PH factor: 8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o ¼ ounce Pernod Absinthe Supérieure o 2 ounces 1800 Silver tequila o ¾ ounce light Crème de Cacao o ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice Garnish o lemon peel Method: 1. Swirl absinthe to coat the inside of a chilled cocktail glass and discard the excess. 2. Shake remaining cocktail ingredients over ice. 3. Serve up in the prepared glass. 4. Garnish with lemon peel. Remarks: The taste of this cocktail is not easy t

PH factor: 8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce Flor de Caña Extra Seco rum o 1 ounce 1800 Añejo tequila o 2 ½ ounces pineapple juice o 1 ounce grapefruit juice o ½ ounce agave syrup Garnish o Tillen Farms Merry Maraschino cherry o pineapple wedge Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve up in a chilled cocktail glass. 3. Garnish with a cherry and a pineapple wedge. Remarks: This tastes the way you would expect it to taste. Summer

PH factor: 8.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces 1800 Añejo tequila o ¾ ounce Bénédictine D.O.M. o 2 ounces fresh orange juice Method: 1. Shake over ice. 2. Serve over ice in a collins glass. Remarks: Sweet and citrusy up front but with an interesting something going on in the background. . . .

PH factor: 10 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces 1800 Silver tequila o ½ ounce Chambord o 1 ounce light Crème de Cacao o 1 ounce cream Garnish o sliced strawberry Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass. 3. Garnish with sliced strawberries. Remarks: We debated the rating of this creamy confection. Then we decided if your first reaction is, “Wow, that’s a ten.” Then perhaps it should rate a

PH factor: 8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce 1800 Silver tequila o 1 ounce Campari o 2 ounces grapefruit juice o ½ ounce fresh lime juice Garnish o lime twist Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve up in a cocktail glass. 3. Garnish with a lime twist. Remarks: The recipe is attributed to Tami Lax of the Madison Wisconsin Harvest Restaurant. . . .

PH factor: 9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces 1800 Añejo tequila o ¼ ounce Licor 43, Cuarenta y Tres o ½ ounce Lillet Rouge o 1 dash Angostura bitters o 1 dash orange bitters Garnish o Tillen Farms Merry Maraschino cherry wrapped in salami Method: 1. Stir cocktail ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. 2. Strain into a martini glass. 3. Garnish with the salami wrapped cherry. Remarks: Yes, the salami wrapped cherry. . . .

PH factor: 8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces 1800 Reposado tequila o 1 ounce Aperol o ½ ounce St. Germain liqueur o ¼ ounce fresh lime juice Garnish o lime twist Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve over ice in a cocktail or margarita glass. 3. Garnish with lime twist. Remarks: You could salt the rim of the glass as with a “traditional” margarita but frankly, given the Aperol and St. Germain, we think that ship has sa

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o salt o 2 ounces 1800 Silver tequila o 1 ounce Cointreau o 2 ounces blood orange juice o ¾ ounce fresh lime juice o ¾ ounce agave nectar o 1 dash Hella Orange bitters Method: 1. Moisten rim of a cocktail glass and invert it into a shallow dish of salt to coat the rim of the glass. 2. Shake remaining cocktail ingredients over ice. 3. Strain into the prepared glass. Remarks: A margarita of a different co

PH factor: 8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o lime zest o salt o 1 ½ ounces 1800 Silver tequila o ¾ ounce blue Curaçao o 1 ½ ounces fresh lemon juice o ½ ounce agave syrup Garnish o lime wheel Method: 1. Moisten rim of a martini or margarita glass and invert the glass into a shallow dish containing a mixture of lime zest and salt to coat the rim of the glass. 2. Shake remaining cocktail ingredients over ice. 3. Strain into prepared glass. 4. G

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce 1800 Silver tequila o ¾ ounce Galliano o ½ ounce Cointreau o 1 teaspoon Rose’s Sweetened Lime Juice o 3 ounces fresh orange juice o 1 egg yolk Garnish o ½ lime wheel o Tillen Farms Merry Maraschino cherry Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients without ice. 2. Add ice and shake again. 3. Fine strain into a collins glass filled with ice. 4. Garnish with lime and cherry. Remarks: This is a

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ¼ ounces Ilegal mezcal o ¾ ounce 1800 Silver tequila o 1 ounce fresh lime juice o ¾ ounce Chai Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o pinch of sea salt Garnish o 2 star anise pods Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice until very cold. 2. Strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass. 3. Garnish with star anise. Remarks: The Chai Mezcalita is a very flavorful cocktail and it is not just for mezcal lovers. T

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces 1800 Añejo tequila o ¾ ounce pumpkin puree o ½ ounce condensed milk o 1 dash Angostura bitters or to taste o 1 pinch cinnamon Garnish o mint sprig or whipped cream and cinnamon Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve up in a cocktail glass. 3. Garnish with mint sprig or top with whipped cream and dust with cinnamon. Remarks: This cocktail would be good anytime. However, if th

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Clase Azul Reposado tequila o ¾ ounce Southern Comfort o ¼ ounce Monte Alban mezcal o 1 ounce fresh lemon juice o ½ ounce agave nectar Garnish o peach slice and lemon wheel Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve over ice in a cocktail glass. 3. Garnish with peach slice and/or lemon wheel. Remarks: This is an appropriate pairing since tequila and mezcal are as related as can be.

