PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce Tullamore DEW Irish whiskey o 1 dash Pernod Absinthe Supérieure o ¼ ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 4 ounces coffee or espresso Garnish o 2 ounces milk frothed o 1 dash Angostura bitters or to taste Method: 1. Combine cocktail ingredients in a warmed Old Fashioned glass. 2. Top with frothed milk. 3. Garnish with bitters. Remarks: The Limerick Latte is a frothy and sweet caffeinated cocktail. Just a dash of absinthe makes itself felt. If you like sambuca with your coffee, try it instead. We suspect you’ll like it. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 mint leaves o ½ ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 1 ½ ounces Quiet Man Irish whiskey o 1 ½ ounces Stella Artois Cidre o ½ ounce fresh lime juice Garnish o mint sprig Method: 1. Muddle two mint leaves and syrup in a cocktail shaker. 2. Add ice and remaining cocktail ingredients except the cidre and shake to chill. 3. Serve over ice in a collins glass. 4. Top with Stella Artois and stir gently. 5. Garnish with mint sprig. Remarks: This puts an apple cider tasting cocktail on your poolside menu and keeps it there all the way to apple pickin’ time. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce Bombay gin o 1 ounce Monte Alban mezcal o ½ ounce St. Germain liqueur o 1 ounce pineapple juice o ½ ounce fresh lemon juice o 1 dash Angostura bitters o ¼ ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients except bitters over ice. 2. Serve up in a cocktail glass. 3. Top with bitters. Remarks: This drink is named for the 1990 documentary by Jennie Livingston of the “Golden Age” of New York City’s drag balls. Selected for preservation by the Library of Congress and available for streaming on Amazon Prime. . . .

PH factor:  9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail       o 1 ½ ounces 1800 Añejo tequila o 1 ½ ounces Pear Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o ½ ounce fresh lime juice o ¼ ounce fresh lemon juice o ½ teaspoon chopped cilantro Garnish o cilantro sprig Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Pour contents directly into a double Old Fashioned glass. 3. Garnish with cilantro sprig. Remarks: This "margarita" scored off the charts for originality. The pear and cilantro combination is both refreshing and unique. We know the world is divided on the issue of cilantro. If you are in Camp No, Not, Never, then this drink is definitely not for you. . . .

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 coin-sized slices of fresh ginger o 2 ounces Fernet~Branca o 1 ounce fresh lime juice o 1 ounce Cinnamon Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Garnish o dried apple slice o cinnamon Method: 1. Muddle ginger in a cocktail shaker. 2. Add ice and remaining cocktail ingredients and shake to chill. 3. Fine strain into a teacup or Old Fashioned glass. 4. Garnish with cinnamon and dried apple slice. Remarks: Yes, we have accused more than one cocktail of being “different”. But trust us this cocktail is guilty as charged. . . .

PH factor:  8.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces Ararat 5 Star Armenian brandy o ¾ ounce green Chartreuse o 1 teaspoon Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o ¾ ounce fresh lime juice o Fever-Tree Premium Club Soda Garnish o lime wheel Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients except soda over ice. 2. Serve over ice in a collins glass. 3. Top with soda. 4. Stir once gently. 5. Garnish with lime wheel. Remarks: This follows the daisy formula but is very different from the Brandy Daisy Cocktail. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients:       Cocktail o 2 ounces Bombay Sapphire gin o 1 ounce Star Anise Spiced Pear Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 1 ounce fresh lemon juice o egg white o 2 ounces Fever-Tree Premium Club Soda Garnish o 2 star anise cloves Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients except soda without ice. 2. Add ice and shake again. 3. Fine strain into a martini glass. 4. Add soda. 5. Garnish with star anise. Remarks: The anise flavor of the Spiced Pear Syrup and the fresh lemon juice make this an unforgettable cocktail. . . .

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces Hennessey VS cognac o ½ ounce Lillet Blanc o ½ ounce St. Germain liqueur o ½ ounce fresh lemon juice o 1 egg yolk o ½ ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 1 star anise Garnish o 1 star anise Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients without ice. 2. Add ice and shake again. 3. Double strain into a martini glass. 4. Garnish with star anise. Remarks: This cocktail is both subtle and unusual. It could become your holiday favorite. It is ours. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces Flor de Caña Extra Seco rum o ¾ ounce Plymouth Sloe Gin o ½ ounce fresh lemon juice o 1 dash Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 5 mint leaves smacked* Garnish o mint sprig Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Strain into a cocktail glass. 3. Garnish with a mint sprig. Remarks: *Stack the mint leaves and fold them into a package. Place the package in the palm of your hand and smack it. This will help release the essential oils without the debris associated with muddling. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Johnnie Walker Red Label scotch o 1 ounce fresh lemon juice o 1 ounce Honey Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o egg white Garnish o Johnnie Walker Blue Label scotch Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients without ice. 2. Add ice and shake again to chill. 3. Fine strain into a cocktail glass. 4. Garnish with 5 drops of scotch. Remarks: Thanks to the egg white this is smoother and creamier than most scotch cocktails. Feel free to use any peaty scotch as the garnish. . . .

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients:       Cocktail o 1 tablespoon blueberries o 2 ounces Hennessey VS cognac o 1 dash Hella Citrus bitters o 1 dash Angostura bitters o 1 tablespoon Rosemary Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Garnish o rosemary sprig Method: 1.     Muddle blueberries in a cocktail shaker. 2.     Add ice and remaining cocktail ingredients and shake to chill. 3.     Double strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass. 4. Garnish with rosemary. Remarks: This cocktail demands some effort it’s true. However there's a return on that investment. It's an enjoyable way to get your RDA of cognac. . . .

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Johnnie Walker Black Label scotch o ¼ ounce Pierre Farrand Dry Curaçao o 2 dashes Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 1 teaspoon orange marmalade Garnish o lemon peel (optional). Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Double strain into an Old Fashioned glass filled with cracked ice. 3. Garnish with lemon peel if using. Remarks: Tastes a bit like a homemade Southern Comfort or perhaps like a sweet Old Fashioned. In other words, not bad. Not bad at all. . . .