Now that Downton Abbey season 2 is over, we’re all waiting with bated (pun intended) breath to see what will happen in season 3. Until then, enjoy a little break from the action…and enjoy one of these cocktails inspired by characters from your favorite British drama. It was my ambition to create cocktails for all three Crawley sisters (because original cocktails for the whole cast, while admirable, might be a bit daunting).

Valentine’s day is just around the corner, and if you have a special someone in your life (or even if you don’t), you may want to make a few drinks. These gin and tonic variations are labeled ‘his’ and ‘hers’, but don’t let yourself be limited. I enjoy a nice manly cocktail every now and then – and the pretty pink ‘hers’ variation is so delicious that men might find themselves reaching for it by the end of the night.

The toddy project continues with two delicious combinations of tea and booze – whiskey and black tea to perk you up, and chamomile and bourbon to send you off to sleep. I couldn’t stop drinking this. It’s so many things I love, mixed into one: whiskey, tea, spices, honey. I can see myself drinking this après-ski in front of a roaring fire, or just après-work at the end of a long day. Go ahead, make one: you’ve earned it.

Nothing brings people together quite like a good cocktail. This holiday season, whether you’re spending time with family, or gathering with old friends to reflect on the past year, mix up something special, like this Spiced Pear Margarita.Typically one thinks of margaritas as a drinking-on-the-beach kind of cocktail; this one gets seasonally appropriate with pear and a medley of spices.

Go ahead…start a new holiday tradition with this subtly sweet spiced bourbon.It’s cold. And when I think of a liquor that will warm you up, I think bourbon. (Although maybe that’s just because I love bourbon so much.) Add spices and apple and you’ve got a delicious little concoction that is perfect for wintry weather…and perfect for everyone on your list.I can’t think of enough good things to say about this drink. In fact, I am enjoying one as we speak.

pumpkin butter Alcohol always warms the body, and hot alcohol doubly so. Delight your guests, and warm your insides, with this tweak of an old recipe. Now, if you have never had hot buttered rum before, you may be a bit skeptical. Alcohol and butter? Believe and do not doubt. Butter adds a certain richness to this drink, as well as a bit of flavor. Imagine drinking a warm glass of boozy pumpkin pie. Don’t you love fall? Nancy Mitchell loves a hot drink on a cold day.

Here’s a pitcher-sized version of a classic cocktail that’s sure to be a big hit at your Halloween party (or any other party, for that matter). The El Diablo cocktail first appeared in Trader Vic’s Book of Food and Drink as early as 1946. The original recipe called for tequila (white, or silver), creme de cassis, lime juice, and ginger ale (which at the time would have been much more similar to the spicier ginger beer of today). What, you may ask, is creme de cassis?

Here’s a delicious variation on an old favorite, made with fresh figs, bourbon, maple syrup and…balsamic vinegar? Yes, you read that right. The old-fashioned, traditionally made with bourbon, sugar, bitters, and orange, is almost as old as the cocktail itself. Its simplicity invites endless variation, so when I set out to create a cocktail with figs and bourbon, of course the idea doing a sort of autumnal old-fashioned popped into my head.

Labor Day weekend always seems like the last gasp of summer before fall begins in earnest. Everyone scrambles to make the most of it — one last vacation, one last trip to the lake or the beach. And, for those of us taking the simpler route and staying home — one last summer cocktail. The beauty of this cocktail lies in its simplicity.

You got the kids back to school. You survived the 105 degree late-August heat. And now — it’s time for a drink. This cocktail, with red plums, sage, and rye whiskey, is like a grown-up whiskey sour. Rye whiskey, a cousin to Tennessee whiskey (aka Jack Daniels) and bourbon, is a sort of forgotten American classic. Whiskey made from a rye mash has been around for hundreds of years — George Washington used to distill it at Mount Vernon.