Beverages

W. C. Whitfield’s original Kitty Highball recipe—equal parts red wine and ginger ale over ice—goes contemporary. In this deconstructed version the ginger ale is replaced with ginger syrup and soda.

Laird & Company’s flagship apple brandy doesn’t exactly scream “session,” but the trusty old bartender’s staple can pull off a few unexpected tricks if you pour it sparingly and pair it with the proper bedfellows.

The simple combination of sharp Campari and salty fino sherry makes for a spritz that quenches your thirst and works wonderfully with potato chips, olives, or aged cheeses.

The Italian bittersweet vermouth called Punt e Mes is the secret to this bold but low-alcohol concoction.

There are only a few ingredients in this party-friendly pomegranate-rum punch.

This bright-green combination of lemon and mint is found on tables throughout the Middle East.

Limonada is most often translated as “lemonade,” but limes are the best approximation of the Colombian citrus that stars alongside coconut in this barely sweet smoothie.

Sharbats are sweet boiled fruit syrups served across Central Asia and Northern Africa, though flavor combinations vary widely. This one is infused with bright, floral, citrusy cardamom that complements the lemon perfectly.

Served in a can of ginger beer, this tart, pleasantly bitter drink is as well-balanced as a complex cocktail.

Adding bourbon and Campari to cherry cola makes for a sweet, spicy, and refreshing backyard drink.

This refreshing grapefruit and tequila cocktail, served right in the can, is refreshing, subtly sweet, and salty.

This spin on the gimlet uses shaved fennel and muddled arugula, which gives it an anise-and-pepper flavor that’s ideal for serving with seafood or light pasta dishes.

This easy, gingery cocktail can be made with gin or vodka. No blackberries on hand? Sub in any fresh or frozen berries.

This fragrant and refreshing strawberry-gin drink has a secret ingredient: a dollop of unsweetened Greek yogurt, which gives the cocktail a tangy flavor and subtly creamy texture.

This frothy salted Turkish yogurt drink is endlessly refreshing.

This sparkling alcohol-free drink—sweetened with a ginger and coconut-sugar syrup—is the perfect way to feel refreshed on a summer day.

Butter adds velvety texture and comforting flavor to this special-occasion cocktail, a combination of our two favorite winter warmers.

This festive, spiced toddy starts with a black tea base. English breakfast tea is especially good with the black pepper and star anise, but Earl Grey would be nice, too.

Think of this cocktail recipe as a more boozy, more delicious, and just as pretty Aperol spritz.

Burning sage, a common practice for ritual cleansing, is also a simple way to coax out the herb's essential oil, which gives this gin and pear juice cocktail a pleasantly smoky, herbaceous finish.

Combining favorite fall fruits and spices with sparkling cider, rum, and wine gives sangria a refreshing new spin.

Delicate rose water (a common ingredient in Middle Eastern sweets) and tart lemonade are a refreshing combination in this pretty pink drink.