Friday for many means the beginning of the weekend. As 5 o’clock approaches one becomes more and more excited waiting patiently for what’s to come…fun, gatherings, relaxation, cocktails and anything else you may enjoy on the weekend.

I know on those rare occasions I have off on the weekend I jump for joy, because I know they don’t come along very often. The weekends are my time to unwind, relax, and reboot from all the activity of the week.  I treasure my weekends off and make it a point to savor every moment I have off.

For those of you lucky enough to have the weekend off, one AWESOME, and two I have a few cocktails you just may want to enjoy. These cocktails are named after some pretty fantastic women: the iconic fashion designer Coco Chanel, the sassy curvaceous blonde Mae West, the beautiful and alluring Marilyn Monroe, just to name a few.

COCO CHANEL
1/2 oz. white chocolate sauce
1/2  oz. creme de cacao
1/2 oz. ginger liqueur
1/2 oz. cognac
1/2 oz. heavy cream
1/2 oz. milk
white chocolate powder to garnish

Shake all ingredients and pour into a martini glass dusted with white chocolate powder.

JOAN JETT
3 wedges of lime
2 oz. rum
splash of cola

Squeeze lime wedges into a highball glass, discarding the pieces.  Build rum and cola over ice.

JANIS JOPLIN
1 oz. Southern Comfort
1 oz. Lillet Blanco
1/2 oz. peach liqueur
3 drops of peach bitters
twist of lemon to garnish

Shake and strain all ingredients into an old-fashioned glass over ice.  Garnish with a lemon twist.

MAE WEST
1 oz. rum
1/2 oz. amaretto
1/2 oz. blackberry liqueur
1 1/2 oz. pineapple juice
2 cherries to garnish

Shake and strain all ingredients into a highball glass.  Garnish with 2 cherries on a toothpick.

MARILYN MONROE
1/2 oz. honey dew liqueur
1/2 oz. Malibu
1/2 oz. cognac
1 oz. lemon juice
2 tsp. sugar syrup
2 tsp. black raspberry liqueur
apple to garnish

Pour all ingredients into a martini glass, stir, and garnish with skewered apple.

DOLLY PARTON
1 oz. Absolut Mandarin
1/2 oz. Southern Comfort
1/2 oz. butterscotch schnapps
1/2 oz. lemon juice
2 oz. white cranberry juice

Shake and strain all ingredients into a tumbler.

Cocktail Source THE COCKTAIL 2oo Fabulous Drinks by Jane Rocca