PH factor: 9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ¼ ounces 1800 Reposado tequila o ¾ ounce Schladerer Edel-Kirsch o ¾ ounce Lillet Rouge o ¾ ounce fresh orange juice o 1 dash Hella Smoked Chili bitters or to taste o 1 bar spoon Ilegal mezcal Garnish o Tillen Farms Merry Maraschino cherry Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients except mezcal over ice. 2. Strain into an ice-filled double Old Fashioned glass. 3. Float mezcal on top. 4. Garnish with a

PH factor: 8.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ½ ounces 1800 Silver tequila o ½ ounce Lillet Blanc o 1 splash olive brine o 1 dash Angostura bitters Garnish o 3 olives Method: 1. Stir cocktail ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. 2. Strain into a martini glass. 3. Garnish with olives. Remarks: The key to making any dirty martini is first use “top-shelf” liquors and liqueurs. Then add olive brine to lightly flavor it. Many bartenders tend to a

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces 1800 Reposado tequila o ¾ ounce Blandy's 5-Year-Old Malmsey Madeira o ¾ ounce Manzanilla sherry o ½ ounce Luxardo maraschino 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: Although this cocktail definitely tastes of Madeira and sherry, it is sufficiently fortified to never be confused with an afterno

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces 1800 Silver tequila o 1 ounce green Chartreuse o ¾ ounce grapefruit juice o ¾ ounce fresh lime juice Garnish o star anise Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve up in a cocktail glass. 3. Garnish with star anise. Remarks: We tweaked the original recipe considerably. After considerable testing we consider this version the best. All things considered. . . .

PH factor: 9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o sugar o 2 ounces 1800 Reposado tequila o 1 ounce Hennessy VS cognac o 1 ounce Cointreau o ½ ounce fresh lime juice o 1 tablespoon agave nectar Garnish o lime wedges Method: 1. Moisten the rim of a cocktail glass with lime juice and invert it into a shallow dish of sugar to coat the rim of the glass. 2. Shake remaining cocktail ingredients over ice. 3. Serve up in the prepared glass. 4. Garnish with lime w

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 slice fresh ginger o 2 ounces 1800 Silver tequila o 1 ounce yellow Chartreuse o ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice o ¼ ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Garnish o basil leaf o Angostura bitters Method: 1. Muddle ginger in a cocktail shaker. 2. Add ice and remaining cocktail ingredients and shake to chill. 3. Fine strain into a cocktail glass. 4. Garnish with fresh basil leaf and a dash of Angostura

PH factor: 8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Clase Azul Reposado tequila o ½ ounce fresh lime juice o 3 ounces Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer o ½ ounce Crème de Cassis Garnish o lime wheel Method: 1. Combine tequila and lime in an ice-filled collins glass and stir. 2. Top with ginger beer. 3. Float the Crème de Cassis on top of the drink. 4. Garnish with lime wedge. Remarks: Published as the Mexican El Diablo in “Trader Vic’s Book of F

PH factor: 8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces 1800 Reposado tequila o ½ ounce Ilegal mezcal o ½ ounce Galliano liqueur o ½ ounce agave nectar o 1 dash Hella Citrus bitters o 1 dash Peychaud’s bitters Garnish o lemon twist Method: 1. Add cocktail ingredients to an Old Fashioned glass. 2. Add ice and stir to chill. 3. Garnish with lemon twist. Remarks: An interesting combination of flavors. The taste of Galliano dominates and with the agav

PH factor: 9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 sage sprig o 2 ounces 1800 Reposado tequila o ¾ ounce Amontillado sherry o ¾ ounce pineapple juice o ½ ounce fresh lime juice o ½ ounce agave nectar o 1 dash Hella Citrus bitters or to taste Garnish o grapefruit peel, optionally flamed Method: 1. Muddle sage in a cocktail shaker. 2. Add ice and remaining cocktail ingredients and shake to chill. 3. Fine strain into a martini glass. 4. Garni

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o ¼ ounce Pernod Absinthe Supérieure o 2 ounces 1800 Añejo tequila o ½ ounce light Crème de Cacao o 1 dash Angostura bitters or to taste Garnish o orange twist Method: 1. Swirl absinthe in chilled cocktail glass and discard the excess. 2. Stir remaining cocktail ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. 3. Strain into the prepared glass. 4. Garnish with orange twist. Remarks: We were a little divided on

PH factor: 10 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces 1800 Añejo tequila o ½ ounce Pimm’s No.1 Cup o ½ ounce Licor 43, Cuarenta y Tres o 1 ounce fresh lime juice o 1 ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 2-3 drops Bittermens Xocolatl Mole bitters o 12 ounces Modelo Negra cerveza Garnish o mint leaves Method: 1. Shake all but cerveza over ice. 2. Pour into in an ice-filled Belgian beer glass. 3. Top with cerveza. 4. Garnish with mint leav