One of the earliest American cocktails, the Old Fashioned is made by muddling bourbon, orange, bitters, and sugar with a tiny bit of water. We like this recipe for its exquisite balance: There’s just enough orange and sugar to bring out the sweet maple and caramel notes of the Knob Creek bourbon — and the aromatic spice of the bitters ties it all together.

Our tip: Splurge on the cherries. We recommend Luxardo the Original Maraschino Cherries, which are a classy dark, dark red and have a sweet, fruit-forward flavor that complements bourbon beautifully.