Martini Marathon Day 11 – Monday Cosmopolitan

A Monday Cosmopolitan

It’s Monday, it’s beautiful outside, let’s celebrate. I was rummaging through my cocktail books and found this recipe: the Monday cosmopolitan. I saw it as a sign 😉 and decided to try it. At first glance, it looks like it is going to taste like the classic cosmopolitan but drier. Let’s see…

Monday Cosmopolitan

Ingredients

• 2 parts Vodka
• 1 part Extra Dry Vermouth
• 1 part Cranberry Juice
• 1/2 part Orange Liqueur (Triple Sec, Cointreau)
• Orange Slice for Garnish

Preparation

Pour all ingredients except the orange slice in a shaker filled with cracked ice. Shake until you get frostbite. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with an orange slice. (or wedge!)

Appreciation

Even though it’s pretty, the Monday Cosmopolitan is not a hit for me. The extra dry vermouth is too strong compared to the orange and cranberry flavors. It’s  also missing the lime, which I think is key to the perfect cosmopolitan. Next time, I will stick to the classic :). Still, if you prefer your cocktails dry and never could appreciate a cosmo, try this recipe, maybe you will enjoy it.

October 24, 2011July 16, 2012 by Dave Richard Categories: CocktailsTags: Cosmopolitan, Cranberry, Martini Marathon, Orange Liqueur, Vermouth, Vodka 1 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 4 – Apple Pie Martini

The Apple Pie Martini and...it's pie couterpart.

As you probably guessed it, today I went apple picking with my family. Big deception, we couldn’t even pick our own apple as apparently the season is already finished! Yep, seems like mid-October is too late for apple picking in Québec…it’s just too damn cold! or like we say here: “Y fait trop frette batinse!“

We still had a good time trying still ciders and ice ciders (the parents, not the kid ;)). If you can get your hands on a bottle of our fine ciders, do! Québec ice ciders are just too good to be true! You have to try it.

But anyways, this marathon isn’t about ciders is it? Here is an apple themed martini recipe which is on the sweeter side, but still holds quite a punch.

Apple Pie Martini

• 3 parts Vanilla flavored vodka
• 1/2 part Calvados
• 1/2 part Dry Vermouth
• Cinnamon & Sugar for the rim
• Apple slice for Garnish

Like any garnish, this is totally optional, but I added a cinnamon and sugar rim to this cocktail. I thought it was a welcomed addition to the strong alcohols and really made it taste like an apple pie. So if you choose to add a rim, do it now. Pour the vanilla flavored vodka, Calvados and dry vermouth in a shaker with cracked ice and shake well. Strain into the rimmed (or not, but really, you should) glass. Garnish with a tin slice of apple.

Try it!

All right, now I’m going to go eat the real thing (the pie you see in the background, that’s real baby! 😀 ) and go review my level design class for tomorrow. Have a good one!

October 17, 2011July 16, 2012 by Dave Richard Categories: CocktailsTags: Apple, Calvados, Cider, Cinnamon, Martini, Martini Marathon, Sweet, Vanilla Vodka, Vermouth 4 Comments

Martini Marathon Day 3 – Emerald Martini

Emerald Martini

Today felt like green.

Emerald Martini

• 3 parts Gin
• 1 part Dry Vermouth
• 1/4 part Green Chartreuse
• Lemon Peel

Pour all the ingredients in a shaker with cracked ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Twist a lemon zest over the drink and float the zest on top.

Chartreuse is a liqueur made from 130 different plants! wow! There is a yellow and a green Chartreuse, be careful to use the Green Chartreuse for this recipe. Don’t ask me to describe you the taste though, the blend is very unique and I have a hard time finding something that tastes like it, except maybe jagermeister? (The comparison seems wrong). One thing is sure though, it doesn’t take much of the stuff in a cocktail. The flavor is very potent!

Enjoy!

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

Martini Marathon Day 2 – Third Degree Martini

Third Degree Martini

Ever tried Pernod? I tried it for the first time this evening and I have to say that I like the Anise Liqueur with the eery green glow. It’s a perfect ingredient to blend with Gin and Vermouth.

So what about the Third Degree Martini? I enjoyed it! The Anise Liqueur makes this martini tastes a bit like absinth on the first note, without the warmth of the absinth of course :). As the taste fades away, the Anise and Gin aromas disappear smoothly without any aftertastes. Don’t get me wrong though, it is a strong drink that will not please to everyone.

Third Degree Martini

• 3 parts Gin
• 1 part Dry Vermouth
• 1/2 part Pernod
• Star Anise for Garnish

Pour all the ingredients in a shaker with cracked ice and shake well (big surprise 😉 ). Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with Star Anise.

Enjoy!

October 15, 2011July 16, 2012 by Dave Richard Categories: CocktailsTags: Anise, Aromatic, Gin, Martini, Martini Marathon, Pernod, Strong, Vermouth 1 Comment