Best Spirit and Wine Bottles for Father’s Day Gifting

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June 10, 2025

A red light and green light cocktail for Squid Game sit beside each other on a black mirror background.

As Squid Game season three gears up for its release on June 27, we cannot help but reflect back on one of our favorite parts of the series, the Red Light, Green Light game. Who could forget those first moments when you see a player go down in season one for moving too quickly? The deep-seeded realization that they are genuinely killing people for entertainment and rich. Plus, the addition of Joo Won Shin’s rendition of Fly Me to the Moon in the season three Red Light, Green Light scene just makes it all the more unforgettable.

A red light cocktail for squid game in orange color with chili peppers and a strawberry for garnish.

A green light cocktail with a lime circle and mint as garnishes against a black mirror surface.

So, grab your red jumpsuit or green tracksuit (depending on which side you’re rooting for) and mix up these Red Light, Green Light cocktails before the Front Man takes over your television screen for the last time.

What is Squid Game About and Where Does Season Three Pick Up?

Squid Game, at its core, is about the relationship between citizens and large corporations whether those be the government, monopolies, or the bourgeoisie in general. The Netflix series follows Seong Gi-hun (Player 456), a gambler, a poor man, and an addict as he gets the chance of a lifetime to win 100,000,000 won which would clear his debts. Instead though what he finds is a brutal competition where 100 willing citizens compete in deadly children’s games for the grand prize. The whole operation is ran by the Front Man, a masked figure controlling all. The third season picks up right where season two ended, with the explanation for a failed rebellion, the death of a friend, and a secret betrayal. The players are still stuck in the games and are still on the hunt to find their way out.

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Red Light

Author: Sarah Cascone

Description

A bit on the spicy side, just like the intensity of having to freeze in the game.

Ingredients

Scale

2.5 oz strawberry infused soju
1/4 oz luxardo bitter blanco
1/2 oz simple syrup
1/4 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
1/8 oz yuzu
1/2 tsp gochujang
Ginger Beer

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Instructions

Shake all (except ginger beer), vigorously with ice until a frost forms on the outside of the shaker.
Strain pour over ice and top with ginger beer.
Garnish with a strawberry and Korean pepper or just the pepper.

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Green Light

Author: Sarah Cascone

Description

Refreshingly green, get ready to run!

Ingredients

Scale

2 1/2 oz soju
1 1/2 oz simple syrup
1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
6–8 mint leaves
Soda water

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Instructions

Muddle the mint gently with the simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add the ice, lime juice, and soju and shake vigorously until a frost forms on the shaker.
Strain pour into a glass with ice and top with soda water.
Garnish with mint and a lime wheel.

Recipe by Sarah Cascone
Styling by Star Laliberte
Photography by Dave Bryce

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The Velociraptor, A Jurassic World Rebirth Cocktail

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June 10, 2025

A tall tropical cocktail for Jurassic World: Rebirth with pineapple leaves and mint for garnish, hidden amongst jungle palms.

We’re heading back to the original Jurassic Park with the latest movie Jurassic World: Rebirth coming out on July 2. In this new storyline, scientist Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson) takes a group back to the original island research facility in search of DNA that can save the dinosaurs. While trapped on this island they come across various species of dinosaurs that have been hidden away. This of course includes plenty of Velociraptors, the main inspiration for our Jurassic World: Rebirth Cocktail. Let the tropical island vibes take over with this exotic cocktail that puts right on the island alongside this passionate team. Just be careful you don’t find velociraptor peaking behind those pineapple leaves.

**Where Does Jurassic World: Rebirth Fit Into the Timeline?**

A key aspect of Jurassic World: Rebirth’s placement in the franchise timeline is its time jump. The film comes five years after the events of Jurassic World: Dominion. This gap then allows the filmmakers to explore a world where the initial human-dinosaur coexistence seen at the end of Dominion has drastically changed. The new film also shows that Earth’s current ecology is inhospitable to many dinosaur species, leading to their decline. This shift in the global dinosaur population sets a new stage for the narrative, moving away from the “dinosaurs everywhere” concept of Dominion while bringing the action back to a specific, forbidden island with ties to the original Jurassic Park.

