Totally forgot to mention that last night I had the best cocktail of my life. Bourbon bar here in town, and this is one they came up with.
fino sherry, grand marnier, five spice syrup, black walnut bitters, lactart
There was so much going on there flavor wise, it's hard to describe. It changed flavors at least 3 times before ending with a really nice boozie note.
From what I can tell the "five spice syrup" is homemade, and this is one of the few recipes I could find:
http://imbibemagazine.com/five-spice-syrup-recipe/
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
1 Tbsp. honey
2 Tbsp. star anise
1 Tbsp. fennel seed
1 Tbsp. Szechuan peppercorns
1/2 Tbsp. whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
Add spices to a small, dry saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, turn off heat and steep for an hour. Strain in a bottle, cover and keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.