PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces Kahlúa or Patrón XO Cafe o ½ ounce Godiva Chocolate liqueur o 6 ounces cold coffee Garnish o whipped cream o chocolate shavings Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients vigorously over ice. 2. Strain into a glass mug or cup. 3. Top with whipped cream. 4. Garnish with chocolate shavings. Remarks: Though they are included with like quantities, Patrón XO and Kahlúa are interchangeable. For a stronger coffee taste use the Patrón XO. Use the Kahlúa for a lighter cup of coffee. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 strawberries halved o 1 ½ ounces Godiva Chocolate liqueur o ½ ounce Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o champagne Garnish o strawberry Method: 1. Muddle strawberries in cocktail shaker. 2. Add ice and remaining cocktail ingredients except champagne and shake. 3. Pour into a martini glass. 4. Top with champagne. 5. Garnish with a strawberry. Remarks: If you love chocolate. Smooth, rich, dark, chocolate. Then stop reading this and go make one of these. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o sugar o 2 ounces Grey Goose vodka o 1 ½ ounces Plum Gekkeikan wine o ½ ounce St. Germain liqueur Garnish o 1 cracked almond Method: 1. Moisten the rim of a martini glass and invert it into a shallow dish of sugar to coat the rim of the glass. 2. Stir remaining cocktail ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. 3. Strain into the prepared glass. 4. Garnish with a cracked almond. Remarks: This is a fun drink. Fun to make and fun to drink. It's sweet and plum is the star of the show. . . .

PH factor: 8.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces Pimm’s No.1 Cup o 3 ounces Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer Garnish o lemon wheel o cucumber peel Method: 1. Stir cocktail ingredients over ice in a collins glass. 2. Garnish with lemon wheel and cucumber peel. Remarks: This cocktail shows how well ginger beer and Pimm’s Cup complement each other. Don't eschew the peel. A piece that's only three or four inches long can make a big difference in the taste of the cocktail. . . .

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail       o 2 ounces 1800 Añejo tequila o 1 ½ ounces Manzanilla sherry o ¾ ounce Pear Syrup, see: Syrups etc. Garnish o lemon twist Method: 1. Stir cocktail ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. 2. Serve up in a cocktail glass. 3. Garnish with lemon twist. Remarks: This pairing of tequila and sherry has a strong presence that is only slightly moderated by the syrup and lemon. . . .

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce Grey Goose vodka o ½ ounce Galliano liqueur o chilled double espresso o 1 ounce cream Garnish o 3 coffee beans Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve up in a martini glass. 3. Garnish with three coffee beans. Remarks: Using espresso makes this a caffeinated cocktail with a Galliano after-taste. For a sweeter, cocktail you might try 4 ounces of your favorite brewed coffee instead. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail       o 2 ounces 1800 Silver tequila o 1 ounce green Chartreuse o ¾ ounce grapefruit juice o ¾ ounce fresh lime juice Garnish o star anise Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve up in a cocktail glass. 3. Garnish with star anise. Remarks: We tweaked the original recipe considerably. After considerable testing we consider this version the best. All things considered. . . .

PH factor:  8.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail       o 1 ½ ounces 1800 Reposado tequila o 1 ounce Aperol o ½ ounce St. Germain liqueur o ¼ ounce fresh lime juice Garnish o lime twist Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve over ice in a cocktail or margarita glass. 3. Garnish with lime twist. Remarks: You could salt the rim of the glass as with a “traditional” margarita but frankly, given the Aperol and St. Germain, we think that ship has sailed. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce Blood Orange Infused Vodka, see: Syrups etc. o 1 ounce sake o 1 ounce grenadine o 1 ounce pink grapefruit juice o 1 or 2 drops of rose water o 3 ounces rosé champagne Garnish o grapefruit peel Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients except champagne over ice. 2. Serve over ice in a collins glass. 3. Top with champagne and stir once gently. 4. Garnish with grapefruit peel. Remarks: This is an exotic tasting and yet refreshing cocktail. If sake is a staple in your shumai, you will love this. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail       o 1 ½ ounces 1800 Añejo tequila o 4 ounces fresh orange juice o 1 ounce Galliano Garnish o ½ orange wheel Method: 1. Add tequila to an ice-filled collins glass. 2. Add orange juice leaving room for the Galliano. 3. Top the drink by floating Galliano over a bar spoon. 4. Garnish with ½ orange wheel. Remarks: Tequila and orange juice, now there’s a familiar combination. While this isn't as pretty as a sunrise, it is arguably tastier. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 2 ounces Grey Goose vodka o ½ ounce St. Germain liqueur o 1 ounce Pear Simple Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o ½ ounce fresh lemon juice Garnish o pear slices Method: 1. Shake cocktail ingredients over ice. 2. Serve up in a martini glass. 3. Garnish with a pear slices. Remarks: It is way too easy to drink too many of these. The spirits just seem to disappear into the fruity sweetness of it all. . . .

PH factor:  9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail       o 2 ounces Mango Infused Tequila, see: Syrups etc. o ½ ounce Cointreau o 1 ounce fresh lime juice o 1 cup fresh mango peeled o 1 teaspoon grated ginger o 1 cup ice Garnish o lime wheel or candied ginger Method: 1. Blend till smooth. 2. Serve up in a hurricane glass. 3. Garnish with a lime wheel or, for avid Tina Louise fans, a piece of candied ginger. Remarks:: Infused liquors are generally smoother and tastier than the liquor they are made with. Our mango infused tequila is no exception. . . .