#010 OUR BEST VANILLA MARTINI RECIPE

Winter is here and when I think of the holiday season visions of frosty, creamy, coffee cocktails come to mind. Meres and I like to sip delicious martinis in front of a roaring fire so we had to come up with the perfect vanilla martini recipe with that hint of coffee flavor. Make no mistake; this is not your typical dessert cocktail. This holiday martini packs a major bang and is stout enough to bring a little extra bliss to the New Year!

Meres and I are proud to divulge our top secret drink recipe for the Vanilla Haze Martini. The inspiration for combining these particular flavors came together as a result of a wonderful hot coffee drink called the vanilla haze latte. We wanted to recreate the essence of this fabulous warming drink but in the form of a yummy cocktail. The finished product became this festive drink that was reminiscent of winter but delicious enough to be sipped any time of the year. It invokes the tastes of fresh vanilla bean, hazelnut, with a hint of coffee. Enjoy!




Vanilla Haze Martini

1 oz Licor 43
2 oz Vanilla Vodka (we prefer Absolut Vanilia ® )
½ oz Bailey’s Irish Cream ®
½ oz Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur ®
½ oz Frangelico ®
¼ oz Kahlua ®
healthy splash of light cream (half and half may be substituted)
fresh vanilla bean
***optional-hazelnut syrup for rimming the glass

Take the vanilla bean and cut it length wise. Then cut it once more in half. (You’ll save half of the bean as a garnish) With your knife, scrape the inner vanilla bean pod and put aside. Take an ice cold martini glass and rim it with hazelnut syrup. (This is optional) Put the glass back into the freezer until you are ready for pouring in your drink.

Fill a shaker half full of roughly crushed ice cubes. Pour all of the liquid ingredients into the shaker. Put the lid on the shaker and shake briskly for about 10 seconds or until you see frost form on the vessel. Strain the drink into your very chilled martini glass. Take the knife with the moist vanilla bean pods on it and scrape them off into the drink. (This will seriously bump up the vanilla flavor in the most heavenly way!) Use the remaining half of the bean as a garnish. Scrumptious!

Please feel free to comment and we would love it if you would add us to your blog roll. Scroll to the bottom of the page to subscribe!

Love everybody in the room,
BlondeMav

#009: THE SEXUAL HANGOVER (A KILLER CHOCOLATE MARTINI)

We’ve got a new look for the New Year. Ditched the brown backgrounds. Improved our font. Much sexier. So sexy, in fact, that everyone reading this entry is deserving of the Sexual Hangover Martini (pictured in front, with Mav's Caramel Apple Martini in back).

I have an arsenal of about five go-to drinks that never disappoint or let me down. The Sexual Hangover is at the top of that list – most often employed in the following circumstances:

1) After sex
2) Amidst a chocolate craving
3) To treat pain (we’re talking sex injuries, menstrual cramps and/or psychic pain)

The Sexual Hangover is deeply chocolate tasting, spicy and has just enough cream to smooth out the drink without making it heavy. Oh, and it packs a punch. This isn’t a martini that tastes just like chocolate milk. You’ll know you are indulging in a very adult delight when you take a sip of this baby. The recipe that follows is for a solid 4 oz. drink.

The Sexual Hangover

1 ½ oz. Chocolate Vodka
½ oz. Vanilla Vodka
1 oz. Dark Crème de Cacao (*)
2/3 oz. Starbucks Cream Liqueur (%)
1/3 oz. Cinnamon Schnapps (#)

- Drizzle martini glass with chocolate syrup and/or rim with chocolate cocoa powder
- Shake, strain, pour and enjoy!

I implore you to try this drink. It puts most chocolate martinis you’ll find in a bar to shame.

Bye.
Mere

(*) Preferred: Bols or DeKupyer Dark Crème de Cacao; Also works: Godiva Liqueur
(%) Also works: Bailey’s Irish Cream or Kahlua cut w/ Cream
(#) Preferred: Aftershocks; Also works: Goldschlager