liqueur

I'll be the first to admit I'm not the biggest fan of Valentine's Day, and generally not the cheesy romantic type at all. But I must say, I was intrigued when I received a bottle of purportedly passion-inducing Agavero. Agavero ($30) is a 100 percent blue agave tequila that's infused with damiana — a small, aromatic flower that, for centuries, has been believed to be a potent aphrodisiac.

Although Agavero has the brilliant gold color of a traditional tequila, it possesses more sugar and viscosity, and is more like a liqueur. As a result, agave aficionados will probably dislike it. But for the same reason, it's a good gateway choice for those who don't tend to like tequila.

Now to the most important question: when drinking Agavero, will one truly experience a flurry of unbridled passion? After a shot and some delicious tequila sunrises, I decided the answer is no — which left me wondering if I didn't drink enough to see a real effect. There's only one way to find out: keep on drinking the stuff. After all, it goes down incredibly smooth. Have you ever tried a damiana-infused spirit?

I've wanted to make my own cherry cordial for the longest time, so when it was time to get started on our 12 Days of Edible Gifts, I knew exactly what I'd be making. For those of you who aren't familiar with cherry bounce, it's nothing new. It's rather old, in fact — colonialists and pilgrims were known to drink it, and Martha Washington famously recorded her recipe for cherry bounce, which she served during the holidays and other special occasions. This after-dinner libation, which is made by steeping cherries and sugar in brandy, rum, and sometimes whiskey, originated in the Northeast but has since spread across the country. Today, it can be found everywhere from the woodlands of rural Louisiana to Michigan cherry-growing country. With its spiced, black fruit notes, cherry bounce is a sweet after-dinner digestif — and an even lovelier handmade gift. Make it this holiday when you read more.