Why, as a matter of fact I AM still alive! It’s been such a busy year and the holiday season crept up so fast. I hardly saw it coming and now it’s nearly over. I’ve been desperate to share some new, delicious drinks with you, and I need to try and fit as many in before 2025 as I can! I mean, can you BELIEVE it’s almost 2025?!?! Yea, me either. At any rate, I was delighted to be able yet again to participate in @elbandidoyankee’s12 Days of Cocktails! This year my inspiration was 4 Calling Birds. This is absolutely one of my favorite recipes I have crafted this year. And let’s be honest, there weren’t really that many. But here’s hoping you’ll give it a try as well. Cheers! Blackbird’s Bough 2 oz El Bandido Yankee Añejo tequila 1 oz Brandy @teryan_brandy 1 oz Blackberry Ginger Vanilla Syrup (homemade) 1 Dash Aromatic Bitters Lime Twist Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir until chilled then strain over one large cube of ice in a rocks glass. Express oils from lime peel over drink and then add to glass. Garnish with fresh bay leaves. Blackberry Ginger Vanilla Syrup 1 Cup Fresh Blackberries 1 Cup Granulated Sugar 1 Cup Water 1/4 Cup Sliced Fresh Ginger 1 Vanilla Bean, quartered Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Continue to simmer until mixture reduces. Remove from heat, cool, scrape out vanilla beans into syrup, strain and bottle.