Marina's cookie-cutter New York apartment wasn't much to look at when she moved in, but she wrangled her design savvy and managed to soften the space and create a cozy home. The biggest challenge, as she recently told Apartment Therapy, was luring her downtown friends to her uptown apartment, but having a full bar—which is on fine display in her kitchen— and some mixology skills definitely helped. Now she says the first thing her friends say when they walk in and see her kitchen is: "Sweet! Can you make me a drink?" More

I was inspired by this request from readrer Kristi Kinkade, who said, "My family has numerous parties during the summer. I'd like to be able to make one beverage that's great for kids, and just by adding alcohol would be great for adults." Well here you go: A sweet and sour lemony base that makes the perfect grown-up cocktail... and also happens to be just as great for the kids. More

Punch is the ideal party drink. Big batches save hosts from playing bartender all night and it's the perfect excuse to show off that heirloom punch bowl. However, the profusion of punch recipes can seem daunting if it's your first time dusting off Grandma's punch bowl. So we checked in with punch expert David Wondrich, author of Punch: The Delights (and Dangers) of the Flowing Bowl (see our review here), and Esquire Mag's drinks columnist to get all the elemental info needed for anyone looking to stir up a batch. More

"This is the violet hour, the hour of hush and wonder, when the affections glow and valor is reborn, when the shadows deepen along the edge of the forest and we believe that, if we watch carefully, at any moment we may see the unicorn."
from The Hour by Bernard DeVoto

The violet hour, that time of day roughly starting at 5pm when cocktail hour begins and we start the transition from day into evening, from work to home, from labor to (hopefully) relaxation. Unicorns spotting or not (I'll have what he's having!) it can be a magical time, especially if there is some deliberateness, some sense of ritual in your actions. The violet hour doesn't have to involve alcohol, of course, although it is nice to make an effort and concoct something special to drink. More

Our Mother's Day tradition is breakfast in bed for Mom, made a la' my little chefs and husband. Usually a glass of champagne or mimosa dons the breakfast tray along with a piping hot latte. This year I was thinking back to when my babies (yes, I have twins) were born and all the little things that got me through those first tough years. Things like a hot cup of coffee or a nice glass of wine were indulgences, and I have very fond memories of chai tea. More

Mixed spirits, juice, and bitters. Cocktails have been around forever, and while new variations come up all the time, the classics never go out of style. Time for a quiz: can you guess the top 10 cocktails of all time? Jump below for the results. More

The ability to mix a good cocktail can seem like a talent given only to a chosen few, like being fluent in several languages or juggling blenders. But actually, you just need to follow a few simple rules to produce a decent, if not excellent, drink for you and your guests. Notable food writer Mark Bittman has just four rules, and twelve simple cocktails, as noted in yesterday's New York Times. More

What do you drink at a bad bar? It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, I know, but we've all been there: stuck in a tired airport lounge, or at a restaurant hundreds of miles away from an artisanal cocktail menu, eyeing a bartender who doesn't look old enough to drink. What do you order when you just don't trust the bar (or the bartender)? What's your safety drink? I asked 25 food writer friends what they go to when they want a drink but don't trust the bar. More

Foraging 15 pounds of loquats can inspire a person to come up with all sorts of new dishes and drinks – some successful, others not so much. But this loquat bourbon smash? It's a keeper. More

Simple syrups help cocktails come alive, with their subtle sweetness and herbaceous or fruity notes. So what would Cocktail Week be without a mention of some of our very favorite simple syrups? More