Popular Martini Recipes

Written By: David Edessa

The Martini: The Good, the Bad, and Ugly!

Traditionally, a martini is gin up and dry vermouth served in a martini glass with olives or lemon twist.

The industry definition of a Martini is an alcoholic beverage without ice served in a cocktail glass most often the ingredients are added to a cocktail shaker with ice, shaken or stirred…. then the ice cold liquid is strained into a cocktail glass. What a boring definition and not fun at all!!!

Martini Recipes today are more diverse than the Gin Martini or Vodka that once dominated the Cocktail scene. Today’s Martini Recipes tend to use more flavors, by adding sweet liqueurs like Chambord, Apple Pucker, Peach schnapps and many others. Also with the birth of chef bartenders and molecular mixology… fresh and dry herbs, flavored vinegars, juices and mixers have helped to create an endless list of Martinis.

Enough with the definition of what a martini may or may not be… These drinks ARE meant to be enjoyed.

Here is what I consider the most popular martini recipes.

Apple Martini

• 1.5 oz. Vodka (I prefer a Citron)
• 1.5 oz. Apple Schnapps (Pucker is favorite apple brand)
• Garnish with a slice of apple

Shake and strain into a cocktail glass The Apple Martini also called the Apple-tini is a sour apple flavored Martini. This cocktail is very easy to mix. It is just vodka and Apple schnapps.

Cosmopolitan Martini

• 2 oz. Vodka (I prefer Citron vodka)
• 1 oz. Triple Sec
• 1 fresh lime squeeze
• 1/2 oz. Cranberry Juice
• Garnish with a lime wheel

Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. The color should be a lite pink. For fun I’ve used tangerine or mandarin vodka….. It gives it a bit of a twist.

Lemon Drop Martini

• 2 oz. Citron Vodka
• 1 oz. Triple Sec
• 1/2 oz. of Sweet & Sour Mix
• Rim glass with powdered sugar.

Mix ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a sugar coated lemon wedge. Also, for a twist I recommend using a Mandarin or Orange vodka.

Photo Sources: Polka Dot Bride, Noche Latina, Foodies Unite

David’s Favorite Bourbon Recipes

Before I share this week’s Cocktail Corner, David’s Favorite Bourbon Recipes, I have to share this awesome YouTube video he sent me last week. Enjoy!

Written By David Edessa

Bourbon whiskey is a unique liquor with a great history, born in Bourbon County, Kentucky. The French have cognac and in the US we have bourbon. Every bourbon brand is unique in flavor and complexity. However, my personal favorite brand is Basil Hayden.

Mint Julep

• 4 sprigs Mint
• 1 tsp. Powdered Sugar
• 2 tsp. Water
• 2 1/2 oz. Bourbon

In glass, muddle mint leaves, powdered sugar, and water. Fill glass or mug with shaved or crushed ice and add Bourbon. Top with more ice and garnish with a mint spring and straws.

Peach Mint Julep

• 5-6 sprigs Mint
• 1 tsp. Powdered Sugar
• 2 tsp. Water
• 1 oz. Peach Schnapps
• 1 1/2 oz. Bourbon

In glass, dissolve powdered sugar with water. Fill with finely shaved ice and add peach schnapps, Bourbon. Stir until glass is heavily frosted, adding more ice if necessary. (Do not hold glass with hand while stirring.) Decorate with sprigs of fresh mint so that the tops are about two inches above the rim of the glass. Use short straws so that it will be necessary to bury nose in mint, which is intended for scent rather than taste.

Pendennis Toddy

• 1 cube Sugar
• 1 tsp. Water
• 2 oz. Bourbon

Muddle cube of sugar with water in glass. Fill with ice, add Bourbon, and stir. Decorate with two slices of lemon.

Combine the vermouth, bourbon whiskey, and bitters with 2 – 3 ice cubes in a mixing glass. Stir gently, don’t bruise the spirits and cloud the drink. Place the cherry in a chilled cocktail glass and strain the whiskey mixture over the cherry. Rub the cut edge of the orange peel over the rim of the glass and twist it over the drink to release the oils but don’t drop it in.

Classic Manhattan

• 2 oz. Bourbon whisky
• 1/2 oz. sweet vermouth
• 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
• maraschino cherry for garnish

Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes. Stir well or shake lightly and be careful not to bruise mix (avoid making it cloudy). Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish with the cherry and orange twist.

Variations on the Manhattan:

Dry Manhattan- Use a dash of dry vermouth and garnish with a lemon twist.

Perfect Manhattan- Equal parts of sweet and dry vermouth. Garnish with a lemon twist.

