and fizzy club soda.

Eben Freeman, bartender of Tailor restaurant in New York City, created this Champagne cocktail. As you add the sparkling wine, note how the drink changes color from green to pink. Freeman uses frozen cherries to make a cherry purée, but you can also use all-fruit spread.

Chopped ginger and chile-infused vodka add a spicy bite to this flavor-packed cocktail.

Cheery news: You can even work farmers' market finds into a drink!