This was a lovely cocktail that I made for my wife, a lover of rum. It was a pretty good way to use up some less than stellar champagne that was left over from New Year's.

• 10 mint leaves, muddled (plus more for garnish)
• ¾ oz fresh lime juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 2 oz aged rum
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 2 oz champagne

Directions

1. Muddle mint in shaker with lime juice.
2. Add the simple syrup, aged rum, and bitters and shake with ice.
3. Strain into glass. I used a Hawthorne strainer as well as a sieve to minimize the mint bits in the drink.
4. Top with champagne.

This was for my friend who is a ginger fiend. It definitely took some elbow grease to grate that all up. Worth it though

• 2 oz Bourbon Whiskey
• 1 oz Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Fresh Ginger, grated
• 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
• Sprig of Rosemary (for garnish)
• Candied Ginger (for garnish)

Directions

1. Grate fresh ginger in a cocktail shaker with lime
2. Add all remaining ingredients and ice to the cocktail shaker.
3. Shake and strain into a martini glass
4. Garnish with a rosemary sprig & a piece of candied ginger on the rim.