I’m trying to plan a party for 20 people. Wanting to please as many of the guests as possible, I asked them all what their favorite drinks are. Unfortunately I came up with a list of 17 drinks: Jack Daniels and Coke, hard lemonade, cosmopolitan (she said: people always laugh at me, but they’re really good), dirty martini with Ketel One, Baileys on the rocks, mint julep, tequila tonic, lemonade (no alcohol), Bud Light, vodka cranberry, Stella Artois, Corona with a lime, Genesse Light, Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat (he said: I have a soft spot in my heart for it), vodka tonic, Bacardi Grand Melon, tequila (two people like it straight), gin and tonic.

I decided to throw out their suggestions and pick the best drinks of this semester’s columns for the party instead.

Fuzzy Punch

1 part vodka

1 part ginger ale

1 part fruit punch

ice

Mix ingredients and garnish as desired.

Bourbon and Coke

3 parts Maker’s Mark or Jim Beam bourbon

5 parts Pepsi

ice

Mix ingredients and enjoy.

Warm Spiked Cider

2 parts cider

1 part Captain Morgan Tattoo spiced dark rum

Heat cider in large saucepan on medium for about five minutes. Add spiced rum and let simmer for 15 minutes. Do not boil (the cider will be bitter and virgin).

Caparico

1/2 oz Brandy

1 tbsp sugar

1/2 oz Creme de Cafe

1 oz Amaretto

Hot coffee

Put sugar in the bottom of a mug that has had its rim dipped in cinnamon sugar. Add brandy, liqueurs and coffee.

Tequila Sunrise

3 parts 1800 tequila

6 parts orange juice

1 part grenadine

Pour tequila and orange juice over ice cubes. Add grenadine last; do not stir. The grenadine should initially sink to the bottom of the glass and then rise, creating the effect that gives the drink its name.

The Sun’s Mixology Editor can be reached at mixology@cornellsun.com. Please Drink Respon­sibly appears Fri­days.