The Veranda Cocktail

Something I whipped up tonight in the Appalachian Voodoo Research Kitchens, and I call it a "Veranda".

The secret formula is as follows:

1 oz Bourbon
0.5 oz Maple Syrup
1 oz Bärenjäger
0.5 oz apple cider

Shake well.

I garnished it with apple here strictly for visual effect, but actually, if I were to serve this in a bar, I would probably cut a smaller segment, skewer it, and let it repose in the drink. Apples begin to oxidize the moment you cut into them, and would almost certainly turn an unsightly color before the customer has finished drinking it.

A variation I could foresee would be getting cinnamon into the mix somewhere, and there's probably already a recipe out there like this with Southern Comfort in place of the Bärenjäger.

If one didn't have Bärenjäger handy, you can always make it yourself by infusing pure-grain with honey.

Lychee Martini

You can learn more than you probably ever wanted to know about the Lychee Martini by clicking here on lycheesonline.com, but here's my personal recipe straight from the JSH files:

■ 2 oz Vodka
■ 1 tsp Lime juice
■ 2 oz Lychee nectar
■ 1 tsp Cointreau

Shake gently. Garnish with one or two lychees on a skewer.

I've also heard of some people adding a little Sake to the mix, but haven't tried that myself - I must admit I am intrigued.

I first had a Lychee Martini at the great Basa Modern Vietnamese restaurant here in L-ville.