Meredith Heil

Like Champagne, Irish whiskey must meet a legal definition to carry its label. One paramount requirement is that it must be made in Ireland. It also has to be strong, though low and no-ABV Irish whiskey cocktails are possible. While you could tinker (hint: use less booze), these aren’t necessarily those options, but rather classic drinks and some novel spins created for NYC’s best Irish pubs that you can shake and stir at home.  RECOMMENDED: Find more cocktails in NYC

With just three main ingredients, the classic Manhattan is a deceptively simple cocktail. Yet a true connoisseur knows that a Manhattan’s success lies in its portions—not too much sweet, not too much bitter, just a touch of spice. However, as long as you’re mindful of the desired amounts, at-home mixologists are free to experiment with variations, subbing out traditional rye for oaky bourbon, tossing in a dash of homemade herbal bitters or incorporating a splash of bright Campari for color and depth. Watch our video above to see top NYC bartender Lucinda Sterling of Middle Branch and Seaborne demonstrate how to stir up this classic drink. Manhattan recipe: Ingredients: 2 oz. rye (or bourbon) 1 oz. sweet vermouth 2 dashes Angostura bittersBrandied cherry Instructions:Pour all ingredients into tall glass and stir over ice Strain into chilled glass Garnish with the brandied cherry Serve straight up RECOMMENDED: See America’s best cocktails

There’s a reason that Irish greet each day with a chipper, “Top o’ the mornin’ to ya!” and that reason is Irish coffees. Sweet, creamy, nutty, hot and extra boozy, NYC has some of the best Irish coffee outside of Ireland (and San Francisco, which was the true birthplace of the beloved winter warmer.) Irish coffee has been a seasonal favorite for American drinkers since its invention 1952, and our fair city—with its large, deeply rooted Irish-American population, cozy bars (especially bars with fireplaces) and authentic Irish pubs—isn’t far behind. On St. Patrick’s Day (or any day), forego college-era frothy beer and raise a toast to old Erin with a slow-sipped classic Irish coffee at one of these ten bars in NYC. RECOMMENDED: Find more cocktails in NYC

Listen up, rumrunners: Daiquiris aren’t just for drinking while lounging poolside in Havana (though that’s nice, too). Instead of boarding a Caribbean-bound boat to get your hands on these thirst-quenching tropical cocktails made from white rum, simple syrup and tart lime, just head to these 10 bars. As classic cocktails continue to charm, daiquiris and their derivatives have successfully distanced themselves from their syrupy, spring-break-in-Cabo reputation, reclaiming their place at the tiki bars alongside their more respected whiskey and gin-based counterparts. Make like a modern-day Papa and see for yourself with a frozen drink at one of these ten daiquiri-peddling destinations. RECOMMENDED: Find more cocktails in NYC

The Manhattan cocktail, a simple mid-19th century blend of whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters, finds its roots right here on our fair island, a refined yet potent concoction certain to alleviate all stresses of the city with each smooth sip. And whether you prefer bourbon or rye, Canadian Club or Tennessee hooch, the best Manhattans often mirror the cocktail bars they’re served in—classy but not too pretentious, dark enough to stir up some trouble and with just enough sweetness to keep repeat imbibers in good spirits from dusk ‘till dawn. Thirsty yet? These bars in NYC serve up the finest Manhattans from some of the city's best bartenders. RECOMMENDED: Find more cocktails in NYC

Stiff, smooth and a snap to make, the old-fashioned has been fortifying New Yorkers since its loyal devotee Don Draper was in diapers way back in the day, around the turn of the century. These days, the classic tipple is gracing cutting-edge cocktail menus at the best bars in NYC its simplicity providing the perfect platform for creative reinterpretations and endless experimentation. Whether you like yours new-fashioned or truly old-fashioned, these are the best cocktails from bars, speakeasies and restaurants that will definitely hit the spot. RECOMMENDED: Find more cocktails in NYC

The illustrious pisco sour takes many forms. Whether it’s Peruvian or Chilean, herbaceous or fruit-forward, a zesty, refreshing summer drink sipped on an NYC rooftop bars, it’s undeniable that this versatile cocktail has long been one of New York City bar culture’s most underrated players—and it’s high time for a comeback. With its light body, tart citrus and frothy finish, the brandy-based sipper is a fresh and unique choice for warm-weather imbibing. See for yourself at these innovative bars in NYC, each doing its part to reintroduce New Yorkers to the wonders of the pisco sour. RECOMMENDED: Find more cocktails in NYC

When properly prepared, a martini can be refined and complex, refreshing and sultry, sweet and salty, and always, always strong—just like the New Yorkers who love them. Dorothy Parker’s literati gossiped over them at New York hotels like the Algonquin, mid-century Mad Men downed them by the dozen, 1980s Wall Street types closed countless deals with their help, and it wouldn’t have been Sex and the City without those four lipstick-smudged, vodka-filled glasses. Whether you’re a lifer looking for new happy hours or just in town for the weekend, these ten martini-centric bars in NYC are sure to make you feel right at home in the city. RECOMMENDED: Find more cocktails in NYC

As the saying goes, if ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Yet when it comes to the best cocktails, even the most perfected of classics—the martini—can’t escape the whirlwind of adaptation, innovation and riffs that makes New York’s culinary scene so vibrant. Mad-scientist mixologists and cocktail geeks, with their liqueurs, bitters, tinctures and infusions, have left their creative mark on every cocktail imaginable, including this precious concoction of gin-and-vermouth (or vodka), transforming it into countless flavorful variations, each more unique than the last. Explore the wonderful world of alternative martinis with a visit to these bars in NYC. RECOMMENDED: Find more cocktails in NYC

Standing proud amongst New Orleans original cocktails (like the Sazerac and the French 75) is the Vieux Carré, named after the city’s storied French Quarter. This classic cocktail combines rye, cognac, sweet vermouth, Benedictine and bitters to form a layered tapestry of flavors almost as charming and intoxicating as the Big Easy itself. Of course, there’s no need to travel all the way to Louisiana to celebrate this beloved Southern tipple—or any of the best cocktails from the Big Easy—just pop into one of the best bars in NYC and make like it's Mardi Gras in NYC at any time of the year with an authentic taste of the boozy bayou. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to cocktails in NYC

Need to break a weekly New York pizza habit? Pick an Ethiopian restaurant that will take your taste buds on a trip to Africa, offering classic meat dishes, spicy stews and sweet honey wine. We rounded up 10 places where you’ll find Ethiopian food that’s authentic and healthy, so go grab cheap eats or sit down for a luxurious meal, whether you stick with a vegan stew or try a whole fried trout. RECOMMENDED: Find more of the best restaurants in NYC

The formerly contraband elixir is famous for inspiring countless artists, thinkers and writers from Degas to van Gogh to Picasso to Hemingway to even the late, great Hunter S. Thompson. These days, a new crop of cocktail geeks are gravitating toward the newly legal and widely available liqueur, as seasoned bartenders and at-home mixologists alike strike gold by experimenting with the mysterious herbal tincture. (There’s even a new all-absinthe cocktail menu at Apothéke.) Rest assured, you don’t have to be a starving artist to enjoy absinthe—join the fun by trying your hand at one of these intoxicating recipes from some of the best bars in NYC. RECOMMENDED: Find more cocktails in NYC