As with most cocktails, the origins of the Sidecar are hazy (be suspicious of those who state with certainty when or where the Sidecar was first mixed), but this entrancing mixture of brandy, lemon juice and orange liqueur started making the rounds in the most fashionable watering holes in London and Paris during the 1920s. Very simple in structure, the Sidecar is complex enough in flavor to satisfy even the most jaded palates, but not so over-the-top with mixological gewgaws as to frighten away the casual tippler. More

In general, bourbon tends to work best in cocktails when its flavor can stand front and center, lightly adorned by trace amounts of other ingredients. Here's a drink that fits the bill: the Appetizer No. 4. More

This simple twist on the whiskey sour made the rounds for several decades during the late 19th century under an assortment of names. A base of American whiskey (rye is the desired variety here) is fleshed out with a little fresh lemon juice and smoothed over with a touch of sugar; the crowning touch comes with a float of dry red wine. More

Credited to Philadelphia bartender Colin Shearn of Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co., the Restraining Order is based on the mellow, vegetal character of reposado tequila. Shearn complements the tequila with a dose of Aperol, a bright, low-alcohol aperitif liqueur with a potent, complex flavor dominated by bitter oranges and rhubarb. Accented with several dashes of celery bitters and a big squeeze of orange peel atop the finished cocktail, the drink has a powerful pop of herbaceous flavor and a delicate, nuanced balance. More

Based on gin and flavored with the richness of orange marmalade and the crispness of Cointreau, the Breakfast Martini is particularly well suited as a brunch cocktail. More

Short of simply popping open a beer or a straight slug of whiskey, there are few drinks that are less labor-intensive than the venerable highball. With Labor Day this weekend, we figured this was the perfect drink to share. You could reasonably ask the question, "Do we really need a recipe for something so easy?" but while this simple (and flexible) mix of booze, bubbles and ice can be prepared with almost zero thought, a little care in the execution can make all the difference between a watery glass of meh and a damn refreshing drink. More

Think of the caipirinha as the daiquiri's Brazilian cousin. The basic trio of ingredients is the same, with both drinks made with fresh lime, sugar and sugarcane-based spirit. But while the daiquiri uses rum as its base—typically of the light, crisp Cuban style—the caipirinha uses rum's Brazilian relative, cachaça, which has a somewhat more rustic aroma and flavor. More

The Oaxaca Old Fashioned takes one of the greatest drinks in the mixological canon and gives it a south-of-the-border spin with reposado tequila and mezcal. Rich, smoky and spicy, this is an exceptional adaptation of a venerable classic. More

Described by Rudyard Kipling as "compounded of the shavings of cherub's wings, the glory of a tropical dawn, the red clouds of sunset and the fragments of lost epics by dead masters," Pisco Punch is a legendary drink from late 19th century San Francisco. More

There are few recipes in cocktail-dom that inspire as much zealotry as that of the Martini. But before you sharpen your keyboard to type out "heresy!" for other versions of the drink, keep one thing in mind: the Martini is way more flexible than you might think. More