If you choose not to use bitters, substitute a twist of lime for the cherry and orange. Hold the lime twist in a lighted match over the drink and then drop it in. The heat really zips up the lime flavor.

Kiwi Cocktail Recipes

It’s time for more tasty cocktail recipes by David Edessa.  This week, Kiwi is our inspiration. He also threw in more coffee classics.  If you missed any of David’s past posts, be sure to check out his Tangerine Recipes, Specialty Syrup flavored recipes, and his delicious New Year cocktail recipes that are good any time of the year!

Written By David Edessa:

Another great fruit that is in season that we should take advantage of is the Kiwi.

Strawberry Kiwi Marini

• 2 oz. Strawberry Vodka
• 1 oz. Triple Sec
• 1 oz. lemonade
• 2 to 3 slices of kiwis
• 1 tsp. simple syrup

Preparation:

Muddle the skinned kiwi with sugar syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add ice, triple sec and vodka then shake well. Pour into a chilled glass.

If you wish to make this drink just a Kiwis Martini all you have to replace is the base liquor Strawberry vodka with citrus vodka….

Watermelon Kiwi Cooler

• 1 oz. Citrus Vodka
• 1 oz. Watermelon Liqueur
• 2 to 3 oz. lemonade
• 2 to 3 slices of kiwis
• 2 to 3 mint leaves
• 1 tsp. simple syrup

Preparation:

Muddle the skinned kiwi with sugar syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add ice, watermelon liqueur, mint and vodka then shake well. Pour into chilled glass over ice.

Mango Kiwi Martini

• 2 oz. Mango Vodka
• 1 oz. Triple Sec Liqueur
• 1 oz. lemonade
• 2 to 3 slices of kiwis
• 2 to 3 mint leaves
• 1 tsp. simple syrup

Preparation:

Muddle the skinned kiwi with sugar syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add ice, triple sec liqueur, mint and vodka then shake well. Pour into chilled glass over ice.

Experiment with different flavors and even different flavors of rum.

More Coffee Cocktail Classics

I always like to preheat my mugs before I build my coffee cocktail.

Aspen Coffee

• 1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
• 1/2 oz. Frangelico
• 1/2 oz. Kahlua
• Fill with Coffee and top with whip cream

Coffee Royal

• 3/4 oz. Baileys
• 3/4 oz. Kahlua
• Fill with Coffee and top with whip cream.

B-52 Coffee

• 1/2 oz. Kahlua
• 1/2 oz. Baileys
• 1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
• Fill with Coffee and top with whip cream.

To add your own twist to your coffee drink try using different flavors from the Baileys brand (Original, Mint Chocolate, Crème Caramel, Coffee, Hazelnut, Biscotti) and even try different whip cream flavors from Reddi-Whip.

Photo Source: Elizabeth Ann Designs & Fine Art America

David’s Cocktail Corner: Tangerine Two

Written By David Edessa

October to April is the season to utilize such great citrus like the tangerine. You could certainly substitute the cognac for vodka or Tuaca for Grand Marnier or Triple Sec.

Tangerine Cosmos

• 1/2 oz. White Cranberry Juice
• 1 /2 oz. Tangerine Juice
• 2 oz. Citrus Vodka
• 3/4 oz. Triple Sec

Put all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice, and then shake it for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into your cocktail glass. Garnish with a tangerine.

Tangerine Margarita

• 2 oz. Silver Tequila
• 1 oz. Cointreau or Triple Sec
• 1/2 oz. lime juice
• 1/2 oz. tangerine juice
• 1/2 oz. Ruby grapefruit juice
• Salt for rimming

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes and shake well for about 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass rimmed with salt.

My Clementine Sidecar

• 1/2 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1 oz. Fresh Tangerine Juice
• 1.5 oz. Bourbon (a nice small-batch bourbon preferred)
• 3/4 oz. Tuaca

Rub the rim of a chilled cocktail glass with a tangerine wedge & sugar the rim. Put all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice, and then shake it for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into your cocktail glass.

Tangerine Drop

• 1/2 oz. Fresh lemon Juice
• 1 /2 oz. Tangerine Juice
• 2 oz. Citrus Vodka
• 1/2 oz. Triple Sec
• 1/2 oz. Honey syrup (see recipe below)

Put all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice, and then shake it for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into your cocktail glass. Scrape the zest off a lemon with a micro-plane or even a vegetable peeler and then garnish drink with lemon zest on top (if you would like a sweeter drink you can always sugar rim of drink with powdered sugar).

Honey Syrup

• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup warm water

Combine the honey and water and stir till it dissolves. Let it cool before use. If you combine to citrus when warm it will create bitterness in the lemon.

