Mr. Boston Official Bartender's Guide

The Tom and Jerry is a warm and fuzzy Christmastime cocktail similar to eggnog. The main difference is that this drink is served hot. Although it has been largely forgotten in most parts of the country, the Tom and Jerry has been preserved in both Wisconsin and Minnesota, where, during the holiday season, regional markets even sell pre-made Tom and Jerry batter. The creator of this Yuletide brew was actually an Englishman by the name of Pierce Egan. He came up with the recipe and used it to promote a book he had authored and the subsequent stage play based on it. Contrary to what you might believe, the name is not a reference to MGM's animated cat-and-mouse duo, “Tom and Jerry”. Whether you're familiar with the creator or not, this cocktail is sure to warm you up on a cold winter's night and turn any day into a holiday.

Half-and-half is often used in cocktails to give them a luscious creaminess. Milk is used less often.

The 70s were by no means the pinnacle of mixology. It was a decade riddled with sloppy drinks made with every shortcut bartenders could dream up. The Harvey Wallbanger, however, is an exception. It is one of the few recipes from that era that can stand up to the craft cocktail craze that has swept the nation over the past few years. Think of it as one of those Screwdrivers you used to drink back in college, but with a tasteful twist. Supposedly, the Harvey Wallbanger was named after a bar regular at Duke's Blackwatch Bar in Hollywood in 1952. Several years later, the company that imported Galliano discovered the drink and created a surfer-themed marketing campaign with the catchphrase, “Harvey Wallbanger's the name, and I can be made!” From there, the Harvey Wallbanger took off like a pair of speed skates at a roller disco.

The Daisy is another one of those categories of drinks that have fallen out of the general public's pool of knowledge over the last century or so. Like cobblers, flips, and other classes of drinks, the Daisy itself is fairly flexible when it comes to ingredients. One of the earliest recorded Daisy recipes is Jerry Thomas's Brandy Daisy, dating back to 1862. Unlike most standard recipes at the time, his called for Curaçao and a few drops of Jamaican rum, one of Brandy's closest spirit companions. Most other classic recipes tend to favor grenadine or raspberry syrup over Curaçao and omit the rum. In our version, raspberry marries beautifully with lemon, making this cocktail the perfect drink to sip on a sunny afternoon on the porch.

The Madras is one of those nice refreshing cocktails that can really be drunk at any time of year—or day for that matter. It is uncomplicated and easy, accessible and straightforward. A perfect drink if you've had a long day at work and don't want to intellectually invest in appreciating a dauntingly complex cocktail. Plus it's largely fruit juice, so of course it's rich in vitamins and minerals—and sugar. The simplicity of the Madras makes it easy to whip up, even on a moment's notice. There is also plenty of room to play around with flavored vodkas and the like if you're feeling experimental.