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The Velociraptor, A Jurassic World Rebirth Cocktail

Author: Sarah Cascone

Description

Let’s whisk away to an island getaway! That just so happens to include dinosaurs…

Ingredients

Scale

3 tbsp fresh diced pineapple
4 basil leafs
1/2 oz basil simple syrup
2 oz fresh pineapple juice
1/2 oz Meyer lemon juice, fresh squeezed
2 oz pineapple vodka
Few dashes orange bitters

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Instructions

Muddle the diced pineapple, basil leaves, and basil simple syrup in a Collins style glass. Add ice.
In a cocktail shaker, combine remaining ingredients and shake vigorously until a frost forms. Pour over the muddled and ice in the glass.
Garnish with basil, pineapple leaf and pineapple wedge.

Recipe by Sarah Cascone
Styling by Star Laliberte
Photography by Dave Bryce

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Where to Buy the Best Cookout Meats for Grilling

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June 10, 2025

A man cuts steak with a sharp knife on a cutting board

It’s summertime and the living should be easy, so skip the trip to the grocery store and order your barbecue essentials online. Gone are the days when there was one major player – today you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to online food shopping. You can wow at your summer cookout with these meat brands from regenerative farms with ethically reared animals that, best of all, tastes great. No need to just flip burgers this year!

We were impressed not only with the quality of the food available but also with how well the food is packaged, expert customer service, and smooth delivery. Order as a one-off or several offer a subscription plan. All you need to do is fire up the grill and invite some friends

A few stand-out suppliers we featured include Porter Road, serving up pasture-raised, no hormone, no additive beef (they’ve got a great subscription plan too) and truly some of the best beef I’ve ever tasted.

Crowd Cow offers a superb selection of meat and fish, all sourced directly from the farmers and fisheries. Well packaged and excellent customer service.

And a special shout out to Acabonac Farms. When you order from Stephen Skrenta, you’re buying direct from the farmer. Located in Eastern Long Island, Acabonac Farms produces ethically reared meat that is outstanding.

Your Cookout Meat Guide for Grilling

Where to Buy Hot Dogs

Acabonac Grassfed Hotdogs: Pair with a toasted brioche hot dog bun and the condiments of your choosing. Come in packs of four with each hot dog weighing in at about a quarter of a pound each. What a hot dog should taste like.

Katz’s Deli Frankfurters: Since it opened in 1888, Katz’s Deli has been a firm favorite of New Yorkers who come for their quintessential pastrami sandwich and killer dogs. Don’t forget to order their sauerkraut too!

Kansas City Cattle Company World Famous Gourmet Wagyu Hotdog: An award-winning dog that is uncured, nitrate free, and all-beef. Go gently with cooking times as overcooking kills the delicious Wagyu flavor.

Crowd Cow Beef Hot Dogs: The hot dog that could make you feel virtuous. No sugar, no preservatives, no artificial ingredients, gluten or lactose. It’s 100% grass-fed beef and best of all, they only need a few minutes on the grill and dinner is served.

Snake River Farms Hot Dogs: Premium franks from Double R Ranch. They’re all-beef and finished off by smoking them over a blend of hardwood. This is a deli dog gone uptown.

Where to Buy Sausages

Beck & Bulow Cajun Andouille Sausages: It’s summer, so it’s only appropriate to add a little heat to your meal courtesy of master butchers Beck & Bulow and their Cajun-inspired bratwurst. Made from grass-fed bison which packs more protein than many other meats, along with lots of B-12, iron and Omega 3’s.

Acabonac Farms Pork Sicilian-style Sausages: Choose either sweet or spicy (or one of both). These sausages are made from pasture reared pigs that not only taste better but are more nutritious than factory-farmed pork. Buy extras – they’ll hang out happily in your freezer for about a year.

White Oak Pastures Grassfed Beef Sausage Bratwurst: Artisan sausages that are hand-crafted in small batches on location at White Oak Pastures. Located in rural Georgia, White Oak Pastures is not only a regenerative farm but also stores more carbon in the soil than their cows emit. Great food and a great reason to buy from them.

