The Rosemary Bourbon Cocktail can be described as a sweeter Old Fashioned for the modern era. It’s up to you to decide if it’s better, but there is a core ingredient that makes this cocktail stiff competition. Rosemary Honey Syrup, as easy to make as simple syrup, provides that sweet, almost nostalgic taste while the woodsy rosemary remains subtle and distinguished.

The jury’s still out on whether Duke of Earl was a real person, but we do know this: it was a number one hit rock song in 1962, and it makes for a hell of a cocktail in 2022. The drink is named for its most forward ingredient, Earl Grey tea, while the gin takes a back seat. Like way-back-facing-out-the-rear-in-an-old-station-wagon back seat. It’s delicious, all the same, with fizz and a floral outro from the lavender.

It’s the holidays, and we say let’s keep things simple. The Paper Plane cocktail, with all ingredients equal parts, does not sacrifice taste for easiness. Your guests don’t even need to know the exact recipe. Tell them you made it up yourself, it’s your party. They’ll be too distracted by the ballet of sweetness, tart, and bitterness on their palate, anyways.

The Arinato introduces, perhaps, a new side to mezcal. We’re all familiar with its bold taste, but this cocktail proves mezcal can be subtle and elegant. While its characteristic smokiness remains, it tastes more like a vodka. The mezcal is muted, but far from muzzled. However, if you find yourself in particularly glitzy mood, kick up the flavor by adding a little more Chartreuse and some grapefruit juice.

Just like gratitude, champagne (or your bubbles of choice) need not only be reserved for the holidays. When you really feel like celebrating, whether it’s the fact you got dressed today or that the sun’s shining, give Champagne Punch a try. It’s got antioxidants — so it’s basically healthy — and it has bubbly — so it’s definitely delicious. No bad vibes or scurvy in sight.

Named after the Pink Floyd album, Division Bell hits all the right notes as a mezcal-forward, refreshing concoction. Full-bodied and complex, this cocktail is just as intriguing as it is orange. Grapefruit and maraschino liqueur combine to suggest a wintry, seasonal twist that isn't too sweet — it's a surprising flavor that will come in handy as we begin to enter these colder months.

Energy. This thing is pure energy. The honey will have you buzzing like a bee, and the spinach will give you inexplicably large forearms. And to finish, the sweet mangos and tangy pineapple juice make this smoothie as delicious as it is replenishing. If that’s not enough, introduce an extra kick with gin or mezcal. Then you’ll really be buzzing.

It’s a ubiquitous classic. From smoky bars to soirées to James Bond — the dry martini is as respected as time itself. With this drink in hand, you may brood, you may laugh, you may cry — but one thing is for certain: you will be respected. Gin, just like its drinker, is complex, and with a dry martini that has but only a splash of vermouth, gin is the ingredient that shines. Just like its drinker in a dimly lit room.

Sure, we appreciate the craft of a complex cocktail as much as the next person. But sometimes, there’s just no need for extravagance. Sometimes there’s just no time. With the Jack Honey Smash, you spare no pleasure in sparing ingredients, which leads to some questions. Is it delightful because it’s simple? Or is it simple because it’s delightful? I guess there’s only one way to find out.

The Peach Me is a twist on the classic old fashioned — a twist that many might find to be impossibly tasty. Woodford Reserve bourbon married with peach schnapps, at first glance, seems like a union destined for disaster. But in fact they’re a power couple. The sweetness of the schnapps milds the smokiness of the bourbon, like a jaded cynic who finally found their one true love. We’re not saying the old fashioned needs fixing — we’re just saying it might be time to try something new.