Martini Marathon – The finish line

Hello all! As you may have guessed from the title, and the fact that I didn’t post a Martini recipe for a while, I am done with the Marathon. Why now? Simple, my holidays are coming to an end. Besides, 20 martinis sounds just about right for a marathon. Maybe next time I’ll do a FULL marathon of 40 cocktails to match the 40 Km of a real marathon, you know, the one where you run :).

I had fun doing this and will continue, for sure, trying and creating recipes that I’ll share with you here. Meanwhile, here are some statistics for your analytical pleasures:

Martini Marathon 2011 Stats

• Cocktails Made: 25
• Cocktails liked: 88%
• New Classics found: 8
• Ounces of alcohol Ingested: 66 1/2
• Ounces of alcohol thrown away in disgust: 9 1/4
• Different spirits used: 25
• Other ingredients used : 19
• Different Garnish Used: 16
• Lemon made naked: 5
• Shaker Shakes: around 600
• Glass broken: 0 (Hey! Who do you take me for! :))
• Photos taken: 213

Notable mentions

Best Flavor (Mild): The flavor and look of the Green Tea Martini where incredible.

Best Flavor (Strong): Even though the Vesper was my favorite, I have to say that the anise flavor of the Third Degree Martini came very close behind. Instant Classic.

Weirdest Martini: Definitely the Balsamic Vinegar Martini. I would’ve never thought using vinegar in a cocktail.

Best preparation: Again the Balsamic Vinegar Martini. Preparing this cocktail is very ceremonial.

Best surprise:  The Saketini when served with sushi leaves a very pleasant buzz :). The Cinderellatini, even though virgin, was also a hit.

Had most fun with: Creating The Mustached Gentleman from scratch for Movember and preparing the mustached cocktail photo was the most fun :).

Biggest Deception: Not being able to do a Martinez (Read Below)

Best Martini, missing from the marathon: My favorite martini is the Dirty Martini which I had already written a post for.

Lessons

Trying these new recipes taught me a couple of things about mixing, flavors and about cocktails in general. Here are some random snippets from these lessons:

Coating: Coating a cocktail means to roll a spirit in the glass and throw the excess away. It is basically the minimal amount of a spirit you can use in a cocktail.

Ice purpose: The ice in the shaker has two purpose, first, by reducing the temperature of the alcohol, you reduce the alcohol taste and bring the other flavors up in importance (good!). While shaking a cocktail, the ice melts, adding water to your mix, which is crucial to the taste.

Recipes: Even though lot’s of cocktails are considered classics, their recipes can be found at multiple sources and be very different. Don’t try to find the “real” one. When mixing a martini, choose the ingredients and ratios that you feel are correct and that you will like.

If you can’t find it, make it yourself: Don’t buy ingredients like single syrup or sour mix, do it yourself it is easy  and will not take you more time than to go to the market. For more complex ingredients like bitters, it is also better to do it yourself as you will create your own unique flavor.

The most important thing I learned is that getting “rare” spirits is tough! Keep in mind that I live in Québec, Canada where the importation of intoxicating beverage is regulated and where you can only buy liquor at a government own corporation known as the SAQ. For me, it is illegal to buy a bottle of the web. If the SAQ doesn’t have a product, I have to make a private importation with them as the intermediary. The process is VERY expansive and complicated. For example, the Martinez is made with Maraschino Liqueur, a product unavailable in Québec. It is easy to find a bottle on the web for 30$ but it is illegal for me to get one this way. I would have to get permission from the SAQ and buy a crate of the stuff. It would cost a fortune…Major downer!

I will complain to them as I think a lot of cool product out there should be available to us cocktail enthusiasts. If you are in the same situation, I invite you to do the same.

I hope you had fun and could try a couple of Martinis yourself. Until the next cocktail, have a great time!

November 7, 2011July 16, 2012 by Dave Richard Categories: CocktailsTags: Martini, Martini Marathon Leave a comment

Martini Marathon Day 20 – Green Tea Martini

Green Tea Martini

Good evening! It’s my father’s birthday today so my parents came home for supper. We had an incredible opera cake for dessert with green tea to wash it down. Of course we had way too much cake, and because of extreme stuffing, we left most of the tea on the table. Once they left I though, “hmmmmm…let’s make a martini with these leftovers” (the tea not the cake!).

