With a blizzard in the rear-view mirror and more snow forecasted, it’s time to hunker down.

But with so much downtime at home, it’s the perfect time to find a culinary hobby to occupy yourself. What’s better than a cocktail (or even a mocktail) to both develop new skills and warm you up?

Making mixed drinks can be an interesting way to spice up an evening at home, giving you a new craft to explore, experiment with and enjoy either alone or with another person. It’s not just throwing things into a shaker and seeing what comes out, but rather a crafted skill you can learn and test yourself with (not to mention, also a great party trick to impress others!).

While mixed drinks have become synonymous with alcohol, liquor is not necessary. There are plenty of complex and unique drinks you can make without alcohol, or you can choose to sub in alcohol for a non-alcoholic spirit alternative.

Here are a few recipes to try out, with an option for everyone’s tastes, tools and skillsets.

Whiskey is a type of liquor made from fermented grains, such as barley, rye, wheat and corn. It is aged in wooden barrels, giving it its signature woody taste.

But whiskey is more than just woody, with other common aromas of sweet, fruity, spicy and smoky. If you’ve tried a whiskey you aren’t fond of, then it’s worth it to try other ones to see if a different flavor catches your taste buds.

Whiskey is also a catch-all term for the spirit, encompassing scotch and bourbon. The different types of whiskey are determined by the region in which they are produced, with bourbon from the United States and scotch from, you guessed it, Scotland.

For beginner whiskey drinkers, try a cocktail that is not heavy on the whiskey flavor. As someone who doesn’t reach for whiskey often, a mint julep is the one I will typically seek out. This cocktail may be better for the springtime and a warm sunny day on your front porch, but maybe we can pretend that’s what it looks like outside instead, right?

As with most whiskey drinks, there aren’t many ingredients: just mint, simple syrup and bourbon. Start by muddling a few mint leaves in the bottom of your glass with ¼ ounce of simple syrup (either store-bought or homemade). Add in 2 ounces of bourbon with a ton of crushed ice and stir until your hand gets tired. You want the glass to be frosted! Once finished, add more ice and enjoy!

Source: LI Press