Verve conjures up some potent sips to lift your spirit.

Want to make an ordinary dinner special and a special dinner, spectacular? Then just add a glass of chilled cocktail or wine to your menu and lend ceremony and elegance to any dining experience.

Stirred, mixed or shaken, in the serendipitous world of mind-numbing concoctions, these liquid sensations 'fit for the gods', weave their spells and bestow on the earth-bound that elusive taste of heaven.

From the time of Bacchus and Dionysius in Greece and our own divine beings (somras in a leaf anyone?), no one defined the art of fine wining as well as the gods and goddesses of yore. And, from time immemorial, French cuisine is distinguished not only by the genius of its chefs but also by its well-established use of fine wines and subtly blended cocktails as accompaniments to good food.

Served in crystal, topped up with a variety of ingredients – and a generous dollop of crushed ice – each drink can be customised to individual tastes. Experience the tongue-teasing, tempestuous journey into the paradise of many-hued cocktails. Sparkling liquids in azure blues and lemony greens with delicious blends of spirit and fruit.

Casablanca	Blueberry Shooter
Ingredients: White rum, 1 shot; Malibu, 1/2 shot; Milk, 1 shot; Pineapple juice, 1 glass; Grenadine, a dash.	Ingredients: Vodka, 30 ml; Blueberry soup (or juice), 10-20 ml; Blue Curaçao, 20 ml.
Method: Shake and strain all the ingredients into a highball glass with ice.	Method: Pour vodka into the shot glass. Add a splash of blueberry soup. Top it with Blue Curaçao. Build in layers in a large shot glass. If layering the drink is difficult, pour all the liquids over the back of a tablespoon.

Former Miss World and upcoming star, Diana Hayden, says,

"More of a social drinker, I prefer wine to champagne. I love spending time with friends or family at home, chilling out with a glass in my hand -- sharing laughter, exchanging notes or watching a movie. As a hostess, I take care to serve much more than wine as my guests love to have vodka, whisky…the works!"

Panorama Hideaway	Honeymink's Silken Sling
Ingredients: Sambuca, 60 ml; Orange juice, 1 glass; Grenadine, few drops.	Ingredients: Gin, 4 parts; Cherry brandy, 1 part; Crème de cassis, 1 part; Grenadine, 1 part; Lime juice, 1 part; Angostura bitters, a splash.
Method: Build up the drink on the rocks.	Method: Sugar rim the glass and build up the cocktail on crushed ice. Top up with ginger ale.