Green Tea Martini

Ingredients

• 2 Parts Vodka Citron
• 1 Part Grand Marnier
• 1 Part Chilled Green Tea
• Sugar for the rim
• Lime juice for the rim
• Lime slices for garnish

Preparation

Start by rimming a chilled martini glass with the lime juice and sugar. Pour the Vodka Citron, Grand Marnier and green tea in a shaker filled with ice. Shake until very cold. Strain into the rimmed martini glass and garnish with lime slices.

Appreciation

Oh my! this is a good surprise! The green tea martini is refreshing and actually tastes like tea. Nice! When you think the alcohol is going to become too intense, the sugar and lime from the rim pops to the rescue and blends all the ingredients in a smooth flavor. You have to try this martini. When I was done with it, I wished I had made a pitcher…but no…what a fool. I give it nine dolphin out of ten.

Enjoy!

November 3, 2011July 16, 2012 by Dave Richard Categories: CocktailsTags: Green Tea, Martini, Martini Marathon, Orange Liqueur, Refreshing, Vodka Citron 1 Comment

Martini Marathon Day 17 – The Halloween Hpnotist

The Halloween Hpnotist. Spooky!

Happy Halloween, cocktail enthusiasts!

I know, I know! It would have been cleverer to post this cocktail before the 29th so you could drink it at your Halloween Party on Saturday! Sorry about that ;).

Anyway…Each holiday, you can find cool themed drinks to try on About.com cocktail section. The following martini comes from this year’s list of Halloween cocktails. The idea is good and the drink seems to be flavorful. Let’s see if it works.

The Halloween Hpnotist

Ingredients

• 2 Parts Hpnotiq
• 1 Part Vodka
• Splash of Lemon Juice
• A Glow Stick for Garnish (Don’t eat it!)

Preparation

Pour the ingredients, except the glow stick, in a shaker filled with ice and shake it! (You can moan like a zombie if you wish). Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a glow stick!

Appreciation

The drink is very good…it tastes like Hpnotiq…really, that’s pretty much all there is. Hpnotiq is a vodka based spirit that tastes like tropical fruits. The effect with the glow stick is what’s very cool about it. When your guests or you will take a sip of the ghostly drink it will light your spooky Halloween face. Of course, it will only work in dark areas.

Be sure you don’t do like me and take a glow stick that is too long or it will look silly in the glass. Take a martini glass that’s thinner and deeper, the effect is going to be much better. Also, be careful not to get an orange, green or pink glow stick! Choose blue or white.

The Halloween Hpnotist is Perfect for Halloween, to bad it’s already over!

Enjoy and happy Halloween!

October 31, 2011July 16, 2012 by Dave Richard Categories: CocktailsTags: Glow Stick, Halloween, Hpnotiq, Martini, Martini Marathon, Vodka Leave a comment

Martini Marathon Day 16 – Balsamic Vinegar Martini

Vinegar in a martini? Whaaaaat?!

Good evening cocktail enthusiasts!

In my quest for interesting martinis, I’ve stumbled on this quite unique recipe on the web, which is apparently a classic: the Balsamic Vinegar Martini. Seriously, Balsamic vinegar! I had to try it!

Balsamic Vinegar Martini

Ingredients

• 3 Shots of Chilled Vodka (75 ml)
• 1 Dash Balsamic Vinegar (or more)
• 1 Big Strawberry
• Orange Peel

Preparation

First off, be sure your vodka has been in the freezer for a while…like overnight. You need it to be cold as this recipe doesn’t involves any shaker (no water!). Choose a very good balsamic vinegar, it should be thick. If your vinegar is watery, you can always reduce it by heating it. Be sure to wait until it’s cooled down to do the martini!

Pour some vinegar on a plate. Skew the strawberry and roll it in the vinegar so it is generously coated. Put the strawberry in the chilled martini glass. Pour 75 ml of your favorite chilled vodka on the strawberry.

Shave a large slice of peel from an orange and twist it over the cocktail. This will release the orange essential oil for intense flavor. Then rim the glass with the peel. Once done, throw the peel away, you don’t need it.

