‘Tis the season of all things merry and bright … and shaken or stirred, if we’re lucky. This year, in a toast to the classic martini we asked some of our favorite places to offer up their favorite festive martini recipes to share with all of you. We’ve got kicked-up eggnog, a Texas cocktail with loads of savory spice (and colorful holiday accouterments to boot), and of course some chocolate and peppermint sippers for all of you sugar and spice lovers out there. Cheers!
Nigella Lawson’s Christmas Martini
We can’t wait to shake up this vodka-forward martini from culinary goddess Nigella Lawson The touch of raspberry Chambord and cocoa liqueur also give it an instant Christmassy kick!
Sorriso Modern Italian Kitchen’s Chocolate Espresso Martini
The only thing better than chocolate? Chocolate vodka, of course! Sorriso Modern Italian Kitchen’s Chocolate Espresso Martini is sure to end any holiday meal just right, though we find it especially good to sip on during a late-night present wrapping session.
Broken Barrel’s Peppermint Chocolate Martini
It wouldn’t be the holidays without candy canes and chocolate, and we love this standout cocktail recipe from our friends in H Town, Broken Barrel. It’s sweet-meets-a-hint-of-spice, and the grated nutmeg on top makes it the merriest of martinis.
Boudro’s Texas Bistro Holiday Martini
This recipe comes from our favorite San Antonio River Walk haute spot, Boudro’s. A classic martini with a Texas twist, this drink is dressed up for the holidays with green and red garnishes and is full of Texas vodka. Made with locally distilled Tito’s vodka and shaken with bright green olive juice and a touch of sweet vermouth, holiday guests will be dazzled by this classicly festive treat!
Cork Bar’s Candy Cane Martini
A delish holiday creation from the Cork Bar at Hotel Contessa. It tastes just like its namesake!
Martina McBride’s Cranberry Margarita Martini
This martini—if only called such for the glass it’s served in—is from Martina McBride herself, and couldn’t be more fun for a holiday gathering! A jewel-toned syrup made with fresh or frozen cranberries turns this drink into a real stunner (especially when cranberries are so abundant this time of year), and to bring it back home, it’s made with none other than tequila.
Steve says
Putting a cocktail into a cone-shapped glass doesn’t make it a Martini any more than it makes it a Manhattan or a Daiquiri.
A Martini is a cocktail containing unequal portions of gin and dry vermouth (in a ratio of somewhere between 2:1 and 15:1, inclusive) served chilled, in a stemmed glass, garnished with either green olive(s) or a lemon twist.
http://www.rdwarf.com/users/mink/martinifaq.html
A vodka version was originally called a Kangaroo Kicker,
1943 Cocktail Digest by Oscar Haimo of the Hotel Pierre, p49
https://euvs-vintage-cocktail-books.cld.bz/1943-Cocktail-Digest-by-Oscar-Haimo-of-the-Hotel-Pierre/49/
The Stork Club Bar Book by Lucius Beebe, 1946
https://euvs-vintage-cocktail-books.cld.bz/1946-The-Stock-Club-Bar-Book-by-Lucius-Beebe/90
or just a Kangaroo.
https://www.absolutdrinks.com/en/drinks/kangaroo/
The current nomenclature includes Vodkatini. But regardless, it is simply a spirit swap on a Martini.
The cocktails presented here are most certainly delicious, but they don’t represent anything close to a Martini. Would that their creators simply replace “Martini” in the name with “Cocktail.”
Tanji says
Thank you for the feedback, Steve. We don’t name the cocktails we post. We receive recipes from the fantastic mixologists and restaurants we work with. Personally, I prefer a very dry vodka Martini w/3 olives. But, I love tasting the many variations like the ones we’ve posted on Goodtaste. Wishing you a very Happy New Year, and please feel free to offer your helpful feedback anytime. 🙂