Cocktail

The tang of the cranberry juice is balanced by the smoothness of the amaretto and vodka.

This refreshing aperitif, a brainchild of David Arnold of the French Culinary Institute, bathes crisp matchsticks of Pink Lady apple with soju (a Korean spirit) and a little sparkle.

The sidecar takes a wonderful turn toward autumn, with Calvados, Normandy's apple brandy, standing in for regular brandy. Coating the rims of the glasses with sugar tames the drink's lemony potency.

The first thing you'll notice about a glass of this aperitif—besides its festive sparkling sugar cube—is its amazing aroma, a little like having a ripe pear waved under your nose. And yet it's a deliciously dry, grown-up drink that perfectly complements the flavorful hors d'oeuvres.

Though pineapple and rum are the foundation for this aperitif, mint and lime juice temper the sweetness for a bright, clean sip.

A playful twist on the Bloody Mary, served frozen as a granita with a little vodka poured over. The Tolstoi is a full-flavored red hybrid tomato. If you can't find it, the Brandywine would also be delicious.

Use the ripest white peaches available.

Serve additional pear crisps as snacks.

Classic Highballs called for club soda and a spirit, but over the years included sweeter mixers (the gin and tonic is one such version; the Moscow Mule, another). We suggest a return to the dry version, which allows premium spirits to shine.

Why you'll make it: Because it's an all-purpose refresher — drink it straight, top with sparkling water, or spike with vodka, gin, or tequila.

If desired, garnish drinks with a wedge of grilled pineapple and a chile slice.

A festive margarita variation with muddled fresh blackberries, thyme, and sparkling wine.

On a recent visit to London, Knauer overheard a local in a pub ordering a "Guinness and Black" — which turned out to be the famous Irish stout plus a shot of blackberry brandy. That combination is also the genius behind these floats; the brandy's luscious fruitiness bridges the gap between the sweet ice cream and bitter beer.

This drink was featured as a Cocktail of the Month. Click here to learn more about the Margarita and for another great recipe. This recipe comes from Tres Agaves, a San Francisco Mexican restaurant with an exceptional selection of tequilas. Because limes vary widely in acidity, tequila fanatic Eric Rubin, the restaurant's managing partner, recommends tasting the drink (use a bar straw if you're making it for a friend) before you strain it, so you're sure you have achieved the proper balance between sweet and sour. Adjust the amounts of lime juice and agave nectar syrup as necessary, but be careful not to obscure the flavor of the tequila.

Cynar, the artichoke-derived Italian liqueur, is popular in the Swiss border region of Ticino, where Italian is spoken; here, shot through with vermouth and soda, it maintains that bitter-followed-by-sweet sensation you get when eating an artichoke (plus a little fizz). And, like the vegetable itself, it goes well with cheese — which is to say it goes very well with the Appenzeller crisps below.