Appreciation

I really enjoyed this martini’s taste but also its preparation. It was fun and different to make. I though the vinegar would be too intense but it actually balances with the vodka. Drinking them at the same moment will smooth the vinegar acidic taste and the vodka strong taste to create a nice combined flavor. When done with the liquid, treat yourself with the strawberry which will be infused with the balsamic and vodka flavor. It’s like the desert of the cocktail.

The key to enjoying fully this martini is to find the right balance of Balsamic vinegar for you. I had to adjust mine with 1 tsp of vinegar to really like it. If your first sip tastes like pure vodka to you, there isn’t enough vinegar.

Enjoy!

October 30, 2011July 16, 2012 by Dave Richard Categories: CocktailsTags: Aromatic, Balsamic Vinegar, Martini, Martini Marathon, Strawberry, Vodka 1 Comment

Martini Marathon Day 12 – Mochatini

The Mochatini (without the optional rim)

Do you like coffee? I do! Very much so. That’s a good thing for any game designer as we need a lot of the stuff to survive ;). It was obvious that I would try a coffee flavored martini at some point. So here it is: the Mochatini. Okay, okay! It`s not a pure coffee drink, but still, coffee and chocolate promises to create a great drink right?

I found two different recipe for the Mochatini from which I am forwarding you the best version, by far. The first recipe I’ve tried, from a martini collection book I refer to quite often, was disgusting! It used gin as a base, which frankly doesn’t have anything to do in the coffee / chocolate flavor spectrum. I am tempted to throw away the book right now as it’s not the first time I get a disgusting combination from it…but really, it’s my fault. I should’ve detected this unacceptable mix! 😉

Here is the good recipe to use:

Mochatini

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 parts Vanilla Vodka
• 1 part Coffee Liqueur (or Espresso)
• 1 part Dark Crème de Cacao
• Coffee Beans for Garnish
• Sugar for rim

Preparation

First off, and this is totally optional, you can rim your glass with the coffee liqueur and sugar. Pour the vanilla vodka, coffee liqueur and dark crème de cacao in a shaker filled with cracked ice and shake until froth. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with two floating coffee beans.

Appreciation

This mochatini is incredible, any mocha lover will enjoy it. I will redo it for sure, it can easily replace a desert. Note that if you would prefer a stronger coffee flavor and/or a less sweet cocktail, you can substitute the coffee liqueur by chilled espresso or another good coffee.

Enjoy!

October 25, 2011July 16, 2012 by Dave Richard Categories: CocktailsTags: Chocolate, Coffee, Crème de Cacao, Espresso, Martini, Martini Marathon, Sweet, Vanilla Vodka Leave a comment

Martini Marathon Day 10 – Irish Martini

An Irish Martini

Because I’m 25% Irish (my grandad, a Ganley), here’s the Irish Martini, or one version of it anyway. Don’t get fooled by the ingredients that don’t look like much, I assure you that this Martini doesn’t taste like anything you’ve tried before :). The Irish Whiskey plays a very small role but you will definitely taste the bison grass infused vodka that has an indescribable taste. It reminds me of cinnamon, only sweeter and milder. My wife though it tasted like something closer to coconut water.

Bison Grass Vodka = Mild sweet cinamon coconut water. There. You have it.

Irish Martini

• 3 parts Bison Grass Vodka
• 1/2 part Dry Vermouth
• Irish Whiskey coating
• Twist of lemon peel

Start by using 1/4 ounce of Irish whiskey to coat a chilled martini glass (for luck ;)). To do so, pour the whiskey in the glass and roll it around. Once it touched the entire interior, throw the excess away (or drink it!). Pour the bison grass vodka and the dry vermouth in a shaker and shake well. Strain into the whiskey coated glass  and garnish with a twist of lemon peel, because seriously, olives would be weird.

Enjoy!

October 23, 2011July 16, 2012 by Dave Richard Categories: CocktailsTags: Aromatic, Bison Grass Vodka, Irish Whiskey, Martini, Martini Marathon, Vermouth Leave a comment

Martini Marathon Day 9 – Paisley Martini

The Paisley Martini (can also use an old-fashioned glass)

When I saw this martini recipe involving Scotch Whisky, I was excited and … doubtful. When it comes to scotch, I prefer it neat or on the rocks. The result turned out to be pretty good :).

