The Martini Experience...

I sometimes wonder why I have become so enamoured with martinis. It's a fairly new obsession but there is just so much about the whole experience that I enjoy.

It isn't just the drink. (Although taste does matter.) It's about the ritual.

There is something compelling about preparing a martini. The chilled glass, the presentation, the preparation, the ingredients and let's not forget the garnish. I use to think that garnish was simply that horrible Maraschino cherry that you had to fish out of your drink before it became contaminated. But now I understand that two or three fresh raspberries or a little lemon zest floating in your lovely, chilled martini glass, actually does make it taste better. A feast for the eyes, a cool kiss on the lips and a decadent experience for the palate.

My hunny recently took me to a small Inn in Merrickville. They, oddly enough, had a nice selection of martinis on their bar menu. I haven't tried them all yet, (I need to get a few more ingredients first.) but thought that I would pass on a few of them.

Red Apple Martini

1 oz of Apple Vodka
1 oz of Apple Liqueur
1 oz of Cranberry Juice

Shake with ice, then strain into a martini glass. Float a thin slice of apple on top and enjoy.



This next one is for my lovely transplanted Jules. A taste of Canada, eh.

Maple Martini

1.5 oz of Vodka
1 Tbsp of Maple Syrup
Splash of Soda

If you have maple sugar (or crushed maple sugar candies), then when you prepare the glass, rub the rim with a little maple syrup and then roll the edge in the maple sugar. MMmmmmm yummy and pretty too. Shake with ice and pour into our pretty glass.



Moon Dust Martini

1 oz of Vodka
1 oz of Goldschlager

Rim the glass with a mixture of brown sugar and cinnamon. Shake with ice and strain into a martini glass. Cinnamon hearts might work as a garnish in this too, but I haven't tried that yet. I'm not sure if the colour on the hearts would bleed into the drink and whether that would be a bad thing or not. (maybe it would be good, we could call it a Bleeding Heart Martini.)


It's all about experimentation. The next one I plan to try is a SoHo Martini, but I need some SoHo Lychee Liqueur first. I'll let you know how it turns out.