Celebration Fruit Punch

This Celebration Fruit Punch is sparkling, colourful and refreshing rather than overly sweet. Perfect cocktail for Christmas, New Years Eve and parties!

Suns 'n Roses (Rum and Stone Fruit Punch)

This porch-appropriate summer sipper is rich and mellow but not too sweet, thanks to a balance of fresh and dried stone fruit, aged rum, and lemon. Adapted from a recipe created by Tommy Quimby for San Francisco's Rich Table, it captures the flavor of ripe peaches and apricots in a simple blended syrup. A little white tea adds volume and delicate floral flavor.

Pineapple Rum Punch

This tropical punch gets its flavor and fragrance from ripe, fresh pineapple, which infuses a simple syrup for a few hours (or overnight.)

Plumpkin

This easy mojito variation from Area Four in Cambridge, Massachusetts is best with a flavorful, ripe plum or pluot.

Falling Leaves

Created by New York mixological maestro Audrey Saunders, the Falling Leaves is a great autumn drink that works well as a conversation starter as guests arrive. Not only rich and flavorful, the Falling Leaves packs less of an alcoholic wallop than a typical cocktail, so you'll be able to enjoy your drink without throwing yourself off stride while putting the finishing touches on the meal--and maybe even mix a second round at halftime.

Persimmon Sour

When incorporating persimmons into seasonal cocktails, the first step is to make a purée. This slightly thick, bright orange liquid that has notes of sweet earthiness. To bring a little punch to the cocktail, I added lime and gin to create a persimmon sour. The final cocktail is a bold, orange-hued drink that is at first sour, then earthy and rich. It's the kind of drink that will keep you on your toes.

Smoked-Rosemary Rum Punch

Holding fresh rosemary over the flame of your gas stove (or a candle) lends savory, woodsy flavors to this rum punch. Gold rum adds a rich, velvety sweetness, while overproof rum contributes earthy, musky complexity.

Apple Fennel Punch

Rye adds a distinct kick to the other soothing flavors like apple, ginger, and fennel in this winter punch from Fino in Austin, Texas. Bergamot tea is the clean, earthy base that ties the flavors together.

Fall Classic

This cocktail from Gramercy Tavern is a shout out to apple season, made more complex with the addition of thyme-infused simple syrup.

Fallen Leaves

This is a perfect autumn cocktail. With the color of its namesake foliage, the Fallen Leaves has a rich, delicate flavor derived from that most seasonal of spirits, aged apple brandy. It's fine to use Calvados in one of these, but I like to reach for the 8-year-old Eau de Vie de Pomme, from Oregon's Clear Creek Distillery. At a time when the autumn chill is becoming a little more apparent each night, a Fallen Leaves can be a great evening companion.