PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce Grey Goose vodka o ¾ ounce Bénédictine D.O.M. o ½ ounce Schladerer Edel- Kirsch liqueur o 1 ounce fresh lemon juice o ¾ ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 2 dashes Woodford Reserve Cherry bitters or to taste Garnish o 2 Tillen Farms Merry Maraschino cherries Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve up in a cocktail glass. 3. Garnish with cherries. Remarks: We intended this cocktail to be a tribute to New York's Cherry Lane Theater. Sadly, the name Cherry Lane had already been taken for a cocktail in the early 1900s. So, for a unique name to give to our cocktail we turned instead to the theater's address. Which, by the way is: The Cherry Lane Theater 38 Commerce Street New York, NY 10014. . . .

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces Grey Goose vodka o ½ ounce Lillet Blanc o ½ ounce St. Germain liqueur o ¾ ounce grapefruit juice o ½ ounce fresh lemon juice o ¼ ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 1 slice of English cucumber o Fever-Tree Premium Club Soda Garnish o lemon wheel o cucumber ribbon o rosemary sprig Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients except soda over ice. 2. Strain into an ice-filled collins glass. 3. Top with soda. 4. Garnish with all or some of the above. Remarks: This is an excellent cocktail to enjoy in the summertime. It’s also an excellent reason to skip the salad with dinner. Shaking with cucumber and garnishing with more cucumber gives it a very vegetarian vibe. We shook ours with cucumber but didn't garnish it with more. It's up to you, of course. . . .

PH factor:  10 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o sugar o salt o 2 ounces Finlandia vodka o 4 ounces watermelon juice o 1 ounce fresh lime juice o 1 ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Garnish o wedge of watermelon Method: 1. Moisten the rim of a martini glass and invert it into a shallow dish containing a mixture of salt and sugar to coat the rim of the glass. 2. Cube and remove the seeds from enough fresh watermelon to yield 2 cups. 3. Liquify fruit in a blender. 4. Fine strain into a cocktail shaker. 5. Add ice and the remaining cocktail ingredients and shake to chill. 6. Serve up in the prepared glass. 7. Garnish with watermelon wedge. Remarks: Tens are rare because to be a Ten a cocktail must be as good as it gets in its category. Please welcome as good as it gets in the Summer Cocktail category. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Johnnie Walker Red Label scotch o 2 ounces organic apple cider o 1 ounce Earl Grey Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o ½ ounce fresh lemon juice o hot water o 3 ounces champagne or sparkling wine Garnish o lemon twist Method: 1. Stir to combine first four cocktail ingredients a mug. 2. Add hot water leaving room for wine and stir. 3. Top with champagne or sparkling wine. 4. Garnish with lemon twist. Remarks: “O well done! I commend your pains; And everyone shall share i' the gains; And now about the cauldron sing, Live elves and fairies in a ring, Enchanting all that you put in.” –Macbeth Act 4 Scene 1 . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o ¼ ounce green Chartreuse o 2 ounces Tullamore D.E.W. Irish whiskey o ½ ounce St. Germain liqueur o ½ ounce Cinnamon Thyme Syrup see: Syrups etc. o 1 dash Angostura bitters or to taste o 2 thyme sprigs Garnish o 1 thyme sprig o 1 rosemary sprig o lemon wheel Method: 1. Swirl Chartreuse to coat the inside of a cocktail glass and discard excess. 2. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 3. Strain into the prepared glass. 4. Garnish with the lemon wheel, thyme, and rosemary. Remarks: By the time we tested this we had already tested hundreds of others. Yet we both had the same reaction, “Whoa, this is different”. Enjoy. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Mount Gay Eclipse rum o ¾ ounce yellow Chartreuse o 1 ounce fresh lemon juice o ¼ ounce Honey Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 1 dash Angostura bitters or to taste o 2 ounces Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer Garnish o 1 lemon wheel o 1 mint sprig Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients except ginger beer over ice. 2. Strain into an ice-filled collins glass. 3. Top with ginger beer. 4. Garnish with lemon wheel and mint sprig. Remarks: More complicated than other cocktails that feature ginger beer. The ginger taste is still dominant. Which is why we suggest using only 2 ounces of ginger beer in this recipe. . . .