Porter Road Memphis BBQ Links: Inspired by traditional Memphis barbecue but in sausage form, these one-third pound links are seasoned with barbecue spices, scallion, garlic, vinegar, and brown sugar. They have a natural casing so start them low and slow to reduce the chance of bursting.

Snake River Farms Wagyu Smoked Beef Sausage: These smoked beef sausages from SRF are fully cooked so all you need to do is sear them on the grill and serve them up. Come in packs of twelve.

Good Chop Pork Chorizo Sausage: Choose from one of three plans (medium, large and extra large) and then get shopping. Make sure and include some of their chorizo sausage in your shopping art. We love it served on a crusty roll with arugula, roasted peppers, and a slather of garlic aioli.

Where to Buy Burgers

Porter Road Smash Burger Blend: The folks at Porter Road folks started with the classic, dry-aged ground beef burger and gave it a twist. It’s a 70/30 blend so can stand the heat of your barbecue without drying out. They say the higher fat content softens the meat ‘for optimal smooshing’. Who are we to argue?

Holy Grail Wagyu, Brisket, Short-Rib Burger: Could this be the ultimate burger blend? Sourced from Tajima American Wagyu, these 8 ounce burgers are blended with brisket, short-rib, and sirloin meat for an enticing combination of flavor, texture, and fat.

Kansas City Cattle Company Black Angus Burger Patties: Black Angus beef at its finest from the Kansas City Cattle Company – a veteran-owned business—and the folks at Little Belt Cattle Company.

Crowd Cow Burger Patties: A third of a pound patties from beef raised at Royal Ranch Farms in Washington. Pasture-raised beef, finished on local grains and grasses – this is the perfect addition to your summer do.

Rastelli’s Grass-Fed Beef Butcher Burgers: If you like a leaner burger, then this one is for you. They offer a curated and a custom box offering (with the custom, you built your own box). They’ve been in the business for over 50 years in South Jersey so know their beef (and seafood too).

Where to Buy Steak

Perini Ranch Ribeye: What Perini Ranch doesn’t know about steak, isn’t worth knowing. Their 16 oz. certified Angus ribeye is a must for the well-dressed barbecue.

Beck & Bulow Bison New York Strip Steak: For a steak with a difference, go for Beck & Bulow’s bison New York Strip Steak. Sear it on each side and go for rare or medium rare to get the most flavor and juiciness. Sublime.

Snake River Farms Tomahawk Steak: This thick, bone-in USDA Choice ribeye is a showstopper.

Holy Grail Tajima American Wagyu Dry-Aged Strip Steaks: When you want to splurge, this is the steak for you. Tajima Prestige is Holy Grail’s top of the line America Wagyu. These pampered cattle are fed a proprietary Japanese Wagyu diet but with Midwest ingredients. The result is a rich, luxurious steak.

Porter Road Bone-in Ribeye: Indulge yourself with this well-marbled steak that needs nothing more than a sprinkle of salt and pepper and a generous kiss of fire.

Vermont Wagyu Hanger Steak: Hanger steak should get more headlines – less expensive and full of flavor when cooked well. Quick, high heat is the key!

Where to Buy Other Proteins

Beck & Bulow Kurobuta/Berkshire Pork Tenderloin: Lean yet marbled, this pork tenderloin is joy to barbecue. Cooking over open fire brings out its exceptional texture and unsurpassed flavor. Meticulously trimmed and hand-cut, all this wants is perhaps a quick marinade or herb rub.

Porter Road Chicken Wings: Stick them on the grill first, give them a lick of barbecue sauce, and serve them up while you get on with the main event. These in come in 2-2 ½ pound packs – perfect for summer entertaining.

Crowd Cow Bison Burgers: 100% pasture raised, 1/3 pound patties (to my mind the perfect size). A welcome change from the standard burger.

Kansas City Cattle Company Fantasma’s Berkshire Pork St. Louis Style Ribs: Pasture-raised Berkshire Pork comes with a whole rack per pack. It’s a meatier cut and perfect for some outdoor grilling.

