Number Seven: Grasshopper Milkshake. Time to get creamy! In a blender or processor, combine one ounce each of creme de menthe and creme de cacao, plus one scoop of vanilla ice cream. Blend well, pour into a glass, and garnish with a mint leaf.
Number Six: Coffee Brandy Alexander. In a cocktail shaker, combine the following ingredients: 1 oz. fresh cream, 1 oz. cognac, 1 oz. creme de cacao, and 1 oz. iced coffee. Shake vigorously, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.
Number Five: Lychee Tom Collins. Into a food processor, dump 5 pitted and peeled lychees. Then, mix the pureed lychee with 1.5 oz. gin, 1 oz. fresh lemon juice, and 1/2 oz. simple syrup. Fill with ice, and top with sparkling water.
Number Four: Spicy Sidecar. In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, add the following: 1 oz. cognac, 3/4 oz. triple sec, 3/4 oz. lemon juice, and 1 dash of jalapeno simple syrup (made by boiling equal parts sugar and water, then steeping with one jalapeno for two hours). Shake well, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a slice of jalapeno.
Number Three: Cider Kir Royale. This one is easy! Add 1/3 oz. creme de cassis to the bottom of a champagne flute, and top with 3 oz. of hard cider. Garnish with a slice of apple to look extra fancy.
Number Two: Cranberry Pear Wild Thing. In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, muddle 4 or 5 fresh cranberries and 2 or 3 slices of pear. Add 1.5 oz. tequila and 1/2 oz. lime juice, and shake for 30 seconds. Strain over ice into an old-fashioned glass, and garnish with a slice of pear.
Number One: Orange Blossom Old Fashioned. In an old-fashioned glass, muddle the following: 1 sugar cube, 2 dashes Angostura bitters, 2 splashes of orange-flavored sparkling water, and 2 splashes of orange blossom water. Fill the same glass 2/3 of the way up with ice, add 2 oz. bourbon or rye, and garnish with a twist of orange.
