Country: United States 

ABV:  80 proof/40%  

Brand: Christian Bros 

Spirits Type: Brandy & Cognac 

Taste: Vanilla, Caramel and a Dried fruit finish 

Price Category: $

Country: Canada 

ABV:  66 proof/33% 

Brand: Sazerac Company 

Spirits Type:  Flavored Whisky 

Taste: Sweet, Full-bodied spices and deep cinnamon, whisky warmth 

Price Category: $ 

A blended Canadian whisky with sweeteners and cinnamon flavoring added to produce a syrupy sweet and bright cinnamon flavor.

An emulsified syrup of honey, vanilla and butter for a rich, thick and creamy flavor and texture.  Fashioned for a lot of Tiki-style cocktails, emulsifications such as these allow for rich-flavored cocktails poured over shaved ice.  

1 oz (30 mL) Honey  

1 oz (30 mL) Warm Vanilla Rich Simple Syrup  

1 oz (30 mL) Butter  

Bar spoon Vanilla  

In a mixer or blender, combine 1 part honey and 1 part warm vanilla simple syrup.  Gradually add 1 part cold butter until it is emulsified, then continue to blend while pouring in vanilla extract.  Store in a squeeze bottle in the refrigerator.  Allow to come to room temperature for ease of use.

An already well balanced and flavorful drink, using chai tea concentrate in a cocktail is an easy way to add a lot of flavor without losing too much of the spirit that you mix it with. 

To Make Chai Tea Concentrate:  

1  1 inch knob of fresh ginger 

2  Ceylon Cinnamon Sticks 

1  Star Anise 

5  Cloves 

7  Green Cardamom Pods 

10 Black Peppercorns 

.25 tsp Coriander Seeds 

.25 tsp freshly grated nutmeg 

5  Cups of Water 

5 tsp Loose Leaf Black Tea 

In a mixing glass, crush fresh ginger with a muddler.  Add Cinnamon, Anise, Clove, Cardamom, Peppercorns, and Coriander Seeds.  Crush with muddler to release oils, using a microplane, grate nutmeg into the spice mixture.  Transfer spices to a 2.5 quart pot and toast spices on medium until they become fragrant.  Add 5 cups of water and bring to a light boil.  Allow to boil for 3-5 minutes, reduce heat and simmer for 15- 30 minutes.  Allow to cool to room temperature and add the black tea, stir to incorporate and cold-brew the tea for 3-4 hours up to 24 hours.  Fine strain  the concentrate into a sanitized bottle or jar and store in the refrigerator up to one week. 

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.