Martinis and CocktailsGet the Tools You Need to Create the Perfect Cocktail

Unique Recipes For Martinis

The martini implies glamor, wit and style and used to be de rigeur for the businessman’s two-hour lunch; for the elite before dinner while their children ate in the nursery and for the golf club foursome at lunch, following their Sunday morning round. Each enjoyed their martinis with a twist of lemon, a cocktail onion or an olive and always, always served in a V-shaped stemmed glass.

Why V-shaped? Those who know these things say that as it’s a chilled drink served without ice, the narrow bottom keeps it cold and the stem keeps warm fingers away from it. And there are so many stories about how the martini got its name that it’s no longer clear which of them are true. Maybe all of them – but this one has the ring of truth. The original martini was made with gin, a mixture of grain alcohol and juniper berries which was created by a seventeenth century Dutch medical professional named Francois de Boe Sylvius. It was intended to purify the blood and correct kidney disorders, gout, gallstones, stomach aches, and pretty much everything else. Genever – the Dutch name for gin also gave the sufferer a pleasant “glow” which contributed to its popularity.

But let’s fast-forward to the present day.  The traditional martini has evolved into a social ice-breaker and can be made with a variety of alcohol bases – vodka being the option of choice and some bartenders like to add a touch of a flavored liqueur and perhaps some fruit or coconut – or even chocolate.

Chocolate added to a martini has become a favorite hip to sip drinky at a “girls’ night out” party and if you’re planning just that, here’s a way to make a chocolate martini which will set the mood exactly right! You need vodka (get the good stuff, off the top shelf) a bottle each of crème de cacao and Godiva chocolate liqueur (well worth the extra couple of bucks). Make sure your martini glasses and cocktail shaker are well chilled before you start – and you could chill the ingredients too. These amounts will make four chocolate martinis. Pour six shots of chocolate liqueur in your shaker and add six shots of crème de cacao. Two shots of vodka and ten shots of half and half cream. Shake well with ice and pour into your chilled glasses – you might even garnish each glass with a curl of dark shaved chocolate!

Bartenders all over the world have developed their own recipes for chocolate martinis using different chocolate flavors, such as mint, banana, orange and of course, white chocolate. Try this one – white chocolate liqueur and vodka, but instead of the crème de cacao, add three parts Chambord Raspberry Liqueur to the shaker for a sweet drink with a delightful kick at the end.

A quiet romantic evening with drinks and dinner can only be perfect with this wonderful digestif; pour four ounces of Absolut Vanil vodka into your shaker, half-filled with cracked ice and shake for a minute. Add one ounce of crème de cacao, two ounces of chocolate liqueur; shake for another minute then pour into chilled glasses. Garnish it with some freshly shaved coconut and enjoy!

True elegance and sophistication requires three ounces of Mandarin Vodka, once ounce of Cointreau or Triple Sec, an ounce and a half of Godiva white chocolate liqueur and an ounce of chocolate vodka. Two slim wheels of orange to garnish. Shake everything with cracked ice, strain into frozen martini glasses and dress with the orange slices.

Are you planning to throw a party at your house – perhaps a Party-Lites gathering of girlfriends or a “closet swap?” Sales and success are almost guaranteed with any of these chocolate martinis on hand – create your own, add berry liqueurs and don’t forget that mint and chocolate were made for each other, just as oranges and chocolate marry well.

And folks – this is the-to-die for chocolate martini. Spoil, indulge and celebrate yourselves with the Ultimate Martini, created by a talented mixologist from a seriously up-market restaurant in New York City. Just remember that this particular mart is all alcohol – fabulous to sip, but take a taxi home!

To build eight Ultimates, you will require,

4 ounces Godiva Chocolate Liqueur

4 ounces Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur

4 ounces top quality vodka

4 ounces Irish Cream

4 ounces Kahlua coffee liqueur.

Pour everything into a well chilled cocktail shaker, over cracked ice and shake for one full minute. Strain it into eight frozen martini glasses into which you’ve drizzled chocolate syrup beforehand.

Note – buy the best for your Ultimates. The Godiva liqueurs are essential to the success of this creation and should not be replaced by crème de cacao or any other pale imitation.

Have a wonderful evening – don’t forget to call the taxi so that you arrive home in the same joyous condition in which you left the party!

About the Author

Carolyn Donohue is an expert on cocktail recipes. If you want to spice up your parties by serving great tasting cocktails and you need a terrific recipe for martinis, visit http://www.cocktailrecipesmadeeasy.com.

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