Daily Martini: Peppermint

Having a Christmas Party?

Having family over?

Well, if your family is anything like mine, that calls for a martini.

Try this one on for size.

The Peppermint Martini

1.5 oz Gin

1 oz. Dry Vermouth

1 oz. Peppermint Schnapps

Garnish with a candy cane and mint leaf.

Perfect for the holidy splendor.

Enjoy.

Daily Martini: Blue Shark

I'm feeling saucey today.

Blue Shark Martini

1 1/2 oz Tequila

1 1/2 oz Organe Vodka

1 oz Blue Curacao

Serve in a cocktail glass with orange slice garnish.

Have a designated driver and enjoy.

Daily Martini: 77 Sunset Strip

Apologies to my fans... computer problems

77 Sunset Strip
1 oz Bacardi Limon
1/2 oz Absolut Citron
1/2 oz Gin
1/2 oz Triple Sec
3/4 oz Pineapple Juice
1/2 oz Grenadine

Shake and pour into chilled cocktail glass. Top with Sprite
Garnish with Orange slice and cherry
Enjoy

Daily Martini: Stinger

I remember sitting on my moms bed watching Bette Midler in Beaches as a kid. We would always have a box of tissues, Raisinettes and a bag of lightly buttered popcorn. We'd watch and laugh when CiCi gets arrested in Central Park,a nd when she calls Hillary, Barbara Hershey's character, fat. Then, when Hillary died, we'd cry... everytime.

CiCi orders about a dozen Stingers in the movie. I always wondered what that was.

Now I know, and you can too.

The Stinger
1 1/2 oz Brandy
3/4 oz white creme de menthe

Stir, and serve in a cocktail glass.
Enjoy.

Daily Martini: Saturday Night Fever

I had a fever tonight, and its Saturday, thus the title of this one.

Saturday Night Fever
1 1/2 oz Bacardi Limon
1 oz Dissaronno

Serve in a cocktail glass with cherry garnish.
Enjoy.

Daily Martini: Gimlet

This is a nose to the grind-stone kind of a day, and for that I recommend a simple, old-fashioned drink that will put you in your place without a lot of fuss.

This is the grown up version of a So.Co. and Lime shot.


The Gimlet
2 oz. Vodka or Gin
1/2 oz. Lime Juice

Shake well, serve in a chilled cocktail glass with lime wedge garnish.
Enjoy.

Daily Martini: Mai Tai's and Malibu Sunset

I know, I know, I've been slacking. But, it's my final finals week. Please forgive me.

Thinking of Thanksgiving in Ventura, CA always inspires me for something tropical, so here are a couple to add to the collection.

This one is for all of the lovers who always dreamt of Hawaii, but never managed to make it there. A recipe that should be common knowledge if for no other reason than it has a cool name.

The Mai Tai Martini:

1 1/4 oz Light Rum
3/4 oz Triple Sec
3/4 oz Pineapple Juice
3/4 oz Sour mix
1/4 oz Grenadine
1/4 oz Orgeat Syrup

Shake well, serve in a chilled cocktail glass with cherry and pineapple wedge garnish.

For those of us without an extensive liquor selection, there is a wonderful subsitute.

The Malibu Sunset Martini

1 1/2 oz. Coconut Rum
3/4 oz. Sloe Gin

Shake well, pour into chilled cocktail glass and float 3/4 oz. pineapple juice. Garnish with a cherry and pineapple wedge.

Enjoy

Daily Martini, Pomegranate

Van Gogh Vodka has, perhaps, the most complete selection of flavored vodkas on the market - and it keeps growing. Latest added to their collection is Pomegranate. It is absolutely fabulous.

I had a chance to sample it at Byblos, an Arab hookah bar here in Philly.

Give it a try.

Pomegranate Citrus Cosmo

1 1/2 oz. Pomegranate vodka

1 oz. Triple Sec, Gran Marnier

1/2 oz. Pomegranate juice

1/2 oz. Cranberry Juice.

Serve in a chilled cocktail glass with orange slice garnish.

Enjoy.

Daily Martini, Hairy Navel

My brother thinks he's a drinker, but he's 29 years-old and still orders Fuzzy Navel's at the bar. I mock him out on a regular basis. This one is for him.

Hairy Navel Martini
1 1/2 oz. Orange vodka
1 oz. Peach Schnapps
1 oz. Orange Juice

Serve in a chilled cocktail glass. Top with soda. Garnish with orange slice.

Daily Martini, Kyoto Martini

Kyoto Martini

2 oz. Vodka
1 oz. Melon Liqueur, Madori
1/2 oz. Dry Vermouth
Squeez of lemon juice.

Serve in a chilled cocktail galss with lemon twist garnish.

Vodka v Gin Martini's

You may have noticed that I don't post recipes for gin martini's. Reason being, I prefer vodka over gin any day of the week and twice on Sunday's. Not to mention, gin has a tendancy to be drier than vodka, detracting from the flavor of added ingredients. I would rather have a full tasting martini than one designed to overcome the dry nature of the central ingredient.

Both gin and vodka contain ethanol, the same substance in red wine that has been proven to reduce blood pressure. They are the lowest of all alcohols in calories, which make them good for your diet.

But, gin is often distilled with juniper berry's, which help in maintaining a healthy uriniary track. The problem with them is their potential to deplete potassium. It has been debated among herbalists, but I am not taking my chances.

