Pitcher Drink

"While staying at the Rio hotel in Las Vegas, I went up to the VooDoo Café & Lounge," writes Adam Lantheaume of Billerica, Massachusetts. "I highly recommend the view; from 51 stories up, it is spectacular. I also recommend the apple Martini, which I've been trying to make at home for friends. Can you help?" If you prefer shaken Martinis, simply fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes and add half of the liquid ingredients. Shake, and strain into three Martini glasses; repeat with remaining ingredients. (The Rio uses DeKuyper brand Sour Apple Pucker for the schnapps.)

We thought we would update the popular Cosmopolitan by substituting Champagne for the usual lemon vodka. We garnished the drinks with skewers of sugar-coated fresh cranberries (thawed frozen ones will work just fine, too).

Brunch drinks get updated with this take on the traditional duo of orange juice and champagne. Note that freshly squeezed orange juice is not the best choice here, as its intense taste can overwhelm the other juices. Topping the drink with a boysenberry "floater" creates a vibrant color contrast.

This is also very good served hot.

The beergarita perfectly encapsulates laid-back summer sipping in a single pitcher, combining the familiarity of a margarita with the effervescence of beer.

This classic take on the coconutty Puerto Rican cocktail features warming spices and a generous glug of rum.

Step aside, overly sweet mocktails. Thanks to balanced citrusy flavors, this drink tastes like a grown-up Gatorade. 

Short on time? Use this shortcut to concoct a shrub-like spritzer that tastes way fancier than it is to make.

Cool as a cucumber, sure, but it’s the citrus, ginger, and chile that will keep you coming back sip after sip.

This brunch cocktail uses 8 celery stalks so, if you ignore the vodka, it’s basically spa water.

Refreshing, alcohol-free (just don’t call it a mocktail), and a noble destiny for that bag of citrus hanging out in the fridge.

This rum punch is very simple to throw together, but cranberry-studded ice makes it feel deceptively fancy, doubling as a festive garnish and temperature control.

Fizzy peach sangria made with sparkling rose, ripe fruit, and a touch of aperol = the perfect summer party drink.

Evoke the tropics with one sip of this classic cocktail. 

This mango and cumin lassi from chef Preeti Mistry strikes the right balance of sweet and savory. Try adding white rum, “if that’s your thing.”

This refreshing drink Sohla El-Waylly often uses to break fast during Ramadan gives all kinds of holiday vibes.

Chef Omar Tate makes a natural version of Kool-Aid by mixing freeze-dried sweet cherries and strawberries with citric acid for tartness.

This limeade is addictive and will make your mouth pucker.