The Best Cinco De Mayo Watermelon Margarita Recipe

May 5, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Spirits & Libations at 9:12 am | Comments »

Watermelon Margarita.jpg Happy Cinco De Mayo! Now let’s really celebrate with this wonderful watermelon margarita recipe!

Ingredients:

4 cups watermelon, seeded & cubed
1 6-ounce can frozen limeade concentrate
1/2 cup tequila, your pick
3 tablespoons sugar & lime wedges for garnish

In a large zip-lock bag- place watermelon cubes inside & freeze for 8 hours.

Take out your watermelon bag & get your blender ready. In the blender combine half of your watermelon cubes, limeade & tequila. Process until smooth.

Repeat with the remaining half.

To garnish: Place the sugar in a wide, shallow bowl. Moisten the rim of a margarita glass with a lime wedge.

Dip the rim in the sugar. Pour the watermelon mixture into the prepared glass. Garnish with a lime wedge and get ready to party!

Eat well & Laugh often!

Allison’s Top 5 Martini Recipes

April 18, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Spirits & Libations at 12:40 pm | Comments »

Chocolate Martini.jpg Let’s get these spirits & libations on the road & make a toast to my top 5 Martini recipes. Now, I’ve already said I’m no Martini purist, so don’t hold my chocolate, Sake & Vodka against me. Here goes…..

#5: Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You Sake Martini Recipe:

Ingredients:

2.5 oz Gin (or go for the Vodka if you like)
1/4 oz Sake
1/4 oz Blue CuraCao
Want an olive or onion to garnish?

What’s Next:

A Sake Martini is a creative approach to the standard Martini. I like it, but it does take a few tries to warm up to. Chill your Martini glasses with ice for three minutes. In your shaker: pour all ingredients inside with some ice. Shake ten times, or stir 30 times with a bar spoon. Remove ice & serve with your choice of olive or onion.

#4: The Haunted Bride Martini

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Gin
1 oz dry Vermouth
1/2 oz Benedictine
1 teaspoon Pernod
2 dashes Bitters, your choice
Cherry for you?

What’s Next:

This Martini recipe is named after an unknown bar patron second-guessing her marriage engagement. Chill your Martini glasses with ice for three minutes. In your shaker: pour all ingredients inside with some ice. Shake ten times, or stir 30 times with a bar spoon. Serve with a cherry or you choice of garnish.

#3: The Classic Martini

Ingredients:

2 oz Gin
1/2 oz dry Vermouth
Olive for garnishing

What’s Next:

Here is the classic Martini, in all it’s glory. Chill your Martini glasses with ice for three minutes. In your shaker: pour all ingredients inside with some ice. Shake ten times, or stir 30 times with a bar spoon. Garnish with olive.

#2: Shaken Not Stirred Bond James Bond Martini:

Ingredients:

3 oz Gin
1 oz Vodka
1/2 oz Lillet Blanc wine
Twist of lemon

What’s Next:

Well, I bet you can guess where this Martini recipe has its origins. Pour Gin, Vodka & Lillet Blanc into shaker half-filled with cracked ice. Shake well, strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon, and serve.

#1: I Never Forget the Chocolate Chocolate Vodka Martini:

Ingredients:

2 oz Vodka
1 oz Godiva liqueur
1 oz white creme de cacao
Chocolate stick for garnish

What’s Next:

No, as you know, I never do forget the chocolate. Chill your Martini glasses with ice for three minutes. In your shaker: pour all ingredients inside with some ice. Shake ten times, or stir 30 times with a bar spoon. Serve with chocolate stick for garnish.

I hope you have enjoyed my top 5 Martini recipes list. Enjoy one for me.

Eat well & Laugh often.

An Informative History of My Friend the Martini

April 18, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Spirits & Libations, The Facts / History at 10:00 am | Comments »

Just a little historical walk with my pal the Martini, why don’t you join us. The modern day true Martini consists of Gin and a varying amount of dry Vermouth and is sometimes garnished with an olive, twist or cocktail onion. But I’m no Martini purist, so if you add a little Vodka or mix in some chocolate, you have my permission to keep the name Martini.

There are differing arguments as to the origin of the Martini, but the most detailed account lies with the Martinez from 1862. This drink calls for four parts red, sweet Vermouth to one part Gin and is garnished with a cherry, sounds good to me. The first Martinez was made with aromatic bitters and Old Tom Gin, which was very sweet compared to today’s take on the drink.

The transformation from the Martinez to the Martini was a gradual one; first Old Tom Gin was replaced with London Dry, then orange bitters took over aromatic bitters’ place. Folks then began to replace the red, sweet Vermouth with a white, dry Vermouth. The proportions of the drink eventually became equal parts and soon the modern dry Martini appeared, just add olive.

If you don’t like that little historical number, try this one on for size. Someone came up with a Martini history anecdote involving the British Army. The story claims that the drink’s name came from the Martini and Henry rifle used by the army around 1871. The punch was that the rifle and the drink both shared a strong kick. Pretty cute.

Well, no matter the history or claims regarding the Martini, it is a sexy and smooth drink that just waits experimentation. Stay tuned for ‘Allison’s Top 5 Martini Recipes’ post.

Eat well & Laugh often.

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