Wild Alaska Company Wild Salmon Box: Wild Alaska offers fantastic fish that you can order through their box program. Their Wild Salmon box includes Coho and Sockeye Salmon in six-ounce portions. Perfect when you want to skip the beef.

White Oak Pastures Chicken Thighs: These bone-in chicken thighs come from lovingly reared, pasture raised chickens, as is everything from White Oak Pasture. Thighs stay moister than chicken breasts and can stand up to the heat of a BBQ.

Story by Julia Platt Leonard
Photo by Pablo Merchan

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The U.S. Open’s Arnold Palmer Cocktail

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June 9, 2025

A tall glass with a U.S. Open Court arnold palmer cocktail sits with lemons around the glasses edges and herbs across the table the drink sits on.

This elevated and boozy take on the classic Arnold Palmer is an ode to the golf legend himself as the U.S. Open propels into full swing. Besides winning his own U.S. Open title, Arnold Palmer also was named PGA Player of the Year in 1960 and again in 1962, won the Masters four times, and won the British Open. As you sit back to watch the match on TV or head out to Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh, sip this refreshing respite with a surprising flavor profile. Plus, with this recipe you’ll learn to make your own black tea infused vodka which provides an earthy undertone to this already iconic drink.

Where and When is the U.S. Open in 2025?

The U.S. Open in 2025 returns to the iconic Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from June 12-15. This historic occasion marks Oakmont’s record 10th time hosting the prestigious golf championship, more than any other course in the event’s history. Known for its challenging layout and demanding greens, Oakmont promises to provide the toughest test in golf. Hence, why you will see only the most disciplined and precise players will prevail. This championship continues Oakmont’s legacy of hosting major USGA events, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of American golf and also putting Pittsburgh back on the map.

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The U.S. Open’s Arnold Palmer Cocktail

Author: Zack Durkin

Description

Hit the greens with this boozy Arnold Palmer!

Ingredients

Scale

1.5 oz black tea infused vodka (recipe below)
1.5 oz limoncello
Seltzer
Lemon wedge for garnish

For the black tea infused vodka:

750 milliliter bottle vodka
6 teaspoons of black tea leaves

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Instructions

Fill a Collins glass with ice. Pour liquor in over ice.
Top with seltzer.
Garnish with lemon wedge.
Enjoy!

For the black tea infused vodka:

Add vodka and tea leaves to container.
Shake container and then let sit for 18 hours – 24 hours.
Pour infused vodka through a fine mesh strainer.
Store in sealed container.

Recipe and Styling by Zack Durkin
Photography by Dave Bryce

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The Fitzgerald Cocktail

By

Abdul Rafay

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June 8, 2025

Two pink Fitzgerald gin cocktails garnished with red currants and lemon slices on a white wooden surface.

A play on the gin sour, the Fitzgerald – a nod to author F. Scott Fitzgerald’s love for gin – is the perfect sip to close out summer. Angostura bitters add a touch of herbaceous flavor to the otherwise bright, sunny cocktail. It’s a great aperitif to kick off a hearty backyard barbecue. As the author would say, “First a man takes a drink; then the drink takes a drink; then the drink takes a man.”

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The Fitzgerald

Author: Maggie Weaver
Yield: Serves 1

Description

We’re lovers of The Great Gatsby ourselves.

Ingredients

Scale

2 oz gin
¾ oz lemon juice
1 oz simple syrup
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Lemon wedge and currants, to garnish

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Instructions

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice, then shake.
Strain into a coupe glass, garnish with a lemon wedge and currants, then enjoy!
We recommend pairing it with a summery starter, like this Squash Galette.

Recipe by Maggie Weaver
Photography by Dave Bryce

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Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

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June 7, 2025

Four cinnamon rolls sit in a silver pan as a person reaching in to grab one. Two other cinnamon rolls sit on green plates in the top two corners.

Sure you could make up omelettes or bagels for brunch but why miss out on the sweet treats that are Cinnamon Rolls? These swirls of cinnamon, butter, and brown sugar with a decadent cream cheese icing on top will have you filling up your plate again even after you finish the first. The best part is that you can make up the cinnamon rolls and freeze them so you can then thaw for a later time. That means even if your brunch gathering is during the weekend, you can prepare the week before and let the stress simply bake away.

