Martini Recipes

In Search of the Perfect Martini

If you’re like me, you love a good martini. Many establishments now feature martini flights just like they do with fine wines. A flight, for those that are not familiar with them, is a sampling of three drinks of the patron’s choosing. They typically come in smaller servings such as two to four ounces for a fixed price. Many flights include one full size serving of patron’s favorite selection from the three samples.

Ever since the ladies of Sex and the City started drinking Cosmopolitans and tasty cocktails served up in chilled martini glasses, the martini movement has returned to its once fashionable place in pop culture. The martini hasn’t been this chic since 007 ordered his shaken, not stirred.

Traditional martinis are made with either gin or vodka. I prefer mine with vodka, however, there are several other liquors that may serve as the main ingredients for a variety of martinis including, scotch, brandy and rum. For those that haven’t had the pleasure of trying a martini, I’d highly recommend it, however as with any alcoholic beverage, use caution. Martinis can be quite potent and the effects may sneak up on you.

In order to help you get a feel for the variety of martinis available, I thought I’d share some great recipes that you can make at home. If you prefer your cocktails prepared by a professional bartender, you can use the following list as a guide for ordering. Either way, enjoy!

BUFF MARTINI

5 parts Finlandia Vodka

1 part Bailey’s Irish Cream

1 part Kahlua

Stir gently with ice and strain. Add a sprinkle of freshly ground coffee or cinnamon.

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRY MARTINI

1 ¾ oz. vodka

¼ oz. white crème de cacao

Splash of Grand Marnier

Shake and strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

CINNAMON TOAST II

1 ¼ oz. Stoli Zinamon

¼ oz. Buttershots Schnapps

Top with spoonful or packet of sugar. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

EGYPTIAN CLUB CHOCOLATE MARTINI

1 oz. Aboslut vodka

1 oz. Truffles dark chocolate liqueur

½ oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream

Mix ingredients into shaker with ice. Shake and strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with chocolate covered maraschino cherry.

MINT CHOCOLATE KISS MARTINI

2 oz. Grey Goose vodka

1 oz. white crème de cacao

¼ oz. green crème de menthe

Shake over ice and strain. Serve with a chocolate stick.

COCOA BANANA MARTINI

1 oz. vodka

½ oz. dark crème de cacao

½ oz. banana liqueur

Rim the chilled martini glass with cocoa powder. Shake ingredients into chilled martini glass.

AN IRISH MEXICAN IN RUSSIAN VANILLA FIELDS

1 oz. Stoli Vanil

½ oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream

½ oz. Kahlua

Half and half

Vanilla ice cream

Dash of cinnamon

Mix all ingredients except cinnamon in blender. Pour into chilled martini glass and sprinkle with cinnamon.

AMBER MARTINI

1 oz. vodka

½ oz. amaretto

½ oz. hazelnut liqueur

Chill, strain and shake into a chilled martini glass.

MYSTERIOUS JESSY

1 oz. Stoli vodka

½ oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream

¼ oz. Frangelico

¼ oz. dark crème de cacao

Shake ingredients on ice and serve straight up in martini glass. Garnish with cherries.

SWEET KISS MARTINI

2 oz. Grey Goose Vodka

½ oz. Frangelico

½ oz. Butterscotch schnapps

1 oz. crème de cacao

Shake and strain ingredients into chilled martini glass. Lace with Godet white chocolate liqueur. Sprinkle with Godiva chocolate.

BACARDI SPICE CARIBBEAN MARTINI

2 ½ oz. Bacardi Spiced Rum

½ oz. crème de banana

Shake and strain over ice. Serve straight up. Garnish with pineapple wedge.

FUZZY NAVEL MARTINI

2 oz. Ketel One Vodka

½ oz. peach schnapps

½ oz. freshly squeezed orange juice

Orange peel for garnish

Shake and strain into chilled martini glass and garnish with orange peel.

LOBOTOMY MARTINI

1 oz. amaretto

¼ oz. Chambord

½ oz. pineapple juice

Chill. Shake and strain into chilled martini glass.

LIMONTINI II

1 ½ oz. Glacier vodka

½ oz. Limoncello

Lemon wedge

Shake and strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

BERI-BERI NICE

1 part Stoli Strasberi vodka

1 part Stoli Razberi vodka

Splash of Chambord

Shake and strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with fresh raspberry.

METROPOLIS MARTINI

1 ½ oz. vodka

½ strawberry liqueur

1 oz. champagne

Chill, strain and top with champagne. Garnish with a strawberry.

TROPICAL MARTINI

1 ½ oz. Smirnoff vodka

Splash Malibu rum

Splash pineapple juice

Chill, strain into chilled martini glass and garnish with pineapple.

ST. TROPEZ MARTINI

1 ½ oz. Smirnoff vodka

Splash peach schnapps

Splash orange juice

Dash grenadine

Chill, strain into chilled martini glass and garnish with a fresh peach slice.

PUMP MARTINI

Olives, lemon twist or onions

B&B

1 ½ oz. vodka

Splash dry vermouth

In one mixing glass, marinate the olives, lemon twist or onions in B&B. In a second mixing glass, combine vodka, vermouth and several ice cubes. Stir and strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with marinated olives, lemon twist or onions.

RUSSIAN BRUSHFIRE

Stoli Pertsovka vodka

Dash Tabasco

Bloody Mary Mix

1 mini jalapeno pepper

Mix Stoli and small amount of Bloody Mary Mix with ice (enough to make drink red in color). Shake and strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with pepper and dash of Tabasco.

SPICED OYSTER MARTINI

Fresh Kumamoto oyster covered with jalapeno and Tabasco

Lemon juice

Frozen Belvedere vodka

Cover marinated oyster with frozen vodka in chilled martini glass. Add splash of lemon juice and serve immediately.

WALLET CHAIN

2 oz. Stoli Pertsovka or Absolut Peppar vodka

Dash Worcestershire sauce

Splash jalapeno stuffed olive juice

Pour ingredients into chilled martini glass and garnish with jalapeno olives and pearl onions.

BLOODY MARTINI

2 oz. Smirnoff vodka

Dash tomato juice

Generous shake of Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco

Chill and strain into martini glass. Top with freshly grated horseradish and garnish with lime.