PH factor:  9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 3 blackberries fresh or frozen o 1 ½ ounces Bombay Sapphire gin o ½ ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o ½ ounce fresh orange juice o 1 double espresso chilled Garnish o orange wedge Method: 1. Muddle berries in a cocktail shaker. 2. Add ice and remaining cocktail ingredients and shake to chill. 3. Strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass. 4. Garnish with orange wedge. Remarks: We’ve tested a lot of coffee cocktails and each of them is different. This one is different too. It’s also delicious. . . .

Recipe Ingredients: o 12 ounces Mount Gay Eclipse rum o 3 15 ounce cans evaporated milk o 1 15 ounce can cream of coconut o 1 14 ounce can condensed milk o 1 broken cinnamon stick o 3 whole cloves o 2 star anise cloves o 2 dashes pure vanilla extract o Angostura bitters to taste (optional) Method: 1. Combine evaporated milk, cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise in a saucepan and gently simmer stirring occasionally for 15 minutes. 2. Let cool and strain into a blender adding rum, coconut cream and condensed milk, vanilla extract, and bitters, if using and process until thoroughly mixed. 3. Transfer mixture to container(s). Adding one cinnamon stick to each. 4. Refrigerate for 24 to 48 hours before serving. . . .

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients:       Cocktail o 1 ounce Bombay Sapphire gin o 1 ounce Plymouth Sloe Gin o ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice o 1 teaspoon Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 3-4 ounces Fever-Tree Premium Club Soda Garnish o lemon wheel Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients except soda over ice. 2. Strain into ice-filled collins glass and add soda. 3. Garnish with lemon wheel. Remarks: This is a classic cocktail. The recipe dates back to the 1880’s. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 sprig of dried rosemary or 1 teaspoon of cracked herbal rosemary o 2 ounces Johnnie Walker Black Label scotch o ½ ounce green Chartreuse o ¼ ounce Rosemary Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Method: 1. Ignite rosemary with a torch and invert a martini glass over it to capture the smoke. 2. Stir the remaining cocktail ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. 3. Serve up in the prepared glass. Remarks: We do like this cocktail, but we think it could be even better. Perhaps a little more syrup and a sprig of rosemary as a garnish would do the trick. . . .

PH factor:  8.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce Woodford Reserve bourbon o ¼ ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 1 dash Peychaud’s bitters o 1 double espresso, chilled Garnish o lemon peel Method: 1. Stir cocktail ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. 2. Strain into an iced-filled Old Fashioned glass. 3. Express lemon peel over the drink. Then rub the peel, skin side down, along the rim of the glass and discard it. Remarks: Chill your coffee first. Dilution is not your friend here. A little extra syrup might help balance the espresso’s bitterness. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Wray and Nephew White Overproof rum o 1 ounce fresh lime juice o 1 ounce Lavender Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 1-2 dashes lavender bitters Garnish o lavender sprig and lime wheel Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve up in a chilled martini glass. 3. Garnish with lavender sprig and lime wheel. Remarks: Rum, lime, and lavender, now that’s an unusual combination. But, one that results in a tasty and well-balanced cocktail. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Flor de Caña Extra Seco rum o 1 ½ ounces cranberry juice o ½ ounce fresh lime juice o ½ ounce Rosemary Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Garnish o cranberries o rosemary sprig Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass. 3. Garnish with cranberries and rosemary sprig. Remarks: This is nicely balanced between sweet and tart thanks in part to the rosemary syrup. You may be tempted to hang some mistletoe poolside in order to enjoy your Mistletoe Kisses all year-round. . . .

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2-3 ripe raspberries or 1 teaspoon raspberry jam o 1 ½ ounces Mount Gay XO rum o 3 drops Bittermens Xocolatl Mole bitters or to taste o ¾ ounce fresh lime juice o ½ ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Method: 1. Lightly muddle berries or preserves in a cocktail shaker. 2. Add ice and remaining cocktail ingredients and shake to chill. 3. Fine strain and serve up in a cocktail glass. Remarks: Muddling berries makes a tart cocktail. For a sweeter drink try the preserves. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o ½ orange slice o 1 ounce Crown Royal o 1 ½ ounces Amontillado sherry o ¼ ounce Demerara Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Method: 1. Muddle orange slice in a cocktail shaker. 2. Add ice and remaining cocktail ingredients and shake to chill. 3. Serve up in a cocktail glass. Remarks: You wanted a sherry cocktail? You got it. It tastes like sherry, some of the best sherry ever. You can of course use any rye. Somehow we felt Crown Royal was appropriate. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces Johnnie Walker Black Label scotch o 1 bar spoon Pernod Absinthe Supérieure o ½ ounce Honey Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o Martinelli's Sparkling Cider Garnish o dried apple slice Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients except cider over ice. 2. Serve up in a cocktail glass. 3. Top with cider. 4. Garnish with a dried apple slice. Remarks: Be careful with the absinthe. A scant bar spoon is plenty. When you finish the drink, don’t forget the garnish. It's delicious. . . .

PH factor:  9.5 Recipe Ingredients:       Cocktail o 2 ounces Heaven’s Door Straight Rye whiskey o ¾ ounce Ginger Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 1 ounce fresh lime juice Garnish o lime wheel Method: 1. Shake over ice. 2. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass over one large ice cube. 3. Garnish with a lime wheel. Remarks: Rye and ginger have been a wonderful combination ever since there was rye and since there was ginger. If you want to try a different cocktail with these flavors we recommend you try this one. . . .

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients:       Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces Hennessy VS cognac o ¾ ounce Plymouth Sloe Gin o ¾ ounce fresh Meyer lemon juice o 1 dash Peychaud's bitters o ½ ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Garnish o lemon twist Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass. 3. Garnish with lemon twist. Remarks: The taste of this is different, but it does grow on you. So, get comfortable. Take a sip and slow down. Regardless of what season it happens to be. . . .