#008 Wartortle (draft)

1 1/4 oz. Light Rum
½ oz. Blue Curacao
¾ oz. Lemon Juice
½ oz. Simple Syrup
½ oz. Lemon Lime Soda

Add all the ingredients aside from the soda to a mixing tin with ice. Shake and strain the cocktail into a coupe cocktail glass with ice. Top with the soda. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and serve.

"Wartortle, the Turtle Pokémon. The evolved form of Squirtle. Its long furry tail is a symbol of its age and wisdom."

Blastoise -->

<-- Squirtle

#009 Blastoise (draft)

1 1/2 oz. Light Rum
½ oz. Blue Curacao
1 oz. Lemon Juice
3/4 oz. Pineapple Simple Syrup
1/4 oz. Dark Rum

Add the ingredients aside from the dark rum to a tin with ice. Shake and strain the cocktail into a large collins glass with ice. Top with dark rum and serve.

"Blastoise, the Shellfish Pokémon. The evolved form of Wartortle. Blastoise's strength lies in its power, rather than its speed. Its shell is like armor and attacks from the hydro cannons on its back are virtually unstoppable."

Caterpie -->

<-- Wartortle

#010 Caterpie (draft)

1 oz. Vodka
½ oz. Green Apple Liqueur
¼ oz. Cointreau
¼ oz. Lemon Juice

Add all the ingredients to a mixing tin. Shake well with ice. Double strain into a shooter glass. Add a black cherry and serve.

"Caterpie, the Worm Pokémon. Caterpie uses the suction cups on its feet to climb trees and feed on its favorite leaves."

Metapod -->

<-- Blastoise

#011 Metapod (draft)

1 oz. Vodka
½ oz. Green Apple Liqueur
½ oz. Orange Liqueur
¾ oz. Lemon Juice
¾ oz. Simple Syrup

Add all the ingredients to a mixing tin with ice. Shake and strain into a coupe cocktail glass. Garnish with a green apple slice and serve.

"Metapod, the Cocoon Pokémon. Metapod is the evolved form of Caterpie. Using a hard shell to protect its body, it prepares for its next evolution."

Butterfree -->

<-- Caterpie

#012 Butterfree (draft)

1 oz. Vodka
½ oz. Lychee Liqueur
½ oz. Parfait Amor
¾ oz. Lemon Juice
1/2 oz. Agave Nectar
Club Soda

Add all the ingredients aside from the soda to a mixing tin with ice. Shake and strain the cocktail into a tulip glass with ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with two cherries and serve.

"Butterfree, the Butterfly Pokémon. Butterfree's love of flower nectar draws it to seek out flowers, even if they don't have much pollen."

Weedle -->

<-- Metapod

#013 Weedle

1 1/4 oz. Mezcal

1/2 oz. Blood Orange Liqueur

1/4 oz. Honey Syrup

Gusano

Add all the ingredients to a mixing tin. Shake well with ice. Double strain into a shooter glass. Garnish with the worm from a mescal bottle if possible. A thin lemon twist can also work. 

For this cocktail, I knew I wanted to use mezcal. The little worm in the bottle looks just like a Weedle. Well, technically it's a caterpillar of a moth but it just matches up so well. Weedle turns into a cocoon and then evolves again, strangely enough into a bee, but the theory is there. The use of honey does naturally take inspiration from Weedle's final evolution (not counting the mega). I knew I'd wind up going with a sort of margarita vibe in the later iterations so I opted for one of my favorite liqueurs, Solerno, a blood orange liqueur. This shot does pack quite a punch alcohol-wise. But the flavor does very well. A sweet smokey earthy flavor makes for a very fun shot or cocktail.

"Weedle. The stinger on this Pokémon's head guarantees that any attacker will get the point right where it hurts."

Kakuna -->

<-- Butterfree

Recommended Brands: Ilegal Reposado, Solerno

#014 Kakuna

1 1/4 oz. Reposado Tequila

1/2 oz. Blood Orange Liqueur

1/2 oz. Honey Syrup
3/4 oz. Lemon Juice

Add all the ingredients to a mixing tin. Shake well with ice. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a small spear of serrano pepper that has been deseeded. 

This drink clearly takes a lot of inspiration from the margarita. I opted to use a Reposado tequila to help represent the middle nature of Kakuna. The insect and bee-like nature of this evolution line made honey an obvious choice for a sweetener. I like a wildflower honey syrup if you can find it. A different orange liqueur could be used, but I adore Solerno, and I find it pairs better with spicy and smokey flavors which are going to be more present in our last iteration of this evolutionary line. You have to have a bit of sting in your bee Pokemon. 

"Kakuna, a transitional stage between Weedle and Beedrill. Kakunas remain inactive until they evolve into deadly Beedrills and hatch."

Beedrill -->

<-- Weedle

Recommended Brands: Milagro Reposado, Solerno, wildflower honey, fresh lemon juice