PH factor: 9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Hennessey VS cognac o 1 bar spoon of Luxardo Maraschino o 1 dash Pernod Absinthe Supérieure o ¼ ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 1 dash Angostura bitters Garnish o lemon peel Method: 1. Stir to combine all but cognac in an Old Fashioned glass. 2. Add cognac and one large ice cube and stir to chill. 3. Run the lemon peel along the rim of the glass, skin side down and drop it in as a garnish. Remarks: Prior to 1870 all cocktails were a base spirit, sugar, bitters, and water. Then, Jerry Thomas was credited with improving them, henceforth and forever more, by adding another spirit to the mix. Thank you, Mr. Thomas. . . .

PH factor: 8.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Remy Martin VSOP cognac o ½ ounce Luxardo Maraschino o ¾ ounce pineapple juice o 1 dash Peychaud’s bitters or to taste Garnish o Tillen Farms Merry Maraschino cherry Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve up in a cocktail glass. 3. Garnish with a cherry. Remarks: When there’s VSOP involved, we think sophisticated. When pineapple is involved perhaps not so much. What’s the net result of this combination? A very drinkable cocktail. . . .

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o ¼ ounce Pernod Absinthe Supérieure o 2 ounces Flor de Caña Extra Seco rum o ¾ ounce Luxardo Maraschino o 1 ounce fresh lime juice o ½ ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Garnish o 1 star anise Method: 1. Swirl absinthe in chilled cocktail glass and discard the excess. 2. Shake remaining cocktail ingredients over ice. 3. Serve up in the prepared glass. 4. Garnish with star anise. Remarks: In the movie Grand Hotel, Ms. Garbo famously said, “I want to be left alone”. Perhaps to let her enjoy her drink in peace. . . .

PH factor: 8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 3 fresh cherries o 1 ½ ounces Finlandia vodka o ½ ounce Luxardo Maraschino o ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice o ¼ ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o Fever-Tree Premium Club Soda Garnish o 1 long stemmed chocolate coated cherry if possible. Method: 1. Remove the pits from several cherries and muddle the fruit in a cocktail shaker. 2. Add ice and remaining cocktail ingredients except soda and shake to chill. 3. Fine strain into an ice-filled collins glass. 4. Top with soda. 5. Serve with a cherry on top. Remarks: It's a fair amount of work but the result is a light, refreshing, and all-around pleasant drink. Perfect poolside, patio, pergola, or palapa on a hot summer day, cocktail. . . .

PH factor: 8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce Bombay Sapphire gin o 2 ½ ounces sake o 1 bar spoon Luxardo Maraschino liqueur Garnish o 1 cherry blossom Method: 1. Stir cocktail ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. 2. Serve up in a martini glass. 3. Garnish with a cherry blossom or other edible flower petals. Remarks: The Sakura is a good looking and good tasting low-ABV cocktail. . . .

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Bombay Sapphire gin o ½ ounce Lillet Blanc o ½ ounce Luxardo Maraschino o ½ ounce fresh lemon juice o ½ ounce Rose Petal Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o egg white Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients without ice. 2. Add ice and shake to chill. 3. Fine strain into an Old Fashioned glass. Remarks: We found this cocktail to be as unique as finding a white rose in winter. . . .

PH factor: 9.5 Recipe Ingredients Cocktail o sugar o ¾ ounce Boulard Calvados VSOP o ¾ ounce Bénédictine D.O.M o ¾ ounce Luxardo Maraschino o ¾ ounce fresh lime juice o 1 pinch sea salt Garnish o lemon twist Method: 1. Moisten the rim of a cocktail glass and invert it into a shallow dish of sugar to coat the rim. 2. Shake remaining cocktail ingredients over ice to chill. 3. Strain into the prepared glass. 4. Garnish with lemon twist. Remarks: Admittedly, this is an unusual combination of ingredients. The flavor of this cocktail is not easy to categorize. But no need to be uncomfortable about it. This is what happens when you start crossing borders. . . .

PH factor: 8.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o ¾ ounce Bombay gin o ½ ounce green Chartreuse o ¾ ounce Luxardo Maraschino o ¾ ounce fresh lime juice Garnish o lime peel Method: 1. Shake over ice. 2. Serve up in a cocktail glass. 3. Garnish with lime peel (optional). Remarks: Traditionally the Last Word is a drink of equal parts. However, one part of Chartreuse is more equal than one part of just about anything else so we adjusted it. You still taste the Chartreuse from the first to the last sip. So you might say it's Chartreuse that has the last word. . . .

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Grey Goose vodka o 1 ounce light Crème de Cacao o ½ ounce Luxardo Maraschino o 3 drops rose water Garnish o 1 Turkish Delight candy Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Strain into a martini glass. 3. Garnish with a piece of Turkish Delight candy. Remarks: This tastes as complex and interesting as the rose flavored candy that inspired it. . . .

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Flor de Caña Extra Seco rum o ¾ ounce Cointreau o ½ ounce Luxardo Maraschino o ¾ ounce fresh lime juice o 1 dash Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve up in a cocktail glass. Remarks: This is a tasty cocktail in a way that belies the tropical nature of its name. . . .

PH factor: 8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce Bombay gin o 1 dash Luxardo Maraschino o 1 ½ ounces grapefruit juice Method: 1. Shake over ice. 2. Serve up in a cocktail glass. Remarks: For presentation purposes you may want to fine strain this. Pink or white grapefruit are both fine taste-wise, but we do think pink looks better. . . .

PH factor: 8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Manzanilla sherry o 1 ounce Lillet Blanc o ½ ounce Luxardo Maraschino liqueur o 1 dash Hella Orange bitters or to taste Garnish o lemon twist Method: 1. Stir cocktail ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. 2. Serve up in a cocktail glass. 3. Run the lemon twist around the rim of the glass, skin side down and drop it into the drink for garnish. Remarks: The dominant taste here is the sherry. The maraschino and the Lillet add some complexity to make this a light and pleasant cocktail. . . .