SPICED CHOCOLATE MARTINI - Chocolate and Orange Martini

Spiced chocolate is the hot flavor right now so I thought I'd try out a Spiced Chocolate Martini. I love a little chili powder in dark chocolate and I often make my coffee in the morning with a little cinnamon. I also like those dark chocolate covered orange jelly candies, so I combined these flavors for the Spiced Chocolate Martini recipe.

You can play with it a bit and adjust it to your tastes - try a raspberry liqueur instead of the cointreau, try pumpkin pie spices with Irish Cream instead of Kahlua. I'll probably do a few like that and create some new martinis myself!

Be sure to do the dark chocolate garnish! I like to use a grinder and turn the chocolate into a fine powder and use it for rimming but it's also nice just to shave some dark chocolate on top. You can also do a cocoa powder/sugar rim. There's a whole world of spicy chocolate possibilities!
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CHERRY LEMON DROP MARTINI

The Cherry Lemon Drop Martini combines two of my favorite martinis together. I love a lemon drop martini, especially in the summer because it's refreshing on a warm day. The addition of my favorite flavored vodka - cherry - turns this into an adult cherry lemonade.

I have a fun garnish idea for this one that, frankly, I stole from one of the foodie shows - though I can't remember which one. Take your Maraschino cherry (or other smaller garnish) and drop it in an ice cube tray then fill with either filtered water or sweetened lemon juice. Leave the stem on the cherry for a natural style martini pick. For other martinis try dropping in an olive and pour in some olive juice, or a chocolate kiss frozen in milk - get inventive and have some fun. I also picked up a cute ice cube tray that makes fun shapes and this adds to the smiles at cocktail hour too.

Updated 7-2016

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The CILANTRO DILL MARTINI - This Cilantro Martini is a Dilly!

This is my second Cilantro Martini recipe. The first one, The Cilantro Martini, is a cilantro martini with a touch of ginger. This Cilantro Dill Martini is flavored with dill - something that goes great with cilantro. I am a fan of cilantro - I even grow the herb fresh so I can have it at hand whenever I want it. But Cilantro is a very strong flavor and people either love it or hate it . . . so, if you're entertaining be sure to ask before you mix up a shaker full for an unsuspecting guest, lol. CONTACT ME TO BECOME A SPONSOR OF THE MARTINI DIVA! PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY & DRIVE RESPONSIBLY!

Thyme Cucumber Martini - Herbs & Veggies for Spring!

Updated November 2015

THYME CUCUMBER MARTINI RECIPE

This Thyme Cucumber Martini is a wonderfully refreshing martini - the cucumber gives it a little taste of melon and the aroma wafting up is just wonderfully enticing! With the muddled cucumber, lime, cranberry juice and thyme you get veggies, fruits and flavor in one sip - healthy and cooling!

It hit almost 100 here yesterday and I cooled off outside at twilight with this martini, a nice evening breeze and some snacks from The Diva of Tiny Foods - Heaven!

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Grape Basil Martini

I saw a recipe for a basil infused grape martini and tried it out but found that it needed some changes. First I used grape infused vodka and sparkling grape juice instead of regular white grape juice, and I used less grape juice and adjusted the sugar amount. I also added more basil.

This is an interesting martini but you have to like very sweet martinis and grape juice - otherwise don't bother. I have to admit it's not going to be one of my favorites - simply because I'm not a great lover of grape juice. I do like this grape infused vodka, however, and I'm going to experiment with it a little further so keep checking back for new recipes.

But if you're up for a change and like to try new things the Grape Basil Martini is an experience.

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Updated 12-2016

The GIMLET MARTINI - Classic Retro Cocktail Series

Updated 8-2016

THE
GIMLET RECIPE

Monday I posted The Gibson Martini and promised you I'd post the Gimlet today. You'll notice that both are gin based cocktails but with slight variations on a Classic Martini recipe.

The Gimlet is gin with Rose's Lime Juice instead of vermouth. It's that simple. The proportions above in the recipe card are the classic but, as always, you can mix to your tastes. I myself prefer fresh lime juice to Rose's - and a key lime is even better.

CHEERS and HAVE A HAPPY HOUR FRIDAY!

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MARTINI NANO FICTION - Life's Surprises

Number Five in my series itty bitty illustrated short stories of martini fiction! Take a short break from your everyday life and ponder the wonders of the "cocktale" world.

