Country: Dominican Republic 

ABV:  42 proof/21% 

Brand: Chinola 

Spirits Type: Liqueurs/Cordials/Schnapps 

Taste: Fruit, Floral, Mango muskiness 

Price Category: $ 

Country: Italy 

ABV:  40 proof/20% 

Brand: Apertivo Brand 

Spirits Type: Amaro/Aperitif & Vermouth 

Taste:  Balanced, Candied Citrus Peel, Spicy, Floral, Herbal Bittersweet 

Price Category: $$ 

Bergamont and Sicilian citron peel essential oils are released via a cold press method called "sfumatura".  They are then macerated with a number of other essential oils, floral herbs and spices and blended with a neutral Italian spirit.  It is filtered and then fortified with unrefined sugar and water.  This process results is a delicious blend of complex flavors that makes this spirit almost a wild card of flavors when mixing with other spirits.  Floral, herbal, sweet and bitter, and this spirit has a pleasant and citrusy lingering flavor due to the use of essential oils.  

Country: Italy 

ABV:  40 proof/20% 

Brand: Cappelletti 

Spirits Type: Amaro, Aperitif & Vermouth 

Taste: Bold Smoke, Kitchen Spices, Intense Savory Herbs 

Price Category: $ 

"Rubabaro", meaning, rhubarb, and "fumo" meaning smoke.  This can be characterized almost as Mezcal's bitter cousin.  Smoky, woodsy, and berry notes much like mezcal, but far more bitter and deeper and the smokiness is more round, vegetal and savory than the biting, citrus smoke of Mezcal.  Much like Mezcal, delicious with tropical fruits and citrus. 

0.5% - 1.2% Acidity 

Our preference is fresh pressed, but pure blood orange juice is widely available in the market.  Blood orange juice is sweeter and less acidic than standard orange juice and has a light floral taste with berry undertones.  Cara Cara oranges can be used as a substitute.  

Vanilla Simple Syrup adds a recognizable tropical floral sweetness that is buttery, light and brings out the sweetness of other flavors.  It can easily be made by adding White Mexican Vanilla  into simple syrup. 

To Make Vanilla Simple Syrup: 

4 oz (120mL) Water 

.5 cup (200g) Organic Cane Sugar 

.5 oz (15mL) White Mexican Vanilla 

In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add sugar and remove from heat, stir until sugar is dissolved. Once dissolved, stir in vanilla. Cool to room temperature and pour into a syrup bottle. 

Salt/Saline is a great flavor booster.  It can balance sweetness and bitterness, smoothing out a cocktail.  It can also enhance citrus flavor and acidity without the need for more acid. 

A pinch of salt can be added to the cocktail, but for consistency, saline is easy to make and allows more control.  

To Make It:  

2 oz (60mL) Distilled or Purified Water 

1 Tbsp (15g) Fine Sea Salt 

Combine in a jar and shake vigorously.  Once salt is dissolved, pour into a dropper bottle. 

A fun way to suspend color and flavor on top of a drink.  Mint Oil provides an aromatic, textural, and flavor enhancement a top almost any cocktail.  

4 oz Fresh Mint 

4 oz Neutral liquid oil like liquid coconut oil 

Prepare an ice bath in a medium sized bowl and set aside.  Fill a small saucepan 75% full of water.  Bring to a boil.  Drop fresh, cleaned mint into the boiling water for 1 minute, strain out of boiling water and immediately plunge into ice bath.  Strain out of ice bath and set onto clean cotton or linen towel.  Press to remove excess water then place into a blender with 4 oz of liquid coconut oil.  Blend until liquified and pour into a glass jar, seal and store in a dark place for 24 hours.   Using a coffee filter, strain out green mint oil into a clean and dry dropper bottle.  Store in a cool, dark place. 

Country: Trinidad and Tobago 

ABV: 90 proof/45%  

Brand: House of Angostura 

Spirits Bitters 

Taste: Citrus, Baking Spices and Vanilla 

Price Category:  

Awards: Medal at 1873 Vienna World's Fair 

Flavored with several herbs and spices provided a concentration of pie-spice flavors brought out by the bitterness made with gentian root.  The caramel color is an additive.  

Adds more visual "drama" than flavor unless you take your time with the drink, then you will enjoy additional light floral notes.  

8 oz (240mL) Boiling Water 

1 Tbs (15g) Earl Grey Tea (3 bags) 

2 oz (60mL) Sweetener of choice 

4 oz (120mL) Fresh Lemon Juice 

1 capsule (5g) Activated Charcoal 

Steep 1 Tbs (15g) Earl Grey Tea (3 bags) in 8 oz (240mL) Boiling Water 

 for 5- 8 minutes.  Strain out tea; allow to cool to room temperature; stir in 2 oz (60mL) Sweetener of choice, 4 oz (120mL) Fresh Lemon Juice, and 1 capsule (5g) Activated Charcoal.  Pour into molds.  Freeze for 12-24 hours