Triple Sec

Tart, citrusy, and just sweet enough, this electric pink drink is a classic for a reason.

Muddled melon lends a hot pink hue. Call it the drink of the summer if you must!

There’s a simple structure behind all sours, a family of citrus-based cocktails.

Cointreau can be added to a wide variety of cocktails, from margaritas to cosmopolitans to Long Island ice teas, but it can also be drunk neat or on ice.

This recipe came to us courtesy of master mixologist Junior Merino, who's based in New York.

Consider this citrusy sidecar cocktail recipe a friendly reminder to stock up on cognac.

There’s no such thing as the perfect large-format cocktail…wait. Classic Spanish sangria has entered the chat.

Skip the store-bought margarita mix: These DIY frozen margaritas are the ideal drink for a hot summer day.

When made correctly, the Long Island Iced Tea is a bright, balanced cocktail with a totally reasonable amount of booze. (No, seriously.)

To make this pretty pink drink, remember this mnemonic device: Very Cute Little Cocktail. That’s V for vodka, C for Cointreau, L for lime, and another C for cranberry.

These caramel candies are a joy to make and give to loved ones. Make the original, then try your hand at orange caramels, espresso caramels, and salted caramels.

Bright, peppery turmeric and a smoky cumin salt on the rim make this vibrant drink perfect for celebrating Diwali. To serve, garnish with fresh mint and a wedge of lime.

This is a refreshing, summery spin on a margarita.

Most chocolate mousses are high in calories, but it's quite easy to make a delicious chocolate mousse that contains a fraction of the original calories and fat. The secret is to use high-quality bittersweet chocolate. It packs a strong, lively chocolate flavor and makes up for the fact that the mousse doesn’t have a quart of whipped cream in it.

Bartender's Notes: As you read through this recipe, you'll notice that it mirrors pretty classic margarita proportions … with the addition of orange bitters. Bitters work their magic here, as they do in many drinks, by adding depth, complexity and balance to otherwise pretty simple ingredients. And when you're mixing a drink with mezcal, that depth, complexity and balance are the hardest parts to achieve.

As a grilled-food guy, R. B. loves red Zinfandel and Côtes du Rhone. Mixed with fresh fruit and carbonation, these barbecue-friendly reds really come to life. Sweeten with sugar if you like.

If you want to wow your guests at your next Mexican fiesta, make this dessert. Period. This lime confection is a cross between an ice cream and a pie, and the pretzel crust adds just the right amount of saltiness to make it fun and totally unforgettable.

Careful! Drinking more than two of these can make your ideas seem better than they actually are.

This brightly flavored jelly would make a delicious layer in a birthday cake. Pour it into the cake pan you’re using for the cake and let it set.

Here’s another recipe in which just a few ingredients come together to make a big, big impression. It’s not as dense as the name suggests, because the beaten egg whites lighten it up considerably, as do the crumbled cookies. Think of this next time you’re looking for an unusual birthday cake; with its layer of marmalade and crumbled cookie topping it’s elegant enough for any important occasion.