Next Time You’re Sitting ’Round a Fire, Drink This

As far as quintessential summer experiences go, few things beat the campfire. There’s nothing like gathering a few loved ones, along with a healthy supply of kindling, and staring into the flames as you chat idly for hours. Who wouldn’t want a delicious nightcap to accompany them in this timeless summer ritual? Neat whiskey seems like an obvious choice for the occasion, but with a few tricks, you can elevate your drinking from a simple pour to an intriguingly complex cocktail with a twist—no ice needed.

While it’s rare to see a room-temperature cocktail on a bar menu these days, they were actually quite common in the 19th century, when ice had to be harvested from frozen lakes and was considered a luxury.