Diablo

Really, who'd think that the zippy New-World spirit from the agave would match so well with a demure liqueur flavored with an Old-World fruit? But there's just some kind of romance between the two that defies explanation; all you need to know is that separately, they can be very entertaining, but together, they're dynamite.

El Diablo con Limón (Tequila Punch With Cassis and Lemon)

This punch has rich berry flavor from the cassis, and a potent pop of bright tartness from an easy no-cook lemon syrup. Tequila's herbal undertones keep it from tasting like just another berry soda.

Blackberry El Diablo Halloween Cocktail

Throw a devilish adult Halloween party with this Blackberry El Diablo cocktail. This fruity twist on a classic combines fresh blackberry syrup with tequila, lime juice, triple sec, and ginger beer.

The Devil's Backbone from Lolinda

Much as he loves the smoky flavor of peated scotch, Lane acknowledges that an entire cocktail made with it is pretty aggressive. To avoid having that smoke be all you can taste, Lane cuts the flavor with a bit of spicy rye.

Green Devil

Developed by Canadian beer expert and author Stephen Beaumont, the Green Devil utilizes one of Belgium's landmark ales, Duvel, and accents its subtle flavor with a dose of gin and a touch of absinthe. Using a full-flavored, aromatic gin such as Martin Miller's Westbourne Strength, and a small amount of good absinthe (Marteau is a good one for this drink, though Lucid, Kubler or several other brands also work well),

Mojalisco

If you like the flavors of a Dark and Stormy, Moscow Mule, or Mojito, you'll love the Mojalisco.

Prado

Pairing the agave spirit with its old friend, fresh lime juice, the Prado substitutes the margarita's orangey triple sec for a dose of aromatic maraschino liqueur, with the white of half an egg added for extra body (since accurately dividing an egg white can be a pain, you can go ahead and mix two drinks and share one with a friend).

El Derby Ahumado (Basil Julep With Cucumber, Jalapeño, and Mezcal)

Mezcal, cucumber, jalapeño, and basil place this drink quite far from a classic mint julep, but it's well worth the departure.

Dirty Diana

This is one of our favorite cocktails from The Trilby. Fresh grapefruit juice balances the fruity sweetness of this rum drink; it tastes a bit like a grapefruit half sprinkled with brown sugar. Yum!

The Two-One-Two

Created by New York bartender and consultant Willy Shine, the Two-One-Two is brilliantly simple, yet has an engagingly complex flavor. Composed of a base of reposado tequila—Partida, one of the better brands to emerge in recent years, is recommended here—the Two-One-Two includes a couple of the agave spirit's most agreeable companions: fresh grapefruit juice, and the Italian amaro Aperol, a bright, bitter liqueur rich with orange peel and rhubarb.