Shake 3 ounces of Vanilla Vodka with half an ounce each of Dry Vermouth and Cointreau with crushed ice and pour in a cocktail glass. Vanilla beans would be a good garnish (but I did not have them). Soft, sweet and flavorful cocktail.

This is equal parts Benedictine DOM and Brandy. Mix them in a snifter – with or without rocks.

This is 1.5 oz of Rye Whiskey (I used Templeton), 0.5 oz of Mezcal (used Casamigos), Bitters, 0.25 oz of Elderflower Liqueur (used St. Germaine) and 0.25 oz of Aperol. Stir all these with ice (do not shake) and pour in a cocktail glass.

If yesterday’s drink was all nose and length, today’s is all about the palate. First to hit is the Elderflower liqueur’s sweet taste but give it a few seconds and the Aperol and Bitters (bitter) taste come roaring forward.

After that thorough soaking I got while riding the motorbike, I needed a drink on the stiffer side. On a whimsy, decided on Barkeep’s Whimsy. (that and the hottub got me out of my shivers).

Rinse a cocktail glass with some absinthe (of course, the inside of the glass 🙂 ) and then throw away the excess. Now, mix 1 1/2 oz of mezcal (I used Casamigos), 3/4 oz of Genever (I used Boomsma) and 2/4 oz of Apricot Brandy with ice for about half a minute and then strain it in the rinsed cocktail glass.

Technically, one is supposed to use a lemon twist as a garnish. I did not. I did not see the connection at all. The citrus would have no effect in a cocktail with such a strong nose.

The nose was all of the sweet absinthe but length was all earthy, petrichor vapors of mezcal. The palette was fairly bland.