Cool Cocktails

Honey I Dew

Fill an ice-filled shaker with 3 oz. light rum, juice from 1 lime, and 3 oz. liquid honey (a blend of equal parts honey and water). Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with one melon-baller scoop of honeydew and a ball of cantaloupe skewered on a toothpick.

Cinna-Hon

Rim a margarita glass with cinnamon and sugar. In an ice-filled shaker, mix 5 oz. vodka, 4 oz. chilled mulled cider, 1 oz. Calvados, and a splash of cinnamon syrup. (To make the syrup, combine equal parts water and water sugar with a pinch of cinnamon, heated to blend.) Shake and strain into glass.

Sweet Tart

In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, combine 1 ½ oz. lemon-flavored vodka, 2 oz. fresh orange juice, ½ oz. fresh lemon juice, and ½ oz. simple syrup. Shake well. Then strain into a goblet over ice. Gently add 1 oz. fresh blackberry juice (strained, pureed berries) in a thin, steady stream. Garnish with an orange slice.

Lovers' Brew

Combine 1 oz. Godiva Black liqueur, 1 oz. pisco brandy, 2 oz. hot water, ½ oz. heavy cream, and 2 oz. hot coffee into a cocktail shaker and stir. Pour into a glass mug with red-sugared rim (if desired) or a coffee cup. Serve with chocolate-covered coffee beans.

Orange Crush

Cut 1 lime into small wedges. Toss wedges into a small glass tumbler with sugar. Crush the lime and sugar together. Pack the tumbler with ice, then add 3 oz. orange-flavored liqueur Aperol. Stir and top off with more ice. Garnish with a lime.

Bride's Bouquet

Warm 2 oz. vodka over low heat. Add a few sprigs of lavender and stir. Chill mixture; strain into a cocktail shaker. Add 4 oz. vodka, 1 oz. Triple Sec, 1 oz. simple syrup, a few splashes of fresh lemon juice, and ice cubes. Shake and strain into a tumbler over a combination of plain and lavender-flavored ice cubes. (For lavender ice cubes, place lavender in ice trays, fill with water, and freeze.)

The Aphrodisiac

In a chilled champagne flute, combine ½ oz. grenadine and 1 oz. chilled soft red wine (such as Pinot Noir or Beaujolais). Top with 6 oz. sparkling wine. Serve alongside white chocolate-dipped strawberries.