Interesting found recipe

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100226/LIVING06/2260324/-1/living06/The-Spirit-of-Benji-Mixologists-find-inspiration-in-classics

I like the sound of the recipe at the end, but I think I'll get a non-crap vodka and infuse it myself.

Veev pt. III

1.5 oz Veev

.75 oz Domaine de Canton

juice of half lime

Fee Brother's Orange Bitters

Good, no cigar.

Add club soda (not much)

Cigar.

On a side note, did ya realize that the Domaine cap is two parts? It has a normal cap with that triangly thing glued on top.

Veev pt. II

1.5 oz Veev

1 oz North Shore vodka

juice of half lime

club soda

Fee Brothers Orange Bitters

Better, but not particularly exciting.

Veev pt. I

3/4 oz Veev Acai

3/4 oz Smirnoff Citrus

Club Soda

Juice of half lime

dashes Angostura bitters

The bitters are entirely wrong in this one.

Thatcher's Organic Cucumber Liqueur

I've been sitting on a bottle of Thatcher's Cucumber for a while, not sure what to do with it. I should have started with a flavor I'd be more comfortable with, but I guess I wanted to branch out a little.

Tonight I decided it was time to finally crack the bottle. The liqueur, by itself, tastes like a sweet cucumber; that's no surprise, but I wasn't sure if it would live up to it's billing. You could quaff this straight, if you wanted.

Straight cucumber juice isn't my style, though, so I tried it in a vodka tonic. Using 1 oz of North Shore vodka and 3/4 oz Thatcher's, along with fresh lime juice, this is an excellent drink. When the warm weather returns and I want something refreshing on the deck, I'll likely have a Thatcher's Cucumber Vodka Tonic.

Vanilla Sugar

Guest Boozaholic again:

i make a huge batch and then i use it for everything -baking, coffee (and i usually drink my coffee black, but will occasionally treat myself to some with vanilla sugar), french toast, -it's yumalicious. ~2 cups of sugar:1vanilla bean, cut and scraped. mix it all together and then put it in a container with a good lid. set aside, and shake every few days. after 2 weeks, run it through a sifter to get the larger pod particles out and break up the clumps.

Risa-Hito

Guest boozaholic Risa-san brings us her speciality:

the risa-hito is a wonderfully refreshing beverage for any season, best served over crushed ice and enjoyed with friends. -hey, i got a knack for introductions, no?

step 1: place 5-6 mint leaves in glass and cover with 2-3 tbs. of risa's vanilla sugar.

step 2: using a mortal (or pestle, i don't remember which one is the tool), gently crush the mint leaves to extract the oils. a simple syrup may be used, but the sugar has an abrasive effect on the leaves which brings out the fragrance more.

step 3: add crushed ice

step 4: squeeze the juice of 1/4 - 1/2 lime into cup

step 5: add an ounce (or two) of Patron tequila

step 6: fill the glass with seltzer water

step 7: enjoy!!

*note* -i don't actually measure anything when i make them, and i like 'em on the sweeter side.