• 1 sprig cilantro
• 1 teaspoon minced jalapeño pepper
• 1 1/2 ounces silver tequila
• 1/2 ounce triple sec
• 1/2 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice
• 1 ounce watermelon simple syrup*
• dash cane vinegar
• lime wedges, salt, watermelon balls, for garnish

*purée fresh watermelon; strain, discarding pulp. Measure liquid and transfer to a pot; add equal amounts of granulated sugar, place over medium heat, and cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves. Cool and refrigerate; will keep for 3 days.

Watermelon Margarita

Click image to enlarge

• 2 cups wildflower honey
• 2 qts. grapefruit juice
• 8 (16-oz.) Mason jars
• 1 (750-ml.) bottle dark rum
• 8 fresh rosemary sprigs
• 1 medium jalapeño pepper, thinly sliced

Backyard NOLA Swingers

Click image to enlarge

• 1 tablespoon butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• Dash ground cinnamon
• Dash ground nutmeg
• 2 ounces dark rum
• Boiling water

Paste Recipe Title Here

Click image to enlarge

For the Cardamom-Infused Bourbon

• 1/4 cup green cardamom pods
• 1 cup bourbon, such as Buffalo Trace

For the Cocktail

• 1 ounce Laird's 100 proof apple brandy (not Applejack)
• 1/2 ounce Cardamom-Infused bourbon
• 3/4 ounce fresh juice from 1 lemon
• 3/4 ounce honey syrup
• club soda
• lemon twist, garnish

Note: Any bourbon will work, we like Buffalo Trace since it is owned by a New Orleans native and it is priced right.

Bourbon Apple Brandy Cocktail

Click image to enlarge

• 2 cups tequila, use an inexpensive brand
• 1½ cups cranberry juice
• 1 cup orange flavored liqueur, Cointreau or Triple Sec
• 2/3 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
• fresh cranberries, picked through for garnish
• salt and lime wedge for garnish (optional)

Cranberry Margaritas With Fresh Lime

Click image to enlarge

• 1 sugar cube soaked in good quality balsamic vinegar, such as Acetum Santorini Balsamic Vinegar of Modena
• 1/2 ounce rum 
• Champagne 
• orange peel (garnish)

 Diamonds are Forever

Click image to enlarge.

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water

Simple Syrup

Click image to enlarge.

• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 cup Brandy or Bourbon
• 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 4 gratings fresh nutmeg\handful of ice

Besh's Bourbon or Brandy Milk Punch

Click image to enlarge.

• 1 1/2 ounces good quality vodka
• 1 ounce cranberry juice
• 1 ounce pomegranite juice
• lime wedges
• whole cranberries, for garnish (optional)

Christmas Cranberry and Pomegranite Cocktail

Click image to enlarge

• 1 1/2 ounces cognac
• 1/2 ounce orange curacao
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice
• 1/4 ounce maraschino liqueur.
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• lemon curl, for garnish

Brandy Crusta

Click image to enlarge.