
Maggie Hoffman
Contributor
Maggie Hoffman is the former Digital Director of Epicurious and the author of two cocktail books. Find her on Substack at The Dinner Plan and What to Drink.
Recipes
French Canadian
Cognac gets stirred with tangy Champagne vinegar, sweet maple syrup, and aromatic vanilla extract for a cocktail that’s silky and potent, perfect for serving after a meal.
Recipes
Spanish Penny
Potent, peppery whiskey mingles with a crisp touch of sherry vinegar, but the key to the perfect mix is a softening spoonful of maple syrup. The drink comes together silky and rich, with a lingering maple flavor that’s perfect for a cool evening.
Recipes
Islay and Olive
It’s a vodka martini—properly called the Kangaroo—gone savory with peaty Scotch and olives four ways.
Recipes
Sneaky Peat
Pairing the tangy fruit with Scotch—plus oolong tea that’s been steeped forever—gives a whisper of smoke and a bitter, malty edge to the drink.
Recipes
The Blaylock
It couldn’t be simpler to combine honey, grapefruit, lemon, and seltzer, but the mixture is surprisingly complex in flavor, both tangy and rich.
Recipes
Scotchy Boulevardiers for a Crowd
Meet the Negroni’s wintery cousin—a combination of rye whiskey and Scotch in place of gin makes it peppery, dry, and wonderfully savory.
Recipes
Everything Good Cocktail
This make-ahead cocktail is lightly smoky and wonderful with dessert. Adding water along with the ingredients, then freezing the batched drink, means you won’t need to shake it over ice.
Recipes
Marrakesh Express (Mezcal and Pomegranate Cocktail)
In this mezcal cocktail, fresh pomegranate juice truly shines, with a backdrop of savory harissa heat.
Recipes
Perfect Circle
The simple combination of sharp Campari and salty fino sherry makes for a spritz that quenches your thirst and works wonderfully with potato chips, olives, or aged cheeses.
Recipes
All She Wrote
The Italian bittersweet vermouth called Punt e Mes is the secret to this bold but low-alcohol concoction.
Recipes
Tingly Pomegranate Rum Punch
There are only a few ingredients in this party-friendly pomegranate-rum punch.
Recipes
Gin Rocket
This spin on the gimlet uses shaved fennel and muddled arugula, which gives it an anise-and-pepper flavor that’s ideal for serving with seafood or light pasta dishes.
Recipes
Blackberry-Cucumber Mule
This easy, gingery cocktail can be made with gin or vodka. No blackberries on hand? Sub in any fresh or frozen berries.
Recipes
Slippery When Wet
This fragrant and refreshing strawberry-gin drink has a secret ingredient: a dollop of unsweetened Greek yogurt, which gives the cocktail a tangy flavor and subtly creamy texture.
Lifestyle
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