Rye Bar Limeaid

This is made with Filibuster Rye, Campari, fresh lime juice, and lavender simple syrup. An excellent and rye-forward drink that manages to taste like limeaid.

Champagne Napoleon

This one is rich. I recommend using Brut champagne to keep it drier. Proseco is just too sweet.

• 1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
• 1/2 oz. curacao 
• 1/2 oz. maraschino cherry liqueur 
• 4 oz. champagne

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled champagne flute. Top with champagne. 

French 75

The French 75 gets its name from the World War I field artillery pieces that were 75-mm and did not threaten German troops in their trenches. British soldiers who mixed their gin with champagne decided that this drink hits you harder than the French 75.

• 1 oz. gin
• 1/2 oz. lemon juice
• 1/2 oz. simple syrup or 1 tsp. bar sugar
• 4 oz. champagne

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled champagne flute rimmed with sugar. Top with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.

Death In The Afternoon

This drink probably gets its name from what it does to you if you have it too early in the evening. It was Ernest Hemingway's wife's favorite drink at Paris cafes. Not every cafe would have absinthe, so any French liquor would do. I choose to add only a few dashes of absinthe for the herb flavor but I keep it sweet with Chartreuse.

• 1 1/2 oz. green Chartreuse
• 4 oz. champagne 
• several dashes of absinthe

Chill green Chartreuse in the freezer or shake it on ice and strain into a chilled champagne glass. Top with champagne and add absinthe.

Elder Kir

Kirs are basically adding a liqueur to champagne. We used proseco for a sweeter sparkling wine, which was just fine. Here's how you make it:

• 1 oz. St. Germain
• 4 oz. champagne

Chill St. Germain by cooling the bottle in the freezer or shaking an ounce on ice. Pour it in a chilled champagne flute and top with chilled champagne.

Rocky Green Dragon

This smooth and floral drink will make you think you are sipping elvish liquors in Middle Earth. The soft flavors of Courvoisier mix perfectly with Chartreuse (a very medieval liqueur made by monks) to give you the impression of something enjoyed by people from another world. Here's what you need:

• 2 oz. gin
• 1 oz cognac
• 1/2 oz. green Chartreuse

Combine all ingredients in a shaker full of ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Gypsy

This is an old classic that is spiced up with newer liqueurs. Try a Gypsy made with French liquor and Old Tom style gin to get the pre-prohibition flavor of the cocktail. This is a very refreshing citrus cocktail.

• 1 1/2 oz. gin
• 3/4 oz. green Chartreuse 
• 1/2 oz. St. Germain
• 1/2 oz. lime juice

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime twist or wheel.








St. Germain is French elderflower and citrus liquor. It may taste a little bit like soap served neat, but it really takes a back seat to your gin or other spicier liquors like Chartreuse. Try it in a couple of drinks or with your champagne for a flowery kick.