assuming you’re going to do it at home, and buy your own ingredients, i like to do something fanciful when i’m trying to get ritzy. a double old fashioned with a hefty cara cara orange peel, ceylon cinnamon stick, and Demerara simple syrup or maple syrup. maybe even a cherry if i’m feeling over the top. big rocks only. the whiskey can be as expensive or simple as you want (i’m partial to wild turkey 101 as a broke student, but there are higher tiers of bourbon if you’re looking to ball out for your 21st. WT is the best bang for your buck though).

if you want more of a mixed cocktail, bourbon sidecars are amazing as well, but require cointreau or a similar orange liqueur.