Clementine Cocktail

• 3 oz. fresh tangerine juice
• 1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice
• 1 oz. ginger simple syrup (see recipe below)
• 1.5 oz. Cognac or brandy

Put all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with a tangerine wedge.

Ginger Syrup

• 2 cup water
• 2 cup sugar
• 1 – 2 large ginger root, cut into one inch pieces

In a small saucepan add the water and sugar. Bring to boil while stirring a few times. Reduce to a simmer and add the ginger. Let it cook for about one hour. When ready, strain and transfer to a glass container and allow it to cool to room temperature. Same recipes can be used to make other flavored syrups by substituting the ginger for other herbs, vegetables or fruit.

**Bonus Drink Recipes: David’s Favorite Coffee Cocktails**

It’s still winter time after all.  Here are a few tasty and warm coffee drinks.

Chip Shot

• 3/4 oz. Tuaca
• 3/4 oz. Baileys

Fill with strong black coffee. Top with Whip cream.

Ella Fitzgerald

• 1/2 oz. Kahlua
• 1/2 oz. Frangelico
• 1/2 oz. Baileys

Fill with coffee. Top with Whip cream and Caramel syrup.

Tiramisu Coffee

• 1/2 oz. Sailor Jerry rum (or other spiced rum)
• 1/2 oz. Tia Maria coffee rum
• 1/2 oz. Baileys

Fill with coffee.  Top with Whip cream and cinnamon

If you need a substitute for Tia Maria you can always give Kahlua a try.

David’s Cocktail Corner: Tangerines

Written By David Edessa

The season is here for Tangerines!

Don’t worry on the first three drinks if you have pieces of mint floating around it’s meant to be what I call a dirty drink that’s just part of their charm.

Tangerine Mojito

• 2 oz. of silver rum
• 3 To 4 slices of Tangerines (try to remove some of the seeds)
• Mint leaves 4 to 8
• 1/2 oz. Fresh Lime juice
• 1 Teaspoon of powdered sugar
• 1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
• 1 oz. soda water
• Mint sprig for garnish

Muddle the tangerine with mint leaves in a cocktail shaker. Add rum, Grand Marnier, lime juice, sugar, and ice. Shake well. Strain into cocktail glass and serve over ice. Top with soda water. Garnish with a mint sprig.

Tangerine Tangler

• 1.5 oz. Sliver Tequila
• 1/2 oz. Soho Lychee Liquor
• 1/2 oz. Fresh Lime juice
• 2 oz. Tangerine juice
• Mint leaves 3 to 4
• Crushed Ice

Muddle the tangerine with mint leaves in a cocktail shaker. Add rum; Muddle the tangerine with mint leaves in a cocktail shaker. Add Tequila, Soho Lychee Liquor, lime juice, and ice. Shake well. Strain into cocktail glass and serve over ice. Garnish with a tangerine slice.

Tangerine Mint Julep

• 2 oz. of Bourbon
• 1/2 oz. Peach Schnapps
• 2 To 3 slices of Tangerines (try to remove some of the seeds)
• 1 Teaspoon of powdered sugar
• Mint leaves 4 to 8
• 1 oz. soda water
• Mint sprig for garnish

Muddle the tangerine with mint leaves in a cocktail shaker. Add bourbon, Peach Schnapps, sugar, and ice. Shake well. Strain into cocktail glass and serve over ice. Top with soda water. Garnish with a mint sprig.

Tangerine Caipirinha

• 2 oz. Cachaca (Brazilian Pure Cane rum)
• 2 slices of Fresh tangerine
• 2 slices of fresh lemons
• 2.5 oz. Tangerine Juice
• 1 Tablespoon Honey
• 1 Tablespoon powdered sugar

Mix tangerine slices, lemon slices, honey and sugar in shaker. Add Cachaca, tangerine juice, and plenty of ice. Shake vigorously and pour into a cocktail glass over ice. Garnish with a slice of tangerine.

Bubbles and Fizz

And after New Year’s if you have any Champagne or Sparkling wine left over (probably not!) try these…

Tangerine Mimosa

• 1.5 oz. Tangerine juice
• Fill with Champagne

Tipsy Tangerine Mimosa

• 1.5 oz. Tangerine Juice
• 1/2 oz. Campari
• Fill with Champagne

Grand Tangerine

• 1.5 oz. Tangerine juice
• 1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
• Fill with Champagne

Tangerine Royal

• 1.5 oz. Tangerine juice
• 1/2 oz. Chambord
• Fill with Champagne

Champagne should be enjoyed year round anyways!