No cocktail party is complete without martinis. But, you need not stick to the classic gin and dry vermouth recipe. Modern mixologists have developed an array of fun martini recipes. While some may argue that the new offerings are not really martinis, these cocktails will please even the staunchest traditionalists. Try offering some of the following drinks at your next party bar.
BLUE MARTINI
1 ounce vodka
½ ounce blue curacao
1 ounce sweet and sour cocktail mix
Combine all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with crushed ice. Strain and serve neat or on the rocks.
CHOCOLATE MARTINI
1 ounce vanilla vodka (such as Stoli Vanil vodka)
1 ounce chocolate liqueur (such as Godiva Chocolate liqueur)
Maraschino cherries or chocolate dipped maraschino cherries
Add the vodka and chocolate liqueur to cracked ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain the ice and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with a spear of maraschino cherries.
LEMON DROP
1 ounce vodka
½ ounce lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar
Lemon twist
Prepare the martini glasses by dipping the rim of each in warm water, then in a dish of sugar. This will leave a nice coating of sugar on the edge of each glass.
Use a cocktail shaker to blend the vodka, lemon juice and sugar with crushed ice. Strain or serve over the rocks. For an extra lemony drink, substitute a lemon-flavored vodka such as Absolut Citron for the vodka.
PEACH MARTINI
1 ½ ounces of vodka
1 ounce of peach schnapps
1 ounce of peach nectar
Curls of lemon peel
Coat the rim of each martini glass with sugar crystals by dipping it in warm water, then into a shallow bowl of sugar.
Place the vodka, schnapps and nectar into a cocktail shaker with crushed ice. Strain and pour into the prepared glasses. Garnish the edge of the glass with a curl of lemon peel.
PEPPERMINT PATTY MARTINI
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce chocolate liqueur (such as Godiva Chocolate liqueur)
1 ounce peppermint schnapps
Peppermint stick or peppermint and chocolate reception stick
Blend the vodka, chocolate liqueur and peppermint schnapps with crushed ice in a cocktail shaker. Serve in a frosted martini glass and garnish with a peppermint candy stick.
SOUR APPLE MARTINI
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce sour apple liqueur (such as DeKuyper Sour Apple Pucker)
1 ounce apple juice
Use a cocktail shaker to blend the ingredients and ice. Strain and pour into a martini glass.
THE TRADITIONAL
1 ½ ounces of gin
½ ounce of dry vermouth
Green olives
Pour the gin and vermouth over crushed ice in a cocktail shaker. Blend and pour into a martini glass, straining out the ice. Garnish with green olives on a party pick.
VODKA MARTINI
2 ounces of vodka
½ ounce of dry vermouth
Lemon twists
Place crushed ice in a cocktail shaker. Add the vodka and vermouth; shake thoroughly and pour into a martini glass, straining out the ice. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Note: Make sure you have the right gear on hand for your party. It is important to have plenty of crushed ice and martini glasses and several cocktail shakers with strainers (a minimum of two). You will need party picks for the garnishes and plenty of cocktail napkins for your guests.