Active Dry Yeast vs. Instant Yeast in Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

While you may think yeast is just yeast, there are many components that make active dry yeast and instant yeast different, especially in our Cinnamon Rolls. Both types of yeast are leavening agents that come from the same species. But the way these two different types process affects their behavior. Active dry yeast has a protective layer of dead yeast cells around the live ones. Therefore, you have to “activate” it before using. To activate, all you have to do is dissolve it in liquid until it the liquid becomes foamy. Instant yeast, however, doesn’t have that outer layer, so it can be mixed directly with dry ingredients. For cinnamon rolls, active dry yeast offers a slightly slower, more controlled rise. This means a deeper flavor and overall better texture for your rolls.

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Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Author: Chef Kevin Hermann
Yield: Makes 12 1x

Description

Ooey and gooey, just how we like our cinnamon rolls!

Ingredients

Scale

For the dough:

655 g AP flour
87.5 g sugar
36.25 g dry active yeast
3 g salt
355 g milk, Whole
87.5 g butter
1 egg, whole

For the filling: (keep all ingredients separated)

75 g butter, softened
237.5 g brown sugar
12.5 g cinnamon

For the icing:

.5 lb cream cheese, softened
112.5 g butter, softened
240 g powdered sugar
7.5 g vanilla extract

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix 1/3 AP flour, sugar, yeast and salt in a bowl. Mix until uniform. (set as-side)
In microwave safe container add milk and butter. Microwave for 2.5 mins until butter is almost melted and the milk is warm to the touch.
Combine warm milk mixture and flour mixture. Mix until a soupy mixture is created.
Add the eggs, mix in completely.
Add ½ the remaining flour. Knead into a shaggy mixture.
Add remaining flour and the dough will begin to form.
Knead dough for 5 mins until it IS NOT TACKY and springs back.
Cover in bowl and let rise for 30 mins at room temperature. (Double in size)
Turn dough onto floured work table. Press and roll in a 14inch wide rectangle. 1/2inch thick.
Spread softened butter over the dough. Edge -edge even.
Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the butter, and dust with cinnamon.
Roll the dough into a spiral log, tucking it in to keep it snug. DO NOT SQUEEZE THE DOUGH.
Cut log into 4 equal lengths. Each length cut into 12 rolls 3/4 inch thick.
Place into butter lined hotel pan.
Cover and proof for 1 hour. (at room temp)
Uncover and bake 350 for 15 minutes.
If cooking from frozen: Pull from freezer and allow to thaw for 1.5 hr at room temperature. Bake 350, 15 minutes.
Mix icing ingredients until uniform and smooth.
Allow cinnamon rolls to rest for 10 mins and then top with icing. Spread and allow to melt into the cracks.

Recipe by Chef Kevin Hermann
Styling by Star Laliberte
Photography by Dave Bryce

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11 Father’s Day Cocktails

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June 6, 2025

Two cocktails brown in color in square rocks glasses

What makes a dad? The aesthetic of Father’s Day is usually whiskey, cigars, dad hats, new shaving razors…but there are all kinds of dads out there. We suggest these Father’s Day cocktails to make with your dad, for your dad, or if you’re a dad, maybe treat yourself.

Father’s Day Cocktails to Mix Up for Dad

Sazerac

The Sazerac is a classy bartender’s favorite that blends the smoky sharpness of rye whiskey with an Absinthe-rinsed glass. Absinthe’s unique flavor features hints of anise that elevate a Sazerac above other whiskey-based cocktails. This is a perfect Father’s Day Cocktail for a dad who likes the finer things in life or adventurous new liquors and bitters.

Apple Wood-Smoked Manhattan

This take on the Manhattan from mixologist Alex Aguayo (The Compound, Santa Fe) is a “grown up version of a candy apple.” It uses sweet vermouth and a slice of crême brulée to offset the smokiness of the Kentucky straight bourbon in the mix. For an outdoorsy dad or the dad with a sweet tooth?

