ENTER "THE FINO COCKTAIL."

When my beloved cat Fino went to live with "that nice young couple on a farm" last month, I resolved to create a cocktail in his honor.

Like its legendary namesake, the "Fino Cocktail" had to be cool, sweet, strong and, above all...a striking blue. Prrrrrr...

Last night, with the help of a sharp palate and a Telfon liver, the Fino Cocktail was perfected. And I have to say, it's a damn good cocktail. Here's the recipe:

THE FINO COCKTAIL

2 oz. light rum

1/2 oz. Simple Syrup

1/2 oz. Blue Curacao

1 dash Fee Brothers Orange Bitters

Silver Dollar-sized Lime peel

Step 1: Add rum, Simple Syrup, Blue Curacao and Bitters to a shaker.

Step 2: Add abundant ice to shaker, stir until ice cold and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Step 3: Twist lime peel over drink to float the oils, and discard.

Step 4: Drink, purr and make love. That's what Fino would do.

Note: To make Simple Syrup, add 1 c. sugar to 1 c. boiling water. Off heat, stir until sugar is completely dissolved, cool and refrigerate.