PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o ¼ ounce Tullamore DEW Irish whiskey o 2 ounces Finlandia vodka o ½ ounce Lillet Blanc Garnish o lemon twist Method: 1. Swirl whiskey in a cocktail glass and discard the excess. 2. Stir vodka and Lillet over ice in a mixing glass. 3. Serve up in the prepared glass. 4. Garnish with lemon twist. Remarks: Okay, it's not a "martini" but it is an excellent cocktail none the less. A wee bit of the Irish does mak

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Grey Goose vodka o 1 ½ ounces Crème de Mûre o ¾ ounce St. Germain liqueur o ½ ounce fresh lemon juice Garnish o blackberry o lemon wheel Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve up in a chilled martini glass. 3. Garnish with a blackberry and lemon wheel. Remarks: A tasty “alternative” martini. Care should be taken with the St. Germain. Its elderflower flavor should embrace but no

PH factor:  9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o ¼ ounce Pernod Absinthe Supérieure o 1 teaspoon fresh ginger o 1 ½ ounces Finlandia vodka o 1 ounce Lillet Blanc o 1 teaspoon grenadine o 1 dash champagne vinegar Method: 1. Swirl absinthe to coat the inside of a cocktail glass and discard the excess. 2. Muddle ginger in cocktail shaker. 3. Add ice and remaining cocktail ingredients and shake to chill well. 4. Fine strain into the prepared glass. Remar

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces Grey Goose vodka o ½ ounce Licor 43, Cuarenta Y Tres o ½ ounce fresh lemon juice o ½ ounce Lavender Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Garnish o lavender sprig Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve up in a martini glass. 3. Garnish with lavender sprig. Remarks: This is a sweet and aromatic cocktail that looks great. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o sugar o 2 ounces Finlandia vodka o ¾ ounce Triple Sec o ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice o 1 teaspoon sugar Garnish o lemon wheel Method: 1. Moisten the rim of a martini glass with lemon juice and invert glass into a shallow dish of sugar to coat the rim. 2. Shake remaining cocktail ingredients vigorously over ice. 3. Serve up in the prepared glass. 4. Garnish with lemon wheel. Remarks: For all yo

PH factor:  9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o finely grated Graham cracker crumb o 1 ounce Finlandia vodka o 2 ounces Cointreau o ½ ounce Licor 43 (Cuarenta Y Tres) o 1 ½ ounces Lemon Squash (see: Syrups etc.) Garnish o whipped cream o lemon twist Method: 1. Grate a Graham cracker to a fine crumb then moisten the rim of martini glass and invert it into a shallow dish of the cracker crumb to coat the rim of the glass. 2. Shake remaining cocktail ingred

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Finlandia vodka o 1 ounce Sambuca Romano o ½ ounce light Crème de Cacao Garnish o 1 licorice stick Method: 1. Stir cocktail ingredients over ice to chill in a mixing glass. 2. Strain into a martini glass. 3. Garnish with licorice stick. Remarks: Stir well. It should be well chilled and a little dilution is not a bad thing here. By the time you get to enjoying the garnish, you will understand.

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o ½ ounce Grey Goose vodka o 2 ounces Lillet Rosé o ½ ounce St. Germain liqueur o ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice o ½ ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Garnish o lemon twist Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve up in a martini or cocktail glass. 3. Express lemon peel over glass and discard. Remarks: This is a light and enjoyable cocktail. Grey Goose and St. Germain go well together, and th

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o ½ ounce Bombay gin o ½ ounce Flor de Caña Extra Seco rum o ½ ounce 1800 Silver tequila o ½ ounce Finlandia vodka o ½ ounce Triple Sec o 2 ounces cranberry juice o 1 ounce fresh lemon juice o 1 ounce Earl Grey Simple Syrup (see: Syrups etc.) Garnish o ½ of a lime wheel o mint sprig Method: 1. Stir cocktail ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. 2. Serve over ice in a highball glass. 3. Garnish with

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ½ ounces Grey Goose vodka o ½ ounce Lillet Blanc o ¼ ounce St. Germain liqueur o 1 ounce Lychee Syrup (see: Syrups etc.) o 1 lemon wedge Garnish o 1 lychee stuffed with a cherry. The stuffing is optional. Method: 1. Stir cocktail ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. 2. Strain into a martini glass. 3. Squeeze a lemon wedge over the drink and discard. 4. Garnish with a lychee nut or a cherry s

PH factor:  9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Grey Goose vodka o ½ ounce Licor 43, Cuarenta Y Tres o ½ ounce maple syrup o 1 egg white o 1 ounce cream Garnish o bacon Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients without ice. 2. Add ice and shake to chill. 3. Fine strain and serve up in a martini glass. 4. Garnish with crispy bacon, extra thick, please. Remarks: Some people may not like the idea of having meat in their martinis. To them we