Daily Martini, AppleWood

A Cheryl Ellis original, this one is dynamic and uninspired by any other drink I have ever tasted. Fantastic with a Pecan-crusted chicken salad, topped with cranberry-raisins.

Apple Wood Martini

1 1/4 oz. Apple Vodka
3/4 oz. Madori Melon
1/2 oz. Creme de Mint
1 oz Apple Juice
1/4 oz. Rose's lime

Sever in a chilled cocktail glass.
Enjoy.

Daily Martini, French Martini

A resounding message was sent last night to Congress: The American people are exceedingly dissatisfied with the state of the Union.

Let us not celebrate victory, because it has not been secured yet.

Let us not celebrate the Democrats as they appear to have siezed control of Congress, because that would exclude half of the country.

Let us not celebrate ourselves for sending a message, because the message is meaningless until it his heard and acted upon.

For these toasts, I recommend a glass of Marinelli's, saving the real celebration for when the real answers come.

Instead, let us celebrate a successful election night with few voter restrictions, free speech and an excellent job by the American media in covering the election.

But, lets break out the chamagne for these guys!
Here's to you pressmen and women around the country. You taught us in one night about issues, candidates, restrictions faced by some voters that prevented them from voting, and above all, the results without upsetting the voting process. Well done!


The French Martini

1 1/2 oz. Vanilla Vodka
1 1/4 oz. Champagne (or sparking cider)
3/4 oz. Chambord
1/2 oz. Pinapple Juice

Do not shake.
Serve in a Chilled Cocktail glass.
No Garnish.

Enjoy!
Celebrate safely.

added: 12:50 am, November 9
Dems have secured it... time to pop the Kobel!

Daily Martini: Election 2006

A few suggestions to stay with the motif.

American Sour Martini
2 oz. 12- year Whiskey
1/2 oz. Triple Sec
1/2 oz. Orange Juice
1 oz. Sour Mix
Serve in a cocktail glass with orange granish

Boston Tea Party Martini
1/2 oz. Rum
1/2 oz. Gin
1/2 oz. Vodka
1/2 oz. Triple Sec. (or be daring and make it what it should be - orange brandy liqueur... but, that's not one most people keep around the house)
1 oz. Sour Mix
Shake, pour into chilled cocktail glass. Top with 1/4 oz. Kahlua and a splash of cola.

And My Personal Favorite:

drum roll

The Red, White and Blue Martini
1 1/2 oz. Stoli Raspberry Vodka
3/4 oz. Disarrano
3/4 oz. Blue Curacao
1/2 oz. White Creme de Cocoa

Serve in a chilled cocktail glass with cherry garnish.
Enjoy.

Daily Martini: Halloween Edition 2

In honor of last nights incident, and those in PA uneducated about the importance of Apples in the All Hallows celebration, I have concocted a festive, holiday drink with a refreshing reminder.

Hang on to your hats... this one is complicated.

Adam's Apple Martini
1 1/4 oz. Vodka
2 oz. Apple Cider
1/2 oz. Rose's Lime

Shake and pour into chilled cocktail glass. Top with splash of sprite. Garnish with a juicy, cripy, red apple slice.
Enjoy.

Daily Martini, Melonball

A classic at any bar, this one is much simpler than we make it out to be. As usual, I don't make it to spec., but I put my own touch on it.

Melonball Martini

1 1/2 oz. Vanilla vodka
1 oz. Melon Liqueur, or Madori
1 oz. Orange Juice

Top with Sprite. Serve is a chilled cocktail glass with cherry and orange slice granish.
Enjoy.

Daily Martini: Halloween Edition

Tonight is a party night for most of us. In honor of Halloween, we will be dressed up in silly costumes making fools of ourselves. My hope is that you all do it responsibily... with a martini in you hand.

This one is in honor of Halloween.
Vampire Bite Bloody Mary Martini
(Best if made in bulk, but if you want to make them individually, just cut the recipe by 1/4)
Serves four.

2 tblsp. Fresh Horseradish
2 tspn. Black pepper
1 cup V8 Tomato Juice
4 oz. Absolut Peppar

Shake thoroughly. Serve in a cocktail glass. Can be garnished with celery, or for a fun touch, check out this recipe for "eye ball olives." Click here.

If you really want to heat things up, make it a Bloody Maria by subsituting tequila for the Absolut Peppar.

Daily Martini, Italian Banana

Inspired by my time spent with the boys this weekend.

Italian Banana Martini
1 1/2 oz. Vanilla Vodka
1 oz. Tuaca
1 oz. Banana Liqueure

Serve in chilled cocktail glass with sugar rim.

Daily Martini, Limeade

My sour mood lead me to a decidely sour martini today. Perhaps its a nice switch from all of the sugar laden cocktails I have posted so far.

Here it is.
Limeade Martini

1 1/2 oz. Citrus Vodka
1 oz. Lime Juice
3/4 oz. Simple Syrup (sugar water)

Serve in chilled cocktail glass. Top with equal parts Sprite and soda.
Garnish with lime twist.
Enjoy.

Daily Martini, The Blue Martini

Apologies to my fan.
My mother was in town this week, so I spent more time trying out new
maritini's rather than writing about them.

But, careful, a leave of absence is usually followed by an abundance of posting.

Today:
The Blue Martini

1 1/2 oz. Grey Goose or Skyy vodka
1 oz Blue Curacoa
1/2 oz. Sour Mix

Serve in a cocktail glass with lemon twist.
Enjoy.