Pisco Punch

Everybody needs a good Pisco Punch recipe.  Here's mine...

2 ounces Pisco
1 ounce distilled water (or otherwise purified)
3/4 ounces lemon juice
2/3 ounces pineapple syrup (1:1 sugar to fresh squeezed pineapple juice.  For an added bonus, mix in about 1 tsp of gum arabic to make it a gomme syrup)
2 dashes vanilla extract (just a few drops or sprays from your atomizer)

Now some will have you shake and strain this drink, though since we're already pre-diluting this cocktail with water, I don't find that necessary.  Instead, I like to build it over ice in a punch glass and then give it a healthy stir (around 40 rotations) to bring it down to temperature.  Really a fantastic drink.  Nice and dry and tart like any great punch.  This one goes hand in hand with the Philadelphia Fishhouse Punch.

Five to One

Here's a drink that's sort of ridiculous, but also awesome and delicious.

2 ounces scotch
1/4 ounce cynar
1/2 ounce honey syrup (1/2 honey, 1/2 water - dissolved over heat)
1/2 ounce lemon juice
6 dashes vanilla extract

Shake and strain. I like to mist the vanilla in an atomizer over the cocktail.