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce Grey Goose vodka o ¾ ounce Lillet Blanc o ¾ ounce Blandy's 5-Year-Old Malmsey Madeira o ½ ounce Schladerer Edel-Kirsch o 1 dash champagne vinegar Method: 1. Stir cocktail ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. 2. Strain into a martini glass. Remarks: The primary flavor here is Madeira. But not the Madeira you remember. More like some Madeira that has spent the past year at the gym. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe (Serves Two) Ingredients: Cocktail o 3 ounces Finlandia vodka o 1 ounce blue Curaçao o ½ ounce fresh lemon juice o champagne Garnish o lemon peel Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients except champagne over ice. 2. Divide into chilled champagne flutes. 3. Top with champagne. 4. Garnish with lemon peels. Remarks: This is more of a cocktail with champagne than a champagne cocktail. It also can be enjoyed before and after not

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 3 ounces Grey Goose vodka o 1 ½ ounces Plum Gekkeikan wine o 1 ounce fresh lemon juice o ½ ounce Ginger Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 2 ounces Fever-Tree Premium Club Soda Garnish o lemon twist Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients except soda over ice. 2. Strain into an ice-filled collins glass. 3. Top with soda and stir once to combine. 4. Garnish with lemon twist. Remarks: Despite the name, this tal

PH factor:  8.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o sugar o 1 ½ ounces Grey Goose vodka o ¾ ounce Schladerer Edel-Kirsch liqueur o ¾ ounce fresh lime juice Garnish o 2-3 raspberries impaled on a rosemary sprig Method: 1. Moisten the rim a martini glass and invert it into a shallow dish of sugar to coat the rim of the glass. 2. Shake remaining cocktail ingredients over ice to chill. 3. Strain into the prepared glass. 4. Garnish with raspberries and rosemar

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces Grey Goose vodka o ½ ounce St. Germain liqueur o 1 ½ ounces cranberry juice o ½ ounce Simple Syrup (see: Syrups etc.) Garnish o cranberries o mint sprig Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass. 3. Garnish with cranberries and mint. Remarks: At certain times each year you may have cranberries on hand. Take full advantage of those moments.

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Finlandia vodka o 1 ounce Bénédictine D.O.M. liqueur o 2 ounces pineapple juice Garnish o pineapple wedge Method: 1. Shake over ice. 2. Strain into a cocktail glass. 3. Garnish with pineapple wedge. Remarks: Thanks to the pineapple this is is a little sweet and fruity. We think that makes this an excellent summertime drink. . . .

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Finlandia vodka o 1 ounce fresh lime juice o Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer Garnish o lime wedge o mint sprig Method: 1. Stir vodka and lime juice in an ice-filled copper mug. 2. Top with ginger beer. 3. Garnish with lime wedge and mint sprig. Remarks: Created in the 1940’s, this drink helped popularize vodka in the United States and for that we are eternally grateful. . . .

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 cup peeled and cubed mango o 5 tarragon leaves o 2 ½ ounces Mango Infused Vodka, see: Syrups etc. o ½ ounce fresh lemon juice o ½ ounce Mango Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Garnish o tarragon sprig Method: 1. Muddle mango and 5 tarragon leaves in a cocktail shaker. 2. Add ice and remaining cocktail ingredients and shake. 3. Fine strain into martini glass. 4. Garnish with tarragon. Remarks: Alternatively,

PH factor:  8.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Finlandia vodka o 1 ounce Campari o 1 ½ ounces Lillet Rouge Garnish o orange peel Method: 1. Stir cocktail ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. 2. Strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass. 3. Express orange peel over the drink and drop it in, skin side up, for garnish. Remarks: Traditionally a Negroni would have equal amounts of all the ingredients. But we think that less Campari and mo

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Finlandia vodka o ½ ounce Drambuie o 1 dash Angostura bitters or to taste Method: 1. Stir cocktail ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. 2. Serve up in a cocktail glass. Remarks: Drambuie and bitters? See, proof positive that opposites do attract. . . .

PH factor:  10 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Finlandia Vodka o 1 ounce Blandy's 5-Year-Old Malmsey Madeira o 1 ounce Schladerer Edel-Kirsch Garnish o orange twist, optional Method: 1. Stir cocktail ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. 2. Serve up in a cocktail glass. 3. Garnish with orange twist if using. Remarks: Madeira, Edel-Kirsch, and a generous amount of vodka make a uniquely satisfying cocktail. . . .

PH factor:  9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 dash Angostura bitters o 1 teaspoon sugar o ½ blood orange wheel o 1 ounce grenadine o 2 ounces Blood Orange Infused Vodka, see: Syrups etc. Garnish o ½ blood orange wheel Method: 1. Muddle all but vodka in a cocktail shaker. 2. Add ice and vodka and shake well. 3. Strain into a martini glass. 4. Garnish with blood orange wheel. Remarks: This is the most compelling reason to date for making your o

PH factor:  9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce Flor de Caña Extra Seco rum o 1 ounce Finlandia vodka o ½ ounce Cointreau o 2 ounces cream o 4 ounces orange juice Garnish o orange wheel (optional) Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Strain into a hurricane glass. 3. Add one large ice cube. 4. Garnish with an orange wheel if using. Remarks: And now for something else that's completely different. This is a fun and tasty cockt