Blue Raspberry Martini

Martinis are very popular drinks at bars, nightclubs and parties these days. From a simple vodka martini to a sour green apple martini to a sweet chocolate martini, there's something to please everyone. This special recipe is for a Blue Raspberry Martini, made with raspberry liqueur and garnished with fresh raspberries.

Sour Puss® or Chambord® are terrific brands of raspberry liqueur to use for this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces vodka
• 2 ounces raspberry liqueur
• 1 ounce Blue Curacao
• 1 ounce lime juice
• 2 ounces simple syrup
• 2 ounces water
• Fresh raspberries

Fill your cocktail shaker 1/2 full with cracked ice.

Pour vodka, raspberry liqueur and Blue Curacao into the shaker.

Give the shaker 15 shakes or so.

Add the rest of the ingredients, except raspberries.

Shake about 20 more shakes.

Strain into two chilled martini glasses.

Garnish each drink with a couple raspberries.

Makes two six-ounce drinks.

If you are mixing this drink at home, you can make your own simple syrup very easily.

In a small saucepan, heat equal parts of sugar and water over medium heat until sugar is completely dissolved.

Turn off heat and let cool.

Pour into bottle or carafe for easy use.

There are many delicious raspberry flavored drinks that you can make besides the Blue Raspberry Martini. Below are a couple of such recipes. If you don't like any of these, experiment on your own with raspberries and other fruits.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces raspberry flavored vodka
• 1/2 ounce Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
• A splash of soda water
• Fresh raspberry

Fill your shaker 3/4 full with cracked ice.

Pour vodka and liqueur into shaker.

Give the shaker 20 shakes or so.

Strain into a chilled martini glass.

Top with a splash of soda water.

Garnish with a raspberry.

Makes one drink.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Crown Royal whisky
• 1 ounce peach schnapps
• 1 ounce raspberry liqueur
• 1 ounce cranberry juice

Fill your shaker 3/4 full with cracked ice.

Pour all ingredients into shaker.

Shake about 20 times.

Strain into a frozen martini glass.

Makes one drink.

There are several different types of cocktail shakers, but for making these drinks at home, we use a Cobbler Shaker. The Cobbler Shaker is the classic three piece shaker that consists of a metal tumbler, a fit lid with a built in strainer, and lid cap. You can buy Cobbler Shakers at any liquor store and several grocery stores.

To make a drink using your Cobbler Shaker, simply put the ice and ingredients in the tumbler. Then put on the lid (and its cap) and shake your drink. Then remove the cap and strain the drink into your glass.

Shakers are used not only to mix drinks, but also to quickly make them chilled. Every home bar needs a shaker.