PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces Bombay Sapphire gin o 1 ounce Aperol o 1 ounce Lillet Blanc o 1-2 dashes Hella Citrus bitters or to taste Garnish o grapefruit wedge Method: 1. Stir cocktail ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. 2. Strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass. 3. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge. Remarks: When we originally, tested this we felt it was a little meh. The addition of bitters made quite a difference, in our very humble opinion. Now if we can just do something about the name. . . .

Recipe Ingredients: o 2 cups Everclear or other grain liquor o zest of 3 to 4 oranges (oven dried for 2 hours at 225 degrees) o 1 tablespoon caraway seeds o 1 tablespoon gentian root o 1 tablespoon whole cloves o 1 star anise o 1 tablespoon coriander Method: 1. Combine orange zest and ½ the liquor in a jar. 2. In a second jar combine the herbs and the remaining liquor. 3. After 2 to 3 days strain the solids from the orange jar. 4. After 4 to 5 days strain the solids from the second jar using a paper filter. 5. Combine liquids. For usage: Fill a small dark glass jar preferably one with an eyedropper. For storage: Place the balance in an airtight container. Seal both well and refrigerate. . . .

Recipe Ingredients: o 1 cup water o 1 cup sugar o ¼ cup ginger peeled and thinly sliced Method: 1. Combine ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. 2. Reduce heat and simmer stirring occasionally until the mixture begins to thicken. 3. Remove from heat and let cool. 4. Fine strain into an airtight container using a paper filter. 5. Seal well and refrigerate. . . .

Recipe Ingredients: o 2 teabags or 2 teaspoons of loose Earl Grey tea o 1 cup demerara sugar o 1 cup water Method: 1. Combine sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil stirring to dissolve sugar. 2. Remove from heat. 3. Add tea and steep per package instructions. 4. Strain into an airtight container using a paper filter for loose tea. 5. Let cool completely. 6. Seal well and refrigerate. . . .

Recipe Ingredients: o 1 cup brown sugar o ½ cup water o 1 ounce dark rum Method: 1. Combine sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil stirring to dissolve the sugar. 2. Reduce heat and simmer stirring until the mixture begins to thicken. 3. Remove from heat and let cool. 4. Add rum and strain into an airtight container. 5. Seal well and refrigerate. . . .

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o salted caramel sauce o kosher salt o 1 ounce Finlandia vodka o ½ ounce Kahlúa o 2 ounces chilled espresso Method: 1. Invert martini glass into a shallow dish of salted caramel sauce to coat the rim of the glass. 2. Invert caramel rimmed glass into a shallow dish of kosher salt to coat the rim of the glass. 3. Drizzle caramel sauce on the inside of the glass and briefly chill in the refrigerator. 4. Shake remaining cocktail ingredients over ice. 5. Strain into the prepared glass. Remarks: We tried this cocktail as above and liked it. We did think that the salt crystals on the caramel sauced glass was pretty but not strictly necessary. Your call. . . .

PH factor: 7.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce Fernet~Branca o ½ ounce Demerara Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 1 double espresso chilled o 1 dash orange bitters or to taste Garnish o orange twist Method: 1. Stir cocktail ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. 2. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass over one large ice cube. 3. Garnish with orange twist. Remarks: Some might think this is too bitter. However, if you are into bitter then this will be your cup of tea, er coffee. . . .

PH factor: 9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce Licor 43, Cuarenta Y Tres o 1 espresso Method: 1. Add ice and Licor 43 to a snifter or wine glass. 2. Serve with a hot espresso. 3. When ready to imbibe, pour the espresso into the glass. 4. Enjoy. Remarks: The origin of the word "carajillo" is a little hard to pin down. But as a drink it is simple and crazy good. . . .

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce Crown Royal Northern Harvest o 4 ounces hot coffee or espresso o ½ ounce maple syrup Garnish o lightly whipped cream Method: 1. Combine in a warmed mug. 2. Top with whipped cream. Remarks: In the Netflix Original movie Polar Mads Mikkelsen stops in a diner each morning for a winter coffee. In the movie he doesn't order it with whipped cream. What paid assassin would? Having no such constraints, we thought whipped cream would be a nice way to "finish off" this cocktail. . . .

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces Tullamore DEW Irish whiskey o ¾ ounce Demerara Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 4 ounces hot coffee Garnish o lightly whipped cream o grated nutmeg Method: 1. Combine cocktail ingredients in a glass mug. 2. Top with whipped cream. 3. Garnish with ground nutmeg. Remarks: This is a sweet and delicious cup of coffee. It could have been after drinking one of these that Elmer Fudd famously said, "We’re off to kill the Wabbit"? . . .

PH factor: 9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces 1800 Añejo tequila o 1 ounce Kahlúa o 1 ounce cream o 1 teaspoon brown sugar o 6 ounces strong hot coffee or 1 double espresso Garnish o whipped cream o cocoa powder Method: 1. Combine cocktail ingredients except coffee in a warmed mug and stir to dissolve the sugar. 2. Add coffee. 3. Top with whipped cream. 4. Garnish with cocoa powder. Remarks: What a great idea for a cup of coffee. . . .

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces Mount Gay XO rum o 2 ounces Modelo Negra cerveza o 2 ounces cold coffee or espresso o ¾ ounce agave nectar Garnish o lightly whipped cream o your choice of crackers. Method: 1. Combine cocktail ingredients in a mug. 2. Pour into a mixing glass and back into the mug. 3. Top with whipped cream. 4. Garnish with cookies or crackers. Remarks: Tired of the same old cup of coffee? Well, this is definitely not that. Enjoy. . . .