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Chocolate Chili, Candy Canes, and Almond Joy: 10 Alternative Martinis

Travel
by Tom Gates Dec 2, 2009
The martini might be the most loosely defined drink in the world. Here are ten recipes that show just how diverse a cocktail it has become.
Creamy Caramel Martini

caramel ice cream topping, for rim of glass
1/4 cup iced vanilla vodka
2 tablespoons dekuyper butterscotch schnapps
1 dash cream soda

Chill martini glass. Drizzle caramel topping down the inside rim of glass and rechill. Fill a shaker full of ice, add vodka and Buttershots and shake till your hands become very very cold. Pour into martini glass and add a splash of cream soda.

Courtesy of Recipezaar.com

Chocolate Chili

1 pc red finger chili, sliced lengthwise in half, deseeded
6 jigger vodka, any quality white vodka will do
2 jigger cinnamon infused syrup
1/2 jigger white creme de cacao
2 jigger chocolate syrup, a good commercially available product
melted couverture for decoration or if you prefer a clean decoration or you may use the chocolate syrup for a “melting” decoration on the glass.
chocolate stick for decoration
4 pc small chilies for decoration
10-12 pc ice cubes

Prepare a simple syrup with the addition of cinnamon bark to it. Melt the couverture for the decoration, place it in a small bottle or piping bag and swirl it around the chilled martini glass. Set aside. Muddle the chili with a little of the cinnamon infused syrup. Add the ice cubes to the bar shaker and add all other ingredients with the exception of the chocolate stick to it. Cover the shaker with the muddle glass tightly and shake vigorously until all ingredients are well combined and well chilled. Remove the muddle glass, and strain the martini into the prepared glasses into the glass. Decorate with the chocolate stick and an additional chili and serve immediately.

Courtesy of grouprecipes.com

Crazy Cow

1 oz. Chocolate Vodka
1 oz. Coconut Rum
1 oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream

Shake all ingredients for 10 seconds, strain and serve in a chilled Cocktail Glass.

Recipe courtesy of mixdrinkipedia.com

Thai Martini

10 ounces of Hangar One Kaffir Lime vodka
4 ounces of chilled lemon grass tea
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 small chunk of fresh ginger, peeled
4 sprigs of fresh lemon grass
4 thinly sliced, small pieces of fresh ginger

Pour all of the liquid ingredients into a shaker 3/4 full of cracked ice. Shake for one minute, then let stand for a full minute. Rub the piece of ginger around the inside of the bowls of four frozen martini glasses. Strain the martini into the glasses. Garnish each glass with a spring of lemon grass and one thin slice of ginger

Courtesy of kalamazoogourmet

Concord Grape Martini

2 ounces gin
1 1/2 ounces unsweetened Concord grape juice
2 dashes orange bitters
3 whole grapes for garnish, preferably Concord (optional)

Pour gin, grape juice, and bitters into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until well chilled, then strain into a martini glass. Garnish with skewered grapes.

Courtesy of chow.com

Peanut Butter Martini

1 Blender full of good quality vanilla ice cream
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 ounce Napoleon Brandy
1 1/2 ounce Vodka
1 1/2 ounce Bailey’s Irish Cream
1 1/2 ounce Godiva Liqueur
3 ounces Jack Daniels Whiskey
1 dash ground cinnamon
cocoa powder
chocolate syrup

Blend well all ingredients except cocoa powder and chocolate syrup. Remove large martini glasses from freezer. Coat insides with cocoa powder. Pour blended mixture into glass. Make a spiral with Hershey’s chocolate syrup. Draw a toothpick through chocolate to make a nice design. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. Serve immediately.

Courtesy of cdkitchen.com

Almond Joy Martini

1 oz. chocolate vodka
1 oz. Frangelica
1 oz. coconut rum

Combine all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake until well blended, then strain into a chilled martini glass.

Courtesy of fineliving.com

Blood Orange Martini

4 ounces vodka
1/2 ounce triple sec or flavored orange liqueur
2 ounces blood orange juice
2 blood orange slices

In a martini shaker combine all ingredients except the orange slices with a generous amount of ice. Shake vigorously for a few seconds. Strain the libation from the ice into a martini glass. Garnish with the orange slices.

Courtesy of Food Network

Gingerbread Martini

3/4 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, coarsely chopped
2 sticks of cinnamon
3 whole cloves

Simmer water, sugar, ginger, cloves and cinnamon stirring occasionally, until reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 15 minutes. Pour hot syrup through a fine sieve and chill. Let stand 20 minutes until using, so all sediment has settled to the bottom.

Courtesy of Fine Living

Candy Cane Martini

1 1/2 Oz. Vodka
1 Tsp. Peppermint Schnapps

Mix all ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Option: Garnish with a small candy cane or create a candy cane “rimmer” with crushed candy canes.

Courtesy of thatsthespirit.com

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