For basketball fans, the summer months not only mean playing with friends under the heat of the sun. It also means that the NBA playoffs are in full swing and that the league’s best teams and brightest stars will battle for the right to be crowned as champions. This year’s playoffs promises to be just as exciting as the postseason battles in previous years, with contenders like the LA Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and LA Clippers being tested in the first round. While watching intense NBA playoff action, you can also sit back and enjoy these drinks from Boozy that would be the perfect match to each first-round series: 

1. Santa Ana Gin - Lakers vs. Suns

Photo from @santaanagin

There are several alcoholic drinks that honor a country’s rich history, and the Santa Ana Gin is one of them. It is a tribute to the Philippines’ dancehall days, specifically the Santa Ana Cabaret. The gin is distilled in Charente, France, but contains four Philippine botanicals: ylang-ylang, Alpinia, calamansi, and dalandan. Similarly, among all the first-round series in this year’s playoffs, it is the matchup between the Phoenix Suns and LA Lakers that evokes the most nostalgia, as it recalls the playoff battles between Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant more than a decade ago. Even their stars, like Suns point guard Chris Paul and Lakers forward LeBron James, are a blast from the past since they are among the league’s elder statesmen. 

2. Glenfiddich 12-Year-Old - Mavericks vs. Clippers 

Photo from @glenfiddichwhisky

The Glenfiddich 12-Year-Old is known as the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky and has a distinctive fruitiness and a creamy, long, smooth, and mellow finish. But what makes it stand out is that this whisky was matured in the finest American oak and the best European oak sherry casks for at least 12 years. On a similar note, the NBA playoff series that also offers the best of the US and Europe is the series between the LA Clippers and Dallas Mavericks. Led by American All-Stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Clippers are looking to reach the Conference Finals for the first time. But standing in their way is European sensation Luka Doncic, who has established himself as one of the league’s best players at just 22 years old. 

3. Tanqueray - Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics

Photo from @tanqueraygin

The Tanqueray is described as being made by a perfectionist and used four botanicals (juniper, coriander, angelica, and licorice) to create the perfect balance. In the NBA, if there’s a team that is perfectly balanced like the Tanqueray, it is the Brooklyn Nets, who boast one of the greatest collection of talents the league has seen in All-Stars Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving. In the first round, they face the Boston Celtics, the league’s greatest winner led by rising star Jayson Tatum. With Durant, Harden, and Irving, the Nets have three stars who can take over the game at any given point, giving their offense a perfect balance that will be a nightmare to defend.

4. Jameson Irish Whiskey - Philadelphia 76ers vs. Washington Wizards

Photo from @jameson_us

The Jameson Irish Whiskey is an old-fashioned drink, an Irish blend of traditional pot still and grain whiskey that is triple-distilled and aged in American oak and sherry casks. This distinct process creates its smooth and versatile taste that contains a balance of spicy, nutty, and vanilla notes along with hints of sweet sherry. If you want an old-fashioned series reminiscent of the NBA’s old rivalries, look no further than the explosive matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards. In Sixers big man and MVP candidate Joel Embiid, you have a player who isn’t afraid to get under his opponents’ skin to gain an edge. The Wizards, meanwhile, have guard Russell Westbrook, one of the most intense players today who will do anything it takes to win. 

5. Ketel One - New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks

Photo from @ketelone

With a crisp taste and soft finish, the Ketel One vodka uses carefully selected European wheat and a combination of modern and traditional distilling styles. Similarly, if there’s an NBA playoff series that combines a traditional and modern style, it’s the matchup between the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks. The Knicks are back in the playoffs for the first time in eight years, and their success comes from the hard-nosed defense of head coach Tom Thibodeau that is reminiscent of past New York teams in the 1990s. The Hawks, meanwhile, are led by an ascendant star in Trae Young, who has the three-pointer as his weapon of choice much like another modern NBA star in Steph Curry.  

6. Grey Goose Vodka - Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers

With the claim of being the world’s best-tasting vodka, the Grey Goose Vodka uses ingredients from different regions in France and has an uncommon balance, unparalleled smoothness, and exceptional taste. While there are many teams that can claim to be the best in the NBA, the playoff series that can arguably produce the best basketball and be the most competitive is the battle between the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers. With MVP candidate Nikola Jokic leading the way, the Nuggets are one of the best teams in the Western Conference but will face Blazers guard Damian Lillard, one of the best clutch performers in the game today. With these stars facing off, it wouldn’t be surprising to see this series go the full distance. 

7. Kanto Salted Caramel Vodka - Jazz vs. Grizzlies

Photo from @kantosaltedcaramel

While each country has its own drinking traditions and customs, the tagayan drinking style is something the Philippines can call its own. The Kanto Salted Caramel Vodka pays tribute to this style of drinking that Filipinos share with friends and relatives. Similarly, there are many interesting matchups in this year’s playoffs, but only one has a player that Pinoys can call their own. The Utah Jazz finished on top of the Western Conference thanks in part to the superb play of Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year. Clarkson looks to help the Jazz fend off the upstart Memphis Grizzlies, led by young star Ja Morant.

8. Shackleton Blended Malt Scotch Whisky - Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat

Photo from @theshackletonwhisky

With aromas of golden graham and crunchy brown sugar and a hint of malt as well as a palate of juicy apple and orange, the Shackleton Blended Malt Scotch Whisky is a continuation of a tradition. The whisky uses the antique Mackinlay’s as a foundation and then combines it with the finest Highland malt whiskies. Similarly, two teams that are built on tradition find themselves battling in the Eastern Conference: the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat. The Bucks, led by two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, have had past stars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson and look primed to compete for another title. The Heat, meanwhile, has Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo continuing their line of stars, from LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway. 

This year’s NBA playoffs features a perfect mix of battle-tested veterans and young talent, old powerhouses and teams on the rise. And for every series and every matchup between the league’s brightest stars, there’s a drink that goes well and serves as a perfect companion while watching intense and exciting playoff action.