The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes a multitude of parties and get-togethers. Impress your guests this year with an Ithaca College-themed cocktail, dreamed up by Roland Coggin, the mixologist at Lot 10, owned by Matt Riis ’02. In its third year, the bar is on South Cayuga Street in downtown Ithaca, previously the location of the Lost Dog Café.

SOUTH HILL SLING

• 1.5oz vodka

• 5oz Crème de Cassis

• .75oz maple cayenne syrup

• .5oz lemon

Shake these ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Strain over ice in a tall collins glass. Top with soda water; garnish with a lemon zest.

HOW TO MAKE THE SYRUP

Combine equal parts real New York State maple syrup with hot water. Add cayenne pepper to taste, ideally enough for spicy heat to come through in the cocktail.