Smoked Bourbon Old-Fashioned

Can’t go wrong with an old-fashioned. Our recipe used Kinsey Year 4 Bourbon, but you can swap in for your dad’s favorite bourbon, since we know how particular some people can get about bourbon. Has a nice, warm flavor to it without sacrificing complexity. For the curmudgeonly dad who always wants to do things his way, but it comes from the warmth of his heart.

Appetite for Destruction Inspired by Guns N’ Roses

Two light purple cocktails with smoke and skull ice cubes on a black background

This drink is inspired by Guns N’ Roses with gin, lime juice, and a cherry smoke for a little bit of that glam rock, metal feel. Since not everyone just carries around a cocktail smoker, if you want to make this, here are a few. This is for the dad who rocks out in the car to “Paradise City” a little too hard, but we love him for it.

Banana Walnut Old-Fashioned

An orange in color old fashioned cocktail sits in a old fashioned glass, garnished with banana bread.

A sweeter take on an old-fashioned from Chef Jessica Lewis. She uses whiskey or an aged rum like Papa Pilar 7-Year and then banane de Brésil to create a banana bread flavor. Use this cocktail to bring back memories of a childhood meal with your dad, if he’s a banana bread guy.

Espresso Whiskey Martini

Being a dad is tiring. This whiskey espresso martini gives a little caffeine pick-me-up and a dessert-y decadence to the drink menu.

Coffee and Bourbon Cocktail, The Revolver

The Revolver is a bold and sophisticated whiskey cocktail with a balanced blend of rich bourbon, aromatic coffee liqueur, and a touch of zesty orange bitters, garnished with an orange twist.

Another pick-me-up, this Coffee and Bourbon Cocktail uses coffee liqueur so you know you’ve got a glass full of liquor to start your day. Let dad slip into a relaxing mood with this simple mix up.

Antipasto Virgin Bloody Mary (Non-Alcoholic)

An antipasto virgin non-alcoholic bloody mary with various antipasto garnishes like cocktail onions, olives, cheese slices, and salami.

A cocktail does not have to have alcohol in it to be delicious. In case dad is taking a break from the booze, have an Antipasto Virgin Bloody Mary ready for him instead. It carries the same robust flavors of tomato and spices without the burn. Plus, you can really get creative with the garnish.

Garden-Fresh Caprese Bloody Mary

Three tall glasses filled with a vibrant red tomato-based drink, likely Bloody Marys, each garnished with skewers featuring colorful cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, green olives, basil leaves, and lemon zest spirals.

But, just in case dad does crave a classic Bloody Mary, this recipe builds it from scratch. Rather than rely on store-bought mix, James Bear Award-winning author Cheryl Alters Jamison starts with fresh tomatoes and ends up with a perfectly bended, tangy cocktail. Dad will love it. Finish the your tall glass off with more herbs and veggies from your garden for a drink dad won’t soon forget.

Dark and Handsome (Rum Moscow Mule)

Every father out there is Dark and Handsome in our eyes! This take on a Dark and Stormy becomes a Rum Moscow Mule featuring Vara Anejo Rum, lime juice, ginger beer, and a Tajin seasoning rim that delivers a bit of spice.

Strawberry Negroni Bianco

Ok, let’s face it, not all dads are drinking whiskey and bourbon. Some dads do want to drink the fruity, sugary drinks sometimes called “girly.” So, that’s why we’re throwing in a suggestion for a Strawberry Negroni Bianco. At the end of the day, it’s just a drink. As long as you’re sharing it with people you love, who cares what’s in it?

Story by Emma Riva

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11 Easy, Classic, and Craft Whiskey Cocktail Recipes

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June 6, 2025

From smooth, sophisticated sips to spirited, crowd-pleasing mixes, these easy, classic, and craft whiskey cocktail recipes will elevate your home bartending game with ease. We’ve selected 11 of our best whiskey cocktail recipes that celebrate both its classic history and its versatility. Whether in a smash, a sour, or an Old Fashioned, whiskey is one of the best types of liquor to experiment with in home cocktail making.

