Country: United States 

ABV:  70 proof/35% 

Brand: Wild Roots 

Spirits Type: Flavored Vodka 

Taste: Sweet pear and tree fruit, lightly floral 

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: France 

ABV: 40 proof/20% 

Brand: Drillaud 

Spirits Style: Herbal, Spice, and Floral 

Taste: Floral with hints of pear and spice 

Price Category: $ 

A favorite amongst cocktail makers, elderflower liqueur is pleasantly floral and sweet, reminiscent of clover honey.  Its familiar flavor makes it easy for the palate to accept while enhancing other flavors in a cocktail. 

70%- 80% Brix 

Made with lemon peels and sugar macerating together to extract the oil from the peels.  This results in a lightly lemon flavored syrup with no acidity.  Peels from the saccharum can be sugared for candied lemon peel or used in garnishes. 

To Make Lemon Oleo Saccharum 

4 oz (113 g) Fresh, Clean Lemon  

Peels 4 oz (113 g) Cane Sugar  

Combine Peels and Cane Sugar in a heavy duty resealable bag or resealable container. Muddle or massage until the oils start to release. Let it sit for 24 hours occasionally muddling or massaging every few hours. Strain out the liquid, store in an airtight container. Store peels in an airtight container. Refrigerate for longer storage. 

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. 

Incorporating olive oil into cocktails is a sleek way to add a rich, silky mouthfeel and subtle fruity or peppery aromas. Olive oil can be used by either fat-washing a spirit, shaking the oil directly into citrus-heavy sours, or gently floating drops on top of the drink.