In the pantheon of winter drinks, hot buttered rum is among the most satisfying and misunderstood. The cocktail recipe dates to colonial New England, when historians say the rum and butter mixture was used as a medicinal tonic for sore throats. It remained popular—albeit less frequently prescribed by doctors—until a 20th-century hater emerged. In his … Read more
Originally known as a Whiskey Cocktail, the old-fashioned is a timeless drink with a rich history. In fact, it’s one of the oldest tipples around. In the drink’s early days, an old-fashioned could be made with brandy, gin, or practically any liquor, but it’s evolved to mean a whiskey-forward drink made with sugar and bitters, Angostura being … Read more
Before we share our list of St-Germain drinks with you, we realize you may have landed here without knowing what the French elderflower liqueur actually is—although I guess we kind of just told you. To give a little more detail: The elder plant, which has a wide geographical distribution, bears large clusters of small white … Read more
If you’ve been looking for 🎄The Best Christmas Cocktails🎄, rest assured: You’ve found them. Whether you’re planning to pour prosecco at the holiday party or cozy up with a whiskey cocktail at home by the fire, the following recipes will reinvigorate your winter drink game. We’ve got easy spritzes and simple stirred drinks, variations on the martini and mulled wine, and a … Read more
Keep this three-ingredient aperitif in your back pocket for festive occasions—it’s as easy to drink as it is to make. Suze, a bitter-floral gentian liqueur, pairs very well with Champagne and candied ginger, which dyes the drink a sunny golden color. For garnish, drop a piece of candied ginger into each coupe, where it will … Read more
Wassail means different things to centuries of people. Used as a noun and verb, the word derives from waes hael, a 5th-century English toast meaning “good health,” or something apple farmers recited to encourage a bountiful spring harvest, depending on which historical account you believe. The term also pops up in Beowulf—and later in song … Read more
A classic mule (a.k.a. a buck) is made with ginger beer, lime juice, and whatever spirit your heart desires—most commonly vodka. This big-batch, low-alcohol version borrows the same winning combination of flavors but swaps out the booze for a sweet and spicy caramelized maple syrup with plenty of tart cranberry juice. The duo tints the … Read more
You need a French press, but not just for coffee. Even if you favor other methods for making your morning brew, there are so many French press hacks that will make this glass-and-chrome carafe your new favorite kitchen tool. A French press isn’t just something for caffeine dispensing—rather it’s an all-in-one strainer/mixer/squeezer/wonder workhorse. Reject the … Read more
A classic Manhattan cocktail recipe doesn’t have much to it—and it shouldn’t. It’s a straightforward, no-nonsense, old-school drink that’s two parts whiskey, one part vermouth, and a few dashes of aromatic bitters. But that wasn’t always the case. “The first recipes, which appeared in books in 1884, called for equal parts whiskey and vermouth. Some … Read more
The Rusty Nail has nearly a century of history under its belt; and yet in recent years it’s been overshadowed by resurgent classic cocktails like the Manhattan, Sazerac, and old-fashioned. Thankfully, there’s room for all at the whiskey bar. The origin of the Rusty Nail is hazy, but some believe it was invented in the … Read more