8 Sublime Grilled Dishes with Cocktail Pairings

Pair it with: Whiskey Old Fashioned

Bring whiskey to the forefront with this old-timey cocktail served alongside a steak topped with homemade whiskey butter.

Pair it with: Tokyo Tea

The melon flavors in this chicken dish make it a blissful match with vibrant Tokyo Tea. "My friends love Tokyo Tea because it tastes like a Jolly Rancher, and the Midori melon liquor pairs well with the fruity flavors in the Watermelon Glaze," says mixologist Miles Starkey.

Pair it with: Long Island Ice Tea

Guests will love this play on the classic combination of sweet tea and pimiento cheese -- a Long Island Ice Tea brightened with freshly squeezed lemon juice and pimiento cheese hamburgers.

Pair it with: Rusty Nail

The rich honey and herb flavors in the Drambuie, a Scotch-based liquor, are perfectly suited for serving alongside these smoky baby back ribs.

Pair it with: Pineapple Mojito

For a meal bursting with fresh flavor, pair this minty-fruity drink with Roasted Tomatillo Salsa.

Pair it with: Tequila Sunrise

This fruity drink gets its name from the 'sunrise' effect that comes from combining the orange juice and grenadine. The sweetness of the orange juice and grenadine balances the heat of the ribs.

Pair it with: The Real Margarita

"I like to use powdered sugar because of the way it dissolves in the drink and creates a foamy top," says mixologist Miles Starkey. The lime juice in this margarita also highlights the bright citrus flavor of the dipping sauce and provides contrast to the deep, smoky flavors in the steak rub.

Pair it with: The Godfather

Bring out the flavor of the roasted peppers and toasted almonds in these burgers with a drink featuring amaretto, an Italian, sweet, almond-flavored liquor.