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 own blood orange infused vodka. . . .

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: 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 tall and fruity cocktail would be also be fine under the midday sun. . . .

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 stuffed lychee nut. Remarks: Make lychee syrup using the recipe in Syrups etc. or use the syrup that the lychee came in after filtering it through paper. As for the stuffing of the lychee, we felt the cocktail was tasty enough without the addition of a cherry. Your call. . . .

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 ingredients over ice. 3. Strain into the prepared glass. 4. Top with whipped cream. 5. Garnish with a spiral of lemon peel. Remarks: We went for a little more lemon and a little less cream than the original recipe to better balance this excellent dessert martini. . . .

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: 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 also looks great. . . .

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. Remarks: Itchi gitchi ya ya da da. Itchi gitchi ya ya here. Mocha-choco-lata ya ya. Creole Lady Marmalade. Need we say more? . . .

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Grey Goose vodka o 1 ounce Lillet Rosé o ¼ ounce Fernet~Branca o ¼ ounce Rose Petal Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 1 dash Peychaud’s bitters Garnish o rose petals, optional Method: 1. Stir cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Strain into a cocktail glass. 3. Garnish with a rose petal or three, if using. Remarks: For those who think a that a Hanky Panky by any other name would taste the same, we suggest you try this cocktail. It will take your Hanky Panky to a completely different place. . . .

PH factor: 8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces Grey Goose vodka o 1 ounce Chambord o 1 ounce Grand Marnier o ½ ounce fresh lemon juice Garnish o lemon twist o raspberry Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve up in a chilled martini glass. 3. Garnish with a lemon peel and raspberry. Remarks: A martini that's perfect for your poolside enjoyment. Remember to wait a full 20 minutes before diving in to your next martini or at least try to. . . .

PH factor: 8.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces Grey Goose vodka o ½ ounce Chambord o 2 ounces pineapple juice Garnish o fresh raspberries or pineapple slice Method: 1. Shake over ice. 2. Serve up in a martini glass. 3. Garnish with raspberries and/or pineapple. Remarks: If you like pineapple, this drink is for you. Trying ½ ounce less pineapple juice and ½ ounce more Chambord should brighten the day of raspberry lovers everywhere. . . .

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Grey Goose vodka o 1 ½ ounces Chambord o 1 ounce Godiva White Chocolate liqueur o ¾ ounce cream Garnish o raspberries o mint sprig Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve up in a martini glass. 3. Garnish with raspberries and mint. Enjoy the kisses. Remarks: The technical descriptor for this cocktail is “Yummy”. Chambord makes the flavor of raspberry up front and personal. Godiva White Chocolate makes it sweet. If you are a garnish muncher, enjoy the fruity taste of the raspberry while you get ready for another French Kiss. . . .