Some might find scotch inaccessible due to its acquired, peaty taste. We offer you the Rusty Compass as an introduction (or reintroduction) to bourbon’s cousin in hopes of extending your palate. It’s similar to an Old Fashioned, albeit a bit smokier, and the cherry liqueur rounds it out for a nice finish. And if you don’t like it, don’t give up; taste buds are supposed to evolve every seven years or something, right?

The Saint Florent is something like a fancy cross between an Aperol Spritz and a French 75. It’s a little sweet, a little bitter, and fairly potent thanks to the gin. Between its flavor and beautiful orange hue, this cocktail will surely impress at your next dinner party.

The French 75 is a favorite among many, including us, but we’ve found a way to make it more sustainable. In this mocktail version, we removed the booze without losing the fun or flavor. San Pellegrino’s Limonata soda plays a stellar role in this drink, creating the perfect balance between sweet and tart.

The Scofflaw is a classic bourbon cocktail that might surprise you. Its taste can only be described as that of those little strawberry candies that Grandma used to keep in a glass dish. Unlike those obscure sweets (because we’re still not sure where you can even buy them), this drink is well within reach for your next cocktail party. In fact, we’re going to tell you exactly how to make it.

It’s above freezing somewhere, right? Like on the Spanish island of Ibiza, the namesake of this tropical cocktail. Channel your powers of imagination when enjoying this one because it’s important that you drink it cold. The sweet yet complex flavor of Licor 43 pairs well with the familiar tart of pineapple. Now crank the thermostat to 80 degrees and throw on a bikini — mama needs a drink on the beach.

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.