Tasting Notes to Look for in Whiskey

Just like wine, whiskey has its own tasting notes and flavor profiles. Since whiskey is often aged in barrels, many whiskeys have an oak taste to them. That oak then evolves on the palate to vanilla, caramel, or spice, depending on the whiskey and the type of barrel it was aged in. In Scotch whiskeys, smoke and peat are some of the strongest notes to look for. If you like smokiness, Scotch is the way to go, but bourbon and rye bring a fuller bodied grain flavor. There’s something for everyone in the different types of whiskey out there.

Easy, Classic, and Craft Whiskey Cocktail Recipes

Craft Bourbon Smash with Peach and Blackberry

A craft bourbon smash cocktail on a black background

Fresh fruit and tangy flavor take center stage in this delicious craft bourbon smash recipe. The bourbon smash is a perfect cocktail for the changing seasons, refreshing and delicious but classy and high quality, too.

Easy Bourbon Slush

A pair of bourbon slush cocktails on a grey background

For a dessert cocktail, the bourbon slush can’t be beat among whiskey recipes. A little bit of well-steeped black tea and frozen lemon concentrate make this one of the most refreshing bourbon drinks out there.

Classic Whiskey Sour

It’s a classic for a reason. The sour goes back as far as the nineteenth century and is now enjoyed at bars around the world. The cherry adds a fruity tang to whiskey’s smokiness, while the frothy egg white sweetens the whole mixture.

Blueberry Whiskey Sour

What does blue taste like? Calming, but confident, able to whisk you away to a blue sea. To savor a bit of blue’s wonderful qualities, try The Taste Curators‘ Blueberry Whiskey Sour recipe. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a bit of synesthesia!

Smoked Bourbon Old Fashioned

Warm and complex on the palate, this Smoked Bourbon Old Fashioned whiskey recipe offers an undeniably delicious and robust flavor. An old fashioned can become new every time with the complexity of its flavors!

The Bene Gesserit, a Dune: Prophecy Cocktail

A tall glass sits on a bar with an orange and red hue to represent the Bene Gesserit in Dune Prophecy.

This cocktail inspired by the strong, mysterious witches who headline the Dune prequel makes a bold, boozy choice in combining red absinthe with bourbon. Maybe don’t make this before driving. But it’s delicious!

Sunny Days Ahead, a Whiskey and Amaretto Cocktail

A glass of amber-colored bourbon cocktail garnished with dehydrated orange slices resting on cocktail picks against a dark background with a bottle of bourbon in the background.

This easy amaretto cocktail by Team Nemacolin at our inaugural cocktail shake-off embodies the perfect blend of tradition and innovation. The balanced flavorful classic won over the crowd.

Espresso Whiskey Martini

You’ve heard of the Espresso Martini but what happens when you substitute the vodka for whiskey instead? The decadence of this dessert cocktail gets taken to a new level with the notes of ingredients like caramel, vanilla, and oak in the whiskey of your choice. Plus, we use Frangelico for new hints of nuttiness.

Low Calorie Honey Whiskey Cocktail

A rocks glass with a large ice cube, honey whiskey cocktail, and wedge of lime sits on a blue table with a small bowl of lime wedges to the left of the glass.

Low calorie cocktails are a way for all to enjoy the relaxation of a cocktail without the guilt after. Simply take a can of Green Bee Ginger Buzz Honey Soda and add it to a combination of whiskey and lime juice. It’s subtly sweet with a slight bite from the ginger in the soda.

19th Century Cocktail

The 19th century saw the rise of bourbon as it became associated with a style of whiskey. In honor of this period, our 19th Century Cocktail uses Marie Brizard white crème de cacao, Woodford Reserve bourbon, lillet rouge, and lemon juice. The result is ruby-toned brillance.

Cherry Bomb (Low Calorie Whiskey Cocktail)

In a tall glass sits a cherry diet coke cocktail with two cherries on a tooth pick laying on top of the glass as well as ice and orange bitters to the right.

If you just can’t stay away from Diet Coke then we have some good news, it’s the center of this cocktail recipe. This low calorie cocktail features tart maraschino cherry juice, whiskey, and orange bitters to offset the sweet soda.

Story by Emma Riva

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11 Easy, Classic, and Craft Gin Cocktails

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June 6, 2025