Paisley Martini

• 2 parts Gin
• 1/2 part Dry Vermouth
• 1 tsp Scotch Whisky
• Twist of lemon peel

Pour all ingredients except the lemon in a shaker and shake well. Strain into a martini glass  or an old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.

Enjoy!

October 22, 2011July 16, 2012 by Dave Richard Categories: CocktailsTags: Aromatic, Gin, Martini, Martini Marathon, Scotch, Vermouth Leave a comment

Martini Marathon Day 8 – Cinderellatini

Why Cinderellatini? No idea! Should be called "Liquid Skittles".

Tonight I am home alone with my kid so of course I need to be the responsible dad, which I am, and stay 100% sober, or if you prefer: 0% drunk. Oh no! Tragedy! What about the Martini Marathon, is that over?! …and comes the Mocktini to the rescue :).

The following cocktail is a nice surprise. Even though it’s virgin and “just” a mix of juices, the result is incredible! It looks really nice in a cocktail glass (the photo doesn’t do it justice), but it is so good that you might as well make yourself a bucket of the stuff. It tastes like refreshing liquid Skittles, no kidding. If that makes any sense. Of course you can always add 1 part of vodka to make it a “real” cocktail.

Cinderellatini

• 1 part Orange Juice
• 1 part Pineapple Juice
• 1/2 part Sour Mix
• Club Soda
• 1 dash Grenadine
• A Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

First thing, put the maraschino cherry in your glass. Pour the orange juice, pineapple juice and sour mix in a shaker with cracked ice and shake until your hands hurt. Strain into a cocktail glass and top with club soda by being careful to keep the nice juice foam on top.  Now find the Jackson Pollock in you and drizzle grenadine syrup on top to create spots and lines (I use a spoon handle).

Enjoy!

October 21, 2011July 16, 2012 by Dave Richard Categories: CocktailsTags: Grenadine, Martini, Martini Marathon, orange, Pineapple, Sour mix, Sweet, Vodka 1 Comment

Martini Marathon Day 7 – Bikini Martini

A Bikini Martini

I needed some color today because the weather has been grey for a week. Even though I LOVE the rainy weather of autumn, it doesn’t mean I can’t lighten it up a bit with a colorful cocktail with tropical notes.

The Bikini Martini has many variants out there, some with gin and some without juice. Here is mine:

Bikini Martini

• 1 part Coconut Rum
• 1 part Vodka
• 1 part pineapple juice
• Grenadine
• An orange wedge for garnish

Pour everything but the grenadine in your favorite shaker with cracked ice and shake until froth. Strain into a cocktail glass. Slowly add a dash of grenadine and garnish with an orange wedge.

Enjoy!

October 20, 2011July 16, 2012 by Dave Richard Categories: CocktailsTags: Coconut, Grenadine, Martini, Martini Marathon, orange, Pineapple, Rum, Sweet, Tropical, Vodka Leave a comment

Martini Marathon Day 6 – Buckly Martini

The Hazelnut Flavored Buckly Martini

After a hard day of work on the house, I think I totally deserve the following treat made with frikin’ hazelnut liqueur. If you never tried this particular liqueur, you are in for a treat! If you like anything hazelnut, like the infamous Nutella for example, try it, you won’t regret it!

Buckly Martini

• 5 parts Vodka
• 1 part Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur

Pour everything in your favorite shaker with cracked ice and shake well. Strain into a martini glass. No garnish…wait what?

By the way, this is the original recipe, but I prefer to make it with a ratio closer to half and half. Like almost anything, cocktails are a matter of preferences. So if you prefer the hazelnut taste, don’t hesitate to change the ratio of the alcohols, the cocktail police won’t get you for that…they’ll let you off with a warning.

Enjoy!

October 19, 2011July 16, 2012 by Dave Richard Categories: CocktailsTags: Hazelnut, Martini, Martini Marathon, No Garnish, Sweet, Vodka Leave a comment