It was from my favorite TV president, Jed Bartlet, that I learned that the world's most famous cocktail is also a lie: “Shaken, not stirred, will get you cold water with a dash of gin and dry vermouth. The reason you stir it with a special spoon is so not to chip the ice. James is ordering a weak martini and being snooty about it.” Maybe that's why Spectre was a bit of a dud.

Myself, I prefer a dirty martini with vodka—Ketel One to be specific. I recently tried my hand at making one of these devils and haven't quite nailed it. Some nights I'm drinking mostly vodka; some nights, mostly olive juice. This is potentially because I lack the requisite barware for the task (aforementioned special spoon, plus shaker and shot glass). But then again, it's probably best that I don't learn how to make them too well, lest I get overly comfortable drinking at home.

That said, it's the holidays, as stereotypical a time to start drinking as there ever was. It's got me thinking about adult beverages more seriously than simply, “What tastes decent and gets the buzz job done.” There are other important measures of a good drink, like: What can you make large quantities of without it bearing any sort of resemblance to Jungle Juice? And—nope, that's about it.

So tell me, what's getting you through the next month? What're you making for parties and ordering at office holiday shindigs? And if it's your own concoction, give it a fun name. Let us all delight in your creativity.

—Emily Ferber

Photographed by Tom Newton.

In need of libation inspiration? Check out the recipes for the cocktails from last year's Glossier launch here.