Whiskey

This ice cream pairs brilliantly with about any fall-flavored pie you can imagine (apple! pecan! pumpkin!), but it's just as good served on its own.

This high-end take on the bake-sale favorite ditches dated maraschino cherries, swaps canned pineapple for fresh, and adds cardamom and bourbon to bring out the flavor of the caramel.

This drink is just as refreshing when made with gin, vodka, or rum. To watch a video of Andrew Knowlton making this classic cocktail, click here.

But hey, when it comes to America's liquid gift to the world, what *isn't* important?

No one will fault you for seasoning brisket with salt and pepper, braising it in beer, and calling it a day. But follow chef Lee's method—which calls for a bath of stout, bourbon, and soy sauce; a glaze made with peach jam; and a side of easy homemade pickles if you'd like—and you're on the path to savory-and-sweet nirvana.

Virtue Feed & Grain in Alexandria, VA, serves this take on an Old Fashioned, just one of their signature "hoptails."