I know what you’re thinking, and I don’t blame you, but no, Mr. Booze has not been to any raves, discos or trendy, black-wearing bars knockin’ back sweet, tart drinks made for punks and the gals who love them. This cocktail comes straight out of a book almost 40 years old. Who knows, maybe this is the one that started the downfall but what can I say…she drinks well and there’s some serious booze in this one. Try it.

Here we go –

• 1 oz Light or White Rum
• 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
• 1 tsp. Apricot Brandy
• 2 dashes Grenadine
• 1 tsp. Lemon juice

Shake all the above with cracked ice in a shaker ‘til ice-cold, strain into a cocktail glass with an apple wedge as garnish.

I wanted one of these ever since I saw Michael and Fredo Corleone knocking them back in Havana in The Godfather, part II. I look at this one as a fun drink with cinematic history. It’s a pretty little Cuban cocktail that you can’t drink many of, the sweet will back up on you, but, with a buddy or another couple, in a shady spot on a summer’s day, why the hell not?

Here we go –

• 2 oz Light or White Rum
• ½ oz Banana liquor
• ½ oz lime juice
• ½ small banana, cut into pieces
• ½ cup crushed ice

Blend it all up in a blender ‘til its smooth, serve in champagne or cocktail glass then take your brother out fishing in the lake behind your house.

This is just a nice, simple, summer sipper. A good cocktail to sip on at night, when you’re grilling. Very refreshing and a quick mix.

Here we go –

• 1 ½ oz Light or White Rum
• ½ tsp of powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• ½ tsp of Grenadine
• Club soda

Combine all ingredients except club soda in a shaker with ice, shake ‘til cold. Pour with ice into a hi-ball glass, fill to top with Club Soda and put out that fire.

What the hell is Mr. Booze doing? The last time I drank Grog, my kids woke me up at 7 the next a.m. out back on my slate patio. For some reason, I failed to make it upstairs to the bedroom, or even inside for that matter. Oh well, I guess I like raccoons.

Watch yourself with this one. In moderation…and with your friends’ car keys hidden ahead of time like an easter egg, I suppose one or two Grogs won’t kill you. They can even be kind of fun.

Here we go –

• 2 ½ oz Dark Rum
• 1 sugar cube or a tablespoon of brown sugar
• 3 cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• slice lemon
• boiling water

Place all the ingredients except the boiling water into an 8 oz mug, stir to dissolve the sugar, leaving the spoon in the mug, add the boiling water to fill, stir. Try and learn some pirate songs ahead of time, and you’ll be the life of the party by the second grog.

This is a great drink to drink down before sledding with the kids. I’ve even had two if I’m planning on falling off the sled and just laying there in the snow…not getting up…looking at the stars…all while other sleds whized by dangerously close to my head. This drink can only be consumed if the mercury dips below 30 and you somehow want to enjoy yourself.

Here we go –

• 2 ½ oz Dark Rum
• 1 twist of lemon peel
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 cloves
• apple cider
• 1 tablespoon butter
• nutmeg

Put rum, lemon peel, cinnamon, and cloves in a big ole’ mug. Heat the cider to near boiling and pour into the spiced rum, add butter and stir. Put on your gloves and your hat, ya fool…you’ll catch your death of cold.

I’ll just go ahead and warn you, this classic American cocktail requires a little bit of building, so if you think you and your guest may want a second or fourth, I suggest the pitcher. Just multiply my recipe by 8 and you should be all set. They’re delicious and make the summer a little less hot.

Here we go –

• 3 oz Rum
• 3 tablespoons Limejuice
• 2 tablespoons powdered or confection sugar
• 3 dashes Bitters
• Club Soda

In a separate glass mix sugar and limejuice ‘til sugar’s dissolved.

Fill a hi-ball glass 2/3rds of the way with crushed ice add the lime/sugar mix, rum and bitters and stir. Fill the rest of the glass up with club soda, stir lightly to mix. Dust with a little extra powdered sugar. Garnish with an orange slice, a pineapple spear and a cherry.

Yum.