Cherry Red

Sweet, tart, and a little spicy, the Cherry Red is sure to become one of your favorite non-alcoholic cocktails for dinner parties, happy hour, and casual sipping at home when you don't feel like adding booze into the mix. Mixologist Sebastian Reaburn uses black cherries when he makes this cocktail, which was inspired, he says, by "classic American flavors like Big Red chewing gum and Cherry Coke." While June and July — when it's easier to find fresh cherries at your local farmer's market or grocery store — are ideal times to make this cocktail, we make it any time they look good enough to buy. When shopping for cranberry juice, be sure to look for 100% real juice as opposed to cranberry juice cocktail, which can add unwanted sugars that throw off the balance in this drink.

While it might seem tedious to make an additional syrup for this cocktail, you'll be surprised by how versatile leftover Cinnamon Syrup can be. We prefer to add it to hot toddies, hot chocolates, chai lattes or even coffee drinks and cocktails. You can also pour it over vanilla ice cream, or use it as a secret ingredient in a dessert-ready Affogato Martini. Don't have simple syrup on hand for your next batch of cocktails? Cinnamon Syrup is a wonderful alternative, and stays good in the fridge for just as long. can also substitute it for simple syrup in hot or cold holiday drinks.