Break might be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take one every now and then. Put down your books and make yourself a well-deserved drink (if you’re over 21, of course). There’s always time for a cocktail!

Fresh-start punch

Wanting an excuse to get your friends back together after break? Look no further. This New Year’s-inspired take on a classic Planter’s Punch is made to be served in a bowl and is easy to scale up depending on the size of your get-together. The dark molasses and coffee notes of the rum are sweetened by the fruity citrus additions, making it a true crowd-pleaser.

1 ½ ounces dark rum

¼ ounce grenadine

1 ½ ounces orange juice

½ ounce grapefruit juice

Serve in a bowl with ice, and garnish each cup with half an orange slice.

Flavor profile: fresh and citrusy

Drink: at a low-key house party

Glassware: a regular water glass works fine

Each serving = about ⅔ of a shot

Twenty-nine-tini

Start off spring semester on a good note with this riff on a classic vodka martini. This drink uses the herbal characteristics of Lillet Blanc rather than dry vermouth for sweetness and calls for a touch of cranberry juice, adding just the right amount of tartness to balance the cocktail.

2 ounces vodka

1 ½ ounces Lillet Blanc

½ ounce cranberry juice (no sugar added)

Stir with ice and strain. Serve with a lemon twist.

Flavor profile: light and just a little bit tart

Drink: after a long day of classes, paired with your favorite guilty-pleasure TV show

Glassware: coupe or martini glass, if you want to be technical

Each serving = about 1 ¼ shots

Hit the books shot / New year, new you shot

This shot tastes a lot like chocolate. Sweet, rich, easy to down and not too alcoholic, this bad boy is perfect for a party. The Kahlúa and orange juice provide the sweetness in the shot and balance each other out in an unexpected way.

½ ounce vodka

½ ounce Kahlúa

½ ounce orange juice

Flavor: sweet, dark, essentially like chocolate

Drink: at a party — it’s basically a yummier shot with half as much alcohol

Glassware: shot glass

Each serving = half a shot

Golden Bear reviver

This blue and gold take on the classic corpse reviver is a great way to start off a night of drinking with friends. Light but still strong, this balanced, herbaceous drink is bright blue, but don’t let that make you think it isn’t intense. Gin and Lillet Blanc give this cocktail its herby flavor, while the Blue Curaçao adds a kick of sweetness. If you’re a true cocktail connoisseur, consider rinsing the inside of your glass with absinthe beforehand.

1 ounce gin

1 ounce Lillet Blanc

1 ounce Blue Curaçao

1 ounce lemon juice

Shake ingredients together with ice and strain. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Flavor profile: light and balanced, but strong

Drink: with friends before a night out

Glassware: coupe glass

Each serving = about one shot

Syllabus-week sour

A back-to-school take on a traditional cocktail, the rye whiskey in this sour adds body and a slight spice to the drink. Orange juice and grenadine add sweetness to the tune of citrus and pomegranate, balancing out the cocktail. Feel free to top off this sour with club soda at the end for a lighter finish.

2 ounces rye whiskey

½ ounce lemon juice

¼ ounce orange juice

¼ ounce grenadine

Shake ingredients together with ice and strain. Garnish with an orange peel.

Flavor profile: balanced, citrusy and lightly spiced

Drink: after dinner, maybe to impress a friend or a date

Glassware: coupe glass, or if with ice, in a rocks glass

Each serving = one shot