A novel ideal for happy hour from The Martini Diva.

HERE'S HOPING YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE TODAY!

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Cocktail Hour?
Stop by
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for fun Martini Art Posters (only $25!),
Tees, Snack Bowls, Aprons, Pillows & More!
Goodies start at under $5!
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Image: Life's Surprises © 2009 by PopArtDiva.com
Nano Story: Life's Surprises © by TheMartiniDiva.com
All Rights Reserved. No permission is given to post, copy, distribute, save, print or reproduce in any manner without prior written permission.
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The Gibson Martini - Classic Retro Cocktails Series

Updated December 2015

The Gibson is a basically a classic gin martini but instead of a twist of lemon or an olive the garnish is a cocktail onion. That's it, that's the only difference. The balance of gin to vermouth is, as always, a personal preference. The less vermouth the drier the martini!

The
GIBSON MARTINI RECIPE

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MARSHMALLOW PEEP MARTINI FOR EASTER!

 
Get the Full Sized Recipe Card for the
EASTER PEEP MARTINI HERE 

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Martini Nano Fiction - THERE'S A PEEP IN MY MARTINI!

Number Four of my really, really short stories of martini fiction! Take a short break from your everyday life and ponder the wonders of the "cocktale" world. A novel ideal for happy hour from The Martini Diva.

HAPPY READING & HAPPY EASTER - WATCH OUT FOR PEEPS!

EASTER COCKTAILS

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THE RAMOS FIZZ - Classic Cocktails as Martinis

The

Ramos Gin Fizz

the Big Fat Brother of the Gin Fizz!

Why do I call it the Big Fat brother? Because it's basically a Gin Fizz with cream and egg whites in place of the club soda! There's also a little lime and an orange flavor added with a few drops of orange flower water. I have seen recipes that use Cointreau in place of the orange flower water (which can be difficult to find), you can also substitute a few drops of Grand Marnier.

Egg whites were often used to give drinks a fluffy, frothy quality. In these days of worry over salmonella poisoning you can use pasteurized egg whites which can be found in the dairy compartment at your grocers and I'm told there are powdered versions available online too, though I have not tried using those, however, food experts now agree that as long as your egg is fresh there is very little likelihood of contamination!

Updated 10-2021
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THE GIN FIZZ - Classic Cocktails as Modern Martinis

There are groups of cocktails such as Collins, Punches, Sours, Slings, Cobblers, Shrubs, Toddies, Flips and Fizzes. The Gin Fizz is probably one of the most ordered and popular of the fizz category, being a simple mix of gin, lemon juice, sugar and some carbonated liquid (club soda).

A Fizz is basically a sour with some fizzy topper added to the mix and is classically served in a tall Collins glass. Here we use a martin glass and just less of the soda, making it a more powerful drink - as martinis usually are.

This was a very popular in the fifties and early sixties and is very much like a Tom Collins which uses Old Tom Gin, a sweetened version of London Dry Gin. The Gin Fizz is usually garnished with a Maraschino cherry and a slice or twist of of lemon but you can always have some fun and add a little "fizz" of your own with a candied lemon slice, a cherry flavored candy or even lemon drops.

The

GIN FIZZ

INGREDIENTS

2 Oz. Dry gin

1 Oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

3/4 Oz. Simple syrup

Club Soda

GARNISH

Lemon Wedge

DIRECTIONS

Shake ingredients with ice until chilled. 

Strain into an ice filled highball glass.

Top off with club soda.

Garnish and serve.

Updated 9-2021

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MARTINI NANO FICTION - It's Witching Happy Hour!

Number Three of my really, really short stories of martini fiction! Take a short break from your everyday life and ponder the wonders of the "cocktale" world. A novel ideal for happy hour from The Martini Diva.

HAPPY READING & CHEERS!

Need to put some more fun in your
Cocktail Hour?
Stop by the Martini Department
at The PopArtDiva Boutique
for fun Martini Art Posters (only $25!),
Tees, Snack Bowls, Aprons, Pillows & More!
--------
Image: Witching Happy Hour © 2009 by PopArtDiva.com
Nano Story: Witching Happy Hour © by TheMartiniDiva.com
All Rights Reserved. No permission is given to post, copy, distribute, save, print or reproduce in any manner without prior written permission.
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