Recipe Ingredients: o 3 cups cubed watermelon o 750 milliliters of vodka or your clear spirit of choice Method: 1. Add the cubed melon to a quart-sized Mason jar then fill the jar with the spirit of your choice. 2. Tightly seal and place in a cool dark location. 3. Shake the jar first thing each morning and last thing each night. Repeating daily for four to six days. 4. When the taste is to your satisfaction, double strain into an airtight container. 5. Seal well and refrigerate. . . .

Recipe Ingredients: o 13 ½ ounces Everclear or other grain liquor o 1 teaspoon gentian root o ¼ cup cinchona bark o ¼ cup cardamom pods o ½ cup whole cloves o 6 to 8 cinnamon sticks o 2 tablespoons whole allspice o 2 cups water for dilution if necessary Method: 1. Place gentian, cinchona, and ½ the Everclear in a jar. 2. Place remaining spices and liquor in another jar. 3. Store in a cool dark place, shaking daily, for four days. 4. Strain out solids taste test and dilute if necessary. For usage: Fill a small dark glass jar preferably one with an eyedropper. For storage: Place the balance in an airtight container. Seal both well and refrigerate. . . .

Recipe Ingredients: o 1 teaspoon black pepper- corns o 1 4 inch cinnamon stick o 4 allspice berries o 4 whole cloves o 1 ½ inch piece of fresh ginger sliced o peel of 1 medium orange o 750 milliliters of Everclear or other grain liquor o 35/40 drops of gentian root extract o 1 cup water for dilution if necessary Method: 1. Combine first eight ingredients in a large jar and store in a cool dark place, shaking daily, for 4 to six days. 2. Strain solids using a paper filter. 3. Taste test and dilute if necessary. For usage: Fill a small dark glass jar preferably one with an eyedropper. For storage: Place the balance in an airtight container. Seal both well and refrigerate. . . .

Recipe Ingredients: o 8 ounces vodka o peel of 1 large lemon (no pith) o 2 tablespoons cardamom pods o 1 whole clove o 1 bay leaf o 1 pinch saffron Method: 1. Combine lemon peel and vodka in a small jar and store in a cool dark place, shaking daily, for three days. 2. Grind or crush cardamom pods and clove and break bay leaf into pieces. 3. Strain lemon from vodka and replace it with the herbs. 4. Repeat the above storage routine. 5. After three days strain the vodka, discard the solids, and add the saffron. 6. Let sit for one more day then strain the vodka using a paper filter. For usage: Fill a small dark glass jar preferably one with an eyedropper. For storage: Place the balance in an airtight container. Seal both well and refrigerate. . . .

Recipe Ingredients: o 2 ½ cups Everclear or other grain liquor o peel of 1 large orange (no pith) o ¼ cup fresh mint o 2 cardamom pods o ½ teaspoon gentian root o 1 to 2 teaspoons rose petals or other edible flower petals o 1 star anise o 3 ounces dried cherries o 1 cup water for dilution if necessary Method: 1. Combine orange peel, mint, flowers and ½ of the liquor in a small jar. 2. Combine remaining spirits and ingredients in a second jar. 3. After 2 to 3 days strain the solids from the orange jar. 4. After 4 to 5 days strain the solids from the second jar. 5. Combine and taste test diluting as necessary. For usage: Fill a small dark glass jar preferably one with an eyedropper. For storage: Place the balance in an airtight container. Seal both well and refrigerate. . . .

Recipe Ingredients: o peel of 2 lemons o ¾ cup sugar o ¾ cup water o 2 sprigs fresh rosemary o ½ cup champagne vinegar Method: 1. Combine peel and sugar and refrigerate overnight. 2. Combine the peel and sugar mixture with water in a saucepan and bring to a boil stirring to dissolve the sugar. 3. Remove from heat and let cool. 4. When cool remove lemon peel and add rosemary sprigs. 5. Cover and refrigerate for 2 days. 6. Add vinegar and continue to steep for at least one more day. 7. Strain into an airtight container. 8. Seal well and refrigerate. . . .

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o ½ ounce Hennessy VS cognac o 1 ½ ounces Lazzaroni Amaretto o 8 ounces strong hot coffee Garnish o amaretto flavored whipped cream* o ground cinnamon Method: 1. Combine cocktail ingredients in a warmed cup or mug. 2. Top with whipped cream. 3. Garnish with ground cinnamon. Remarks: This is a good, if a little sweet cocktail. If sweet is not your thing, reduce the amaretto and increase the cognac by ½ ounce each. *lightly whip cream with confectioners' sugar and a teaspoon of amaretto. . . .

PH factor: 8.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces Lazzaroni Amaretto o 8 ounces strong hot coffee Garnish o almond flavored whipped cream* o ground cinnamon Method: 1. Combine cocktail ingredients in a warmed mug or cup. 2. Top with whipped cream. 3. Garnish with ground cinnamon. Remarks: A tasty and simple caffeinated cocktail. It lacks complexity as amaretto is the only spirit. But sometimes don't you just want to keep things simple?. *When whipping the cream add either 1 teaspoon almond extract or amaretto. . . .

PH factor: 9.5 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce Ararat 5 Star Armenian brandy o ½ ounce Luxardo Maraschino o ¼ ounce Cinnamon Syrup, see: Syrups etc. o 1 double espresso Garnish o whipped cream o ground cinnamon Method: 1. Combine cocktail ingredients in a warmed cup. 2. Top with whipped cream. 3. Garnish with cinnamon. Remarks: This is a rich tasting cocktail. The Armenian brandy may be the contributing factor. . . .

PH factor: 9.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ounce Old Forrester bourbon o 4 ounces cold brew coffee o ½ ounce maple syrup o 1 ounce heavy cream Garnish o ground nutmeg Method: 1. Shake over ice. 2. Serve up in a glass mug. 3. Garnish with nutmeg. Remarks: I think of how I loved coffee milk shakes as a child and how much this cocktail reminds me of a coffee milk shake. It must be true that some things never do change. . . .

PH factor: 8.0 Recipe (Serves Two) Ingredients: Cocktail o 1 ½ ounces Remy Martin VSOP cognac o ½ ounce Grand Marnier o 1 teaspoon sugar o 1-2 whole cloves o 1 stick cinnamon o 12 ounces hot coffee Garnish o 2 strips of orange peel o 2 strips of lemon peel Method: 1. Bring cocktail ingredients except the Grand Marnier to a simmer in a small saucepan. 2. Strain into a warmed cups. 3. Top with Grand Marnier and citrus peels. Remarks: A warming and soothing drink that's meant for sharing. . . .

PH factor: 8.0 Recipe Ingredients: Cocktail o ¾ ounce Mount Gay XO rum o ¾ ounce Lazzaroni Amaretto o 4 ounces hot coffee or espresso Garnish o almond whipped cream* Method: 1. Combine cocktail ingredients in a warmed cup or mug. 2. Top with whipped cream. Remarks: This caffeinated cocktail is a very pleasant drink. The aged rum gives it welcome presence. *Add a dash of almond extract or amaretto to the cream while whipping it. . . .