Bitters

Bourbon:
Bourbon is a type of whiskey that is only made in America from at least 51% corn. In that regard, it differs from Scotch and Irish whiskeys, which are made from malted barley. Rye whiskey is made from—you guessed it—rye. There's a helluva lot more you could learn on the subject of whiskeys, but you're not gonna learn it here. All you need to know is that good bourbon is delicious.

This adaptation of a classic recipe comes from Eben Freeman, bartender of Tailor Restaurant in New York City.

When this classic cocktail was invented, in the late 1800s, it called for rye. Here, bourbon gets to be the star, and the combination of sweet and dry vermouth makes our version "perfect."

Here, the word "perfect" refers not to the quality of the cocktail (though we do love this version), but to the equal amounts of sweet and dry vermouth used to make it.

This drink was featured as a Cocktail of the Month. Click here to learn more about the Manhattan and for two more great recipes.

Gin is big in the British Virgin Islands, as you might imagine. Here, it's combined with local soursop juice and curaçao. The name is a reference to the shade of the Caribbean Sea.

A colonial twist on the ubiquitous — and potent — rum punch.

Aperol, a popular Italian spirit, is often served on the rocks.

A simple rum cocktail made with fresh grapefruit, lemon or lime, and sparkling water. Angostura bitters add a touch of spice.

This Franco-American combination of bourbon and bubbles gives you another reason to be thankful. It doubles easily to accommodate the number of guests around your holiday table.