Whiskey

Warm up with this concoction of bourbon, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. It’s not a Southern classic, but it certainly drinks like one.

In this cocktail, Riesling (Marrero favors dry Rieslings from the Finger Lakes or Alsace) adds brightness to a mix of fresh apple cider and bourbon. Blending dried figs with honey syrup gives you a sweetener that’s full of earthy, nutty notes, and a small amount of floral liqueur gives the tart, refreshing drink a subtle luscious quality.

Apple butter is a brilliant shortcut to a robustly flavored fall cocktail. Spiced with cinnamon and sometimes ginger, nutmeg, or clove, it brings in every essential autumn note in a teaspoon or two.

This golden-hued turmeric hot toddy from Claire Sprouse of Brooklyn’s Hunky Dory is wonderfully savory from the combination of nutty Amontillado sherry and earthy turmeric.

Potent, peppery whiskey mingles with a crisp touch of sherry vinegar, but the key to the perfect mix is a softening spoonful of maple syrup. The drink comes together silky and rich, with a lingering maple flavor that’s perfect for a cool evening.

Inspired by a Sazerac, here's a super boozy, herbal-Scotchy drink that'll relax your shoulders, loosen your tongue, and clear your mind—basically, everything you need a stiff drink to do.

This cocktail is a smoky variation on the Manhattan, created by bartender Eryn Reece during her tenure at Death & Co.

This Manhattan variation from Audrey Saunders of Pegu Club in NYC starts with rye and vermouth, then adds Cynar amaro to appealing effect. 

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.

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 spiked fruit tea is intentionally not too boozy, but you can also just leave the bourbon out.

Honey-bourbon syrup is the star of this baklava. Serve it with fresh cherries and vanilla ice cream for a decadent summer dessert.

No ice cream machine needed for this boozy summer treat.

We can think of lots of uses for the bourbon sugar that coats these pretzel-studded bites: use it to top crème brûlée, stir it into your afternoon tea, or sprinkle it over berries and serve with whipped cream for an easy dessert.