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients:       Cocktail o 1 ounce Hennessey VS cognac o ½ ounce Autumn Spiced Pear Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o ½ ounce fresh lemon juice o 1 ounce Fever-Tree Premium Club Soda o 1 ounce Fever-Tree Premium Tonic Water Garnish o lemon wheel o mint leaves and/or pear slices Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients except sodas over ice. 2. Strain into an ice-filled collins glass. 3. Add sodas. 4. Garnish with some or all of the above. Remarks: Okay, so you want something that’s not too bitter but not too sweet. Something not too strong but not insipid and you want it to taste good. Then you should definitely try this. . . .

PH factor:  9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Wray & Nephew White Overproof rum o ¼ ounce Pernod Absinthe Supérieure o 1 ounce Lime Cordial, see: Syrups etc. o ½ ounce fresh lime juice o 1 pinch of sea salt Garnish o mint sprig Method: 1. Swirl absinthe to coat the inside of an Old Fashioned glass and discard the excess. 2. Add ice to the glass and set it aside. 3. Shake remaining cocktail ingredients over ice. 4. Strain into the prepared glass. 5. Garnish with mint sprig. Remarks: Don’t forget the sea salt. A lost weekend wouldn't be complete without the taste of tears. . . .

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o kosher salt o 1 jalapeño pepper o 3 ounces Flor de Caña Extra Seco rum o 1 ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 1 ounce fresh lime juice Garnish o 2 jalapeño pepper slices o 1 lime wedge Method: 1. Moisten the rim of a cocktail glass and invert it into a shallow dish of kosher salt to coat the rim of the glass. 2. Muddle the jalapeño in a shaker. 3. Add ice and remaining cocktail ingredients and shake. 4. Strain into the prepared glass. 5. Garnish with lime and the additional pepper. Remarks: This is more interesting than your average daiquiri. Get to know your jalapeño before you muddle and adjust the amount to taste. . . .

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 teaspoon grated ginger o 2 ½ ounces Johnnie Walker Black Label scotch o splash Monte Alban mezcal o ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice o ¾ ounce Ginger Honey Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Garnish o lemon peel Method: 1. Muddle ginger in a cocktail shaker. 2. Add ice and remaining cocktail ingredients except for the mezcal and shake to chill. 3. Fine strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass. 4. Top with mezcal. 5. Garnish with lemon peel. Remarks: The classic recipe calls for a blended scotch and Laphroaig 10-Year-Old Islay single malt scotch for its smokiness. But if it’s smoky you’re after, and you don’t want to start an exotic scotch collection, try the above. . . .

PH factor: 9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 4 blackberries o 1 coin-sized piece of fresh ginger o 1 ½ ounces Crown Royal o ½ ounce Crème de Mûre o 1 ounce fresh lemon juice o 1 ounce Earl Grey Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Garnish o mint leaf o lemon wheel Method: 1. Muddle blackberries and ginger in a cocktail shaker. 2. Add ice and remaining cocktail ingredients. 3. Shake until very cold. 4. Fine strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass. 5. Garnish with mint leaf and lemon wheel. Remarks: This is a cocktail that is a pain to make. But, it's an exquisite pleasure to drink. Seldom will you find so many ingredients come together so delightfully. . . .

PH factor:  9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce 1800 Reposado tequila o 1 ounce 1800 Silver tequila o ½ ounce Ilegal mezcal o 1 ounce watermelon water o ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice o ¾ ounce Lavender Syrup, see Syrups etc. o 1 dash Hella Smoked Chili bitters or to taste o egg white Garnish o lavender sprig o lemon peel Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients without ice. 2. Add ice and shake again to chill. 3. Fine strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass. 4. Garnish with lavender sprigs and lemon peel. Remarks: Did you ever think to combine watermelon, lavender, tequila, and mezcal? In fairness, neither did we. We're glad someone did. . . .