Beverages

The garlicky herb butter is similar to the butter served with escargots in southwestern France. IMPROV: When preparing the butter, try a shallot instead of garlic, and thyme instead of parsley.

Heavily spiked, our take on the Singapore Sling highlights the aromatic quality of Benedictine, a Cognac-based liqueur that smells of honey, citrus, and herbs.

A sweet blackberry syrup mellows mouth-puckering limes in an intensely fruity (and kid-friendly) drink.

With adults in mind, we've created a creamier version of the blended frozen drinks offered at many coffee shops.

Be sure not to overblend — the little bits of fruit add a pleasant textural contrast. The pitted dates available in supermarkets work well.

Now's the perfect time for strawberries at their peak, and here is a way to celebrate all their fabulous flavor.

The flavors of a classic New York cookie make a nostalgic malted.

This tasty pineapple rum cocktail is everything a tropical drink should be: sweet, fruity, and icy cold.

This drink was featured as a Cocktail of the Month.

To call this bracing pink drink a rhubarb-infused ginger ale doesn't do it justice; it's much less syrupy-sweet and more cooling. The slightly tart flavor of rhubarb pairs well with lush picnic dishes.

If you remember drinking Orange Julius, this shake will strike a chord.

The simplicity and speed of this dish belie its deep, complex flavor — sweet, sour, spiced, and savory. Although the plums that once grew all over Epirus have been lost to more profitable crops, plums and prunes still appear in many of the region's dishes.

Unless you happen to be a professional bartender, this cocktail might require buying raspberry syrup and orange bitters at the very least. But when potent and refreshing is the order of the day, you'll be glad you stocked up.

This drink was featured as a Cocktail of the Month.

This drink was featured as a Cocktail of the Month. Click here to learn more about the Pisco Sour. This recipe is from Ryan McGrale, bar manager of No. 9 Park, in Boston.

This drink was featured as a Cocktail of the Month. Click here to learn more about the Brandy Alexander.

This drink was featured as a Cocktail of the Month. Adapted from the original, our recipe spares you some unpleasant puckering, because we've scaled back the lime juice. Click here to learn more about the Mike Romanoff.

Nothing beats great hot chocolate. Use the best chocolate you can get your hands on. We love Valrhona, but Lindt and Ghirardelli are also excellent choices. If giving as a gift, transfer the mix to crocks, jars, canisters, or cellophane bags, decorate with ribbons, and